When I first spotted this Black Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes) last Saturday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, I thought that it was a fresh, newly-emerged specimen. It was only when the butterfly opened its wings fully that I realized that it was missing the lower portion of one of its wings. Although the butterfly seemed to fly quite normally, the significant damage to its wing was visually noticeable.
This encounter caused me to recall a conversation that I had with a fellow wildlife/nature photographer many years ago. This photographer told me that he only photographs “perfect” subject, i.e. those without damage or blemishes. I was a bit stunned at that approach, to be honest. Most aspects of our lives imperfect in one way or another, after all we are humans.
Is beauty to be found only in perfection? I don’t think so, and my general approach to photography (and to life) is to look for the beauty all around me, a beauty that can be found literally everywhere. So I endeavored to highlight the beauty of the damaged butterfly, a beauty that transcends its physical appearance.
Is your idea of beauty based on external, physical characteristics or does it include other aspects as well? Is beauty universal or is it individual and personal? I sometimes ponder and reflect on these kinds of “big” questions, not really seeking for definitive answers to them, but instead forcing myself to explore the limits of my understanding and consciousness and perhaps even expand those limits in the process.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Excellent photo and equally so the commentary! On any given day you provide something beautiful to view and well thought words to ponder…a great and much needed distraction these days. On perfection I like the words of Arun Pandit : “Real Perfection lies in knitting the perfect & the imperfect “Perfectly”!”
Thank-YOU Mr. Mike!!
Thanks so much for your very kind words. I really like the quotation that you provided–the author and I are in perfect synch regarding “perfection.”
I am so very pleased that the quote was liked and hopefully found a new home with you too! As you may or not recall, I am of a quotatious nature. That said, I meant to include in my reply a late note of congratulations on your 12th Blog-versary. As I had noted on your June 30th post…I never miss a post but seldom add a reply. I should have done so as 12 years is a milestone indeed. Here’s to the next 12 years and beyond! On a side note, Benjamin will be 12 in January!
When I initially read your comment, I thought that it might in fact be from Benjamin, but then I seemed to recall that in recent years he had used a separate e-mail for his responses. It is hard to believe that he is almost 12. Wow! This past year I’m be a little less frequent in my blog posts, but continue to try to post something at least a few times a week. Thanks so much for all of your kind words, your ongoing support, and your never ending encouragement.
YOU are so very welcome! I never read a post that it does not take me back to the years when Benjamin and I shared each one. I cherish those long ago days! Your photography and writing helped motivate his interest in nature and the world around us. He is, of course, into many other things these days including many different sports but retains his love of nature. Thank-YOU again, Mr. Mike!! P.S. I could not ascertain if you had seen my reply, rare as it was, on your June 30th post.
I went back and found your earlier comment and responded. Sometimes I speed through comments and managed to miss it initially. Pass on my regards to Benjamin when you next see him.
Beautiful photograph and words.
Thanks, Laura. You’ve followed my posst long enough to know that I am prone to tangents when I talk of my photos, including meandering philosophical musings, like the one today.
I think most of us who engage in creative pursuits are prone to doing so. I think it is good for us.
Your butterfly experienced the perfect escape from a predator!
You are probably right. I suspect that a bird was responsible for the damage to the wing, though, of course, I have no way of knowing for sure.
Gorgeous pic 👌
Thanks.
I believe there is beauty in everything and everybody. We just have to open ourselves to find it. The butterfly is beautiful. I wonder what happened to it.
I agree totally with you. As for the butterfly, I hope that it continued to live a long and blessed life, despite its impairment. In my experience, most creatures adapt to their changed abilities and continue to live full lives.
Interesting conversation, Mike. If you are only going to look for “perfect” subjects you won’t take many photographs. Like you, I see beauty is everywhere, and am always inspired by creatures that adapt to their reality, including butterflies that get along with much more of a wing missing than this one.
I guess that story exemplifies the old phrase: beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I agree that beauty doesn’t fall from perfection but I guess for some it does. I think your shot is beautiful.