Swallowtail in late August

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Swallowtail in late August

September 10, 2015 by Mike Powell

I’m back from a brief overseas trip and it’s time to switch back from shooting in urban surroundings to my more typical nature images. In the meantime, here’s a shot of a beautiful Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) from a pre-trip visit to Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria, Virginia.

Posted in Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer | Tagged Alexandria VA, Canon 50D, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly, Huntley Meadows Park, Papilio glaucus, swallowtail, Tamron 150-600mm telephoto | 9 Comments

9 Responses

on September 10, 2015 at 8:31 am | Reply Victor Rakmil

Wonderful shot!
on September 10, 2015 at 8:58 am | Reply svtakeiteasy

Beautiful Mike!
on September 10, 2015 at 9:46 pm | Reply Bonnie Marshall

You make photographing beauty look easy…I suspect it is not.
- on September 11, 2015 at 5:01 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Bonnie. I loved your comment. There are times when the photos do seem to come easily–when the light is particularly beautiful and the subjects are unusually cooperative. Those moments are almost magical and the challenge is to have developed my skills enough to be able to capture the beauty that is right in front of me. At other times, I have to work harder to get shots and there can be long periods of waiting. In many ways, I suspect, photography is a lot like other creative pursuits (like writing, for example)–you practice and practice and develop the skills and instincts to present your view of the world.
  - on September 11, 2015 at 4:04 pm Bonnie Marshall
    
    Absolutely…skill and experience and patience…especially patience. You know. Smiles.
on September 11, 2015 at 4:51 am | Reply New Hampshire Garden Solutions

Remarkably undamaged wings. The ones I see look a bit tattered. Nice shot!
- on September 11, 2015 at 4:55 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Allen. Most of the ones that I am seeing now have some damage to their wings. This one was either young or remarkably lucky.
on September 11, 2015 at 5:58 pm | Reply Charlie@Seattle Trekker

Such a gorgeous, thoughtful way to bring the week to a close.
- on September 12, 2015 at 5:16 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Charlie.