An unexpected guest star

Gallery: WildlifePosted June 9, 2013467 views17 comments

Maybe this should be in the macro gallery

Rainclouds forming in central kalahari. We were desperately trying to get close to a herd of gemsbock to photograph them with the clouds as backdrop, but they were constantly moving off when we tried to approach. Eventually we gave in and focused on a group of giraffes instead (although the gemsbock are still there, but not standing out like the giraffes for obvious reasons).

As we were taking a low perspective I noticed the butterlies but I was surprised when I got home and found that one actually appeared in my images. Unfortunately my shutter speed was not quite set for close-ups of butterlies

Piper Pan, Central Kalahari, Botswana
Canon 5D Mark II
EF 17-40 f/4L USM @ 30
Shutter Speed: 1/320 Sec.
Aperture: f/11
ISO: 400
Metering Mode: Evaluative Metering
Exposure Compensation: 0

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on June 9, 2013 at 12:40 PM

Wow Johan, this is was going to be a stunning animalscape, but the arrival of the butterfly makes this really special. If I were designing this I might wish the butterfly to be a little further to the right in the frame, but catching one in the frame at all...well pretty neat.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on June 9, 2013 at 12:57 PM

Unusual and interesting image Johan. The giaraffes are neatly placed against the skyline and the cloud formation is good but the colours are a bit insipid for a really striking image. However, add in the butterfly and what you have is something quite surreal. The butterfly adds a wonderful splash of colour and it completely unexpected.

Not something that would have been on your plan that day, but maybe will be next time.

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments

Comment posted by John Clulow on June 9, 2013 at 1:50 PM

I like the skyscape with the roiling clouds and from the thumbnail, wondered if the unexpected guest star might have been a tornado. Seeing the form and color of a butterfly against that turbulent background is a delightful contrast, including in colors.

But then I saw the animals on the horizon in silhouette, realized they were giraffes, and what struck me then was the lines of the inclination of the necks of those on the right side and then the single one over on the left in the opposite direction. All of these, to me, seem to be pointing upwards, back to the clouds and butterfly.

The other thing I noticed about it is the contrast in scale providing depth in the size of the butterfly against that of the giraffes.

Registered on November 1, 2012, 155 Posts, 1079 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on June 9, 2013 at 2:19 PM

A neat bit of serendipity! I've had a few like this, and am always overjoyed at the unexpected and pleasant surprise. The butterfly makes for a unique image of what was an ordinary "sturm und drang" picture.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on June 9, 2013 at 2:22 PM

A serendipitous moment, for sure. This one put a smile on my face.

If I were offering any sort of constructive criticism of the image as a whole, I'd possibly suggest cropping from the sides slightly, to eliminate at least on of those dark trees on the left and the bright patch of blue on the right. Regardless, I think it's a really fun shot.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on June 9, 2013 at 2:26 PM

Hey, this looks familiar Johan

, except for the butterfly!!! And that is exactly what makes this exceptional, even if it is not pin sharp.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Dawson on June 9, 2013 at 3:27 PM

Fantastic timing, congrats on a stellar image

Registered on February 4, 2006, 364 Posts, 8872 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on June 10, 2013 at 12:48 AM

I love everything about this, Johan! Good fortune with the butterfly and it makes a great image convert to an exceptional image.

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on June 10, 2013 at 3:16 AM

Johan,

Without the butterfly this image would be a fine example of an incoming storm, in an area infamous for getting wet.
The bonus of the butterfly makes this exceptional, OK it is not perfect in every aspect, but I for one do not really care.
Congratulations

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Marsel van Oosten on June 10, 2013 at 4:58 AM

Very nice animalscape. My first reaction was that this is a composite, but apparently it's not. That makes this a really nice surprise. The clouds look a bit too purple/saturated imho.

Registered on March 9, 2004, 285 Posts, 2277 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Reed on June 10, 2013 at 3:05 PM

Wow. You couldn't have planned that any better. The butterfly makes this a stunning surprise to your shot collection no doubt. Is it somthing I would have tried to put together no...but it really works...much more interesting with that little fella in there than without.

Registered on September 19, 2009, 198 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Johan Malmros on June 11, 2013 at 4:50 PM

Thank you all for your comments.
I agree Gary that a position of the butterfly more to the right would have been better.
I'll try your cropping suggestion Max.

@Vincent - Nice that I could give you a bit of a surprise. Most will be pretty familiar

Registered on January 6, 2011, 20 Posts, 154 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on June 20, 2013 at 12:44 PM

Excellent - very unique and effective image -
Congrats on the WP!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on June 21, 2013 at 1:07 AM

This is an "Awesome Photo" Johan

Love the brewing storm clouds and giraffe silhouettes, but the butterfly is an incredible addition.

Congrats on the well deserved EP

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Julia Flanagan on June 27, 2013 at 12:45 PM

Cool image! I had always thought giraffes were big and butterflies were small, but now I see that the butterfly might snatch up one of those giraffes like a pteradactyl and fly off with it.

Very sweet serendipity indeed!

Registered on November 13, 2003, 59 Posts, 986 Comments

Comment posted by Johan Malmros on June 29, 2013 at 9:30 AM

Totally unexpected - Thanks

Registered on January 6, 2011, 20 Posts, 154 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 13, 2013 at 1:02 PM

Neat shot Johan, the 'serendipity' factor makes this a very special image!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments