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M/CU - 1st Place
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M/CU - 1st Place

by Howard Cheek

Gallery: EPA 2014Posted September 5, 2014975 views32 comments
Double Teamed

Tired of my swallowtails yet? :wink:
Here I managed to get all three in focus, two in flight.
The dark background is a shadowed area beneath our pecan tree.
F/11, 1/1250th, ISO 1250, 1D M3, 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4x, no flash @ 12:35pm. Clear/sunny.
Post Script: After seven years & over 200,000 clicks my camera sensor's on the fritz. I get a tight grid pattern now across the entire image. Off to Canon on Monday, can't afford an upgrade as yet. The high humidity out here may have played a factor in its demise :frown:

Comments

32 comments
Comment posted by Mike Ramy on September 5, 2014 at 11:29 AM
Unbelievable,
Howard you are in a league all your own !
Love the Pano crop and a couple more details in this image I'm sure that will be mentioned by others.
Way :cool: Man !
Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments
Comment posted by Barb Pflaum on September 5, 2014 at 12:31 PM
Amazing to get them all in focus, especially the one in flight! Excellent sharpness and detail. Beautiful light and color. I like the pano crop. Very nicely done, Howard! :toast: :toast:
Registered on January 14, 2009, 316 Posts, 2724 Comments
Comment posted by Kathy Barnhart on September 5, 2014 at 11:01 PM
Wow, this is the ultimate butterfly photo with all three in focus and separated. Wonderful movement and colors too.
Registered on November 11, 2011, 404 Posts, 1639 Comments
Comment posted by John Tobias on September 5, 2014 at 11:12 PM
Outstanding photography!! This entire series you have posted are great!! Sorry to hear of your camera problems. Thanks for sharing.
Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments
Comment posted by Keith Tate on September 6, 2014 at 6:41 AM
Awesome Howard !! :toast:
Registered on December 11, 2004, 150 Posts, 1667 Comments
Comment posted by scott lanz on September 6, 2014 at 11:00 AM
Fabulous, Howard. Three STs, all in focus, and one in flight! Just amazing!! You must live in a fairyland, and you have the magic touch. I really like the light on this as well.

I like this as is of course, but cropping out the left flying ST and leaving the two other STs and the zinnias, makes a fabulous alternate image. Maybe doesn't have the "wow" factor of three with two in flight, but the two beautiful STs and the zinnias make a fabulous comp/image by themselves. :toast: :toast: :jump:

Too bad about the camera. Hope it's back soon.
Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on September 6, 2014 at 11:07 AM
Wow, you've sure got a crew of these. How neat to get all 3 in focus and a fine sense of movement across the frame. Sorry to hear about your camera. I've shipped lenses to Canon several times and gotten good results and decent turn around (10 days to 2 weeks including shipping). Good luck with your camera. (I'd need to look it up for sure, but it seems like the claim for my 5D3 is 200,000 clicks.)
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Balakumar Kaushik on September 6, 2014 at 6:24 PM
Wow, amazing ! Couple of them in flight and still you got it on same plane, sharp ! :toast:
Registered on January 4, 2008, 98 Posts, 1403 Comments
Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on September 6, 2014 at 8:48 PM
Beautiful and expert work, Howard. No nits! :toast: :toast:
Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments
Comment posted by gary phillips on September 6, 2014 at 9:53 PM
Another great shot, Howard. So sorry to hear about your camera, hope it ends well. I hope you have a bunch of unprocessed shots you can share while you wait for the fix.
Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments
Comment posted by Yun Gao on September 6, 2014 at 10:46 PM
Howard, I’m not tired of your swallowtails pictures. I can see the perseverance, passion and time behind your in-flight images. This one is fantastic! :toast:
Registered on September 11, 2012, 267 Posts, 1621 Comments
Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on September 7, 2014 at 3:50 PM
Never, Howard !!! Amazing to have caught three of them all in different poses. Wonderful sense of movement across the frame - a truly superb image in my view !!!
Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments
Comment posted by Albert Darmo on September 7, 2014 at 6:07 PM
Hi Howard :wavey: You really have something to show for all those 200,000 clicks. an unrivaled portfolio of natures beauty.. :toast: :toast: This last post is an incredible composition :toast:


Albert Darmo

Canada
Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments
Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on September 13, 2014 at 1:35 PM
How wonderful this is, Howard. Gives me the feeling like I'm seeing a sequence of shots or something.

Congrats on the WP too..... :toast:
Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Fach on September 14, 2014 at 11:24 AM
Howard: A bill for my shattered :eek:-meter will be coming your way shortly. Spectacular capture. Hope your camera woes resolve quickly. >=))>
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on September 14, 2014 at 11:56 AM
This is where I'm at with the camera repair after their initial examination.
No parts are being replaced, still in the dark.
Will try & get some more info Monday..

Description of Problem/Symptoms
Banding on the images. Clean and check all functions, repair to good working order. Please respond to estimate.
Accessories Received
Body Cap, CF Card: Prospec 8 GB UDMA, Eyecup, No Battery
DESCRIPTION UNIT PRICE QTY ADJUSTMENTS LINE TOTAL
Out Of Warranty Standard Labor Charge $219.00 1 $219.00
2 Day Shipping & Handling $14.00 1 $14.00
TOTAL ADJUSTMENTS
SUBTOTAL
SALES TAX
TOTAL
PAYMENT
BALANCE $251.64
$233.00
$18.64
$251.64
PARTS $0.00

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments
Comment posted by Ramamohan Pai on January 3, 2015 at 11:48 AM
Howard - Congratulations on winning the top pick in 2014 EPA Selections !! :toast:
Registered on November 1, 2003, 550 Posts, 9037 Comments
Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on January 3, 2015 at 1:40 PM
Howard, how nice to close out the 2014 year with the EP annual selection and this image being a very fine addition to that extraordinary compilation......Congratulations to you on this very well deserved honor. :toast:
Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments
Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on January 4, 2015 at 6:39 AM
Many congratulations on the award, Howard - and not just for this remarkable image but for your whole series of butterfly images this past year. I have enjoyed them all enormously !!!!
Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments
Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on January 4, 2015 at 11:36 AM
Not an easy photograph to make - well done and congratulations on your 1st place!
Grt, Ingrid.
Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments
Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on January 4, 2015 at 1:41 PM
Howard,
Congratulations on this honor. You deserve it. While this image is stunning, the body of your work is exceptional. Your versatility is an additional element that sets you apart. Happy New Year, can't wait to see what you will do next. :toast: :toast:
Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on January 4, 2015 at 6:37 PM
Major congrats on your EP winner here Howard! The details in the 3 bfs are awesome...guess you're turning in the Giant Swallowtail and Zinnia Man! :wink:

Bet you plant Zinnias again next year. :biggrin:
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Sanjay Sundaram on January 4, 2015 at 6:55 PM
Congratulations Howard!! Keep those awesome butterfly images coming in 2015!

Sanjay
Registered on April 9, 2013, 107 Posts, 725 Comments
Comment posted by Yun Gao on January 5, 2015 at 11:40 PM
Howard, many congratulations on the M/CU - 1st Place award! Outstanding work! :toast:
Registered on September 11, 2012, 267 Posts, 1621 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 6, 2015 at 1:08 AM
Way to go! Congrats on the Macro win!
You've really gotten some exceptional images with your buttrflies.
Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on January 6, 2015 at 3:42 AM
Congrats on the well deserved award!

D&L
Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments
Comment posted by Albert Darmo on January 6, 2015 at 12:36 PM
Hi Howard :wavey: WELL DESERVED 1ST PLACE EPA WIN :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast:


Albert Darmo
Canada
Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments
Comment posted by Ray Whitt on January 6, 2015 at 8:05 PM
Congratulations Howard! A wonderful image and well deserved recognition. This is a stunning example of your outstanding work!

Ray
Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments
Comment posted by Charles Rose on January 7, 2015 at 4:19 PM
Simply outstanding Howard! Great work. :toast:
Registered on March 13, 2011, 58 Posts, 122 Comments
Comment posted by gary phillips on January 8, 2015 at 7:20 PM
Howard, there is no one more deserving of an EP for the amount of quality images you produce. Happy New Year and many more to you. I am planting zinnias this year in your honor and will continue to be one of your biggest fans. :toast: :toast:
Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments
Comment posted by Rick Turner on January 8, 2015 at 10:08 PM
Sweet award Howard. Keep onshooting :wavey:
Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments
Comment posted by Larry Lynch on March 24, 2015 at 1:05 PM
I agree with one of the comments, absolutely amazing. Congrats on your 2014 Award. :jump:
Registered on September 16, 2006, 773 Posts, 9940 Comments