Mike Powell

When I try to take photographs of a butterfly, I usually have multiple objectives. First, of course, I’d like to be able to capture some images that are more or less in focus. Ideally, I like to get an interesting wing position, which often means that I try to catch the butterfly with its wings open. Finally, I love to catch the butterfly in a visually attractive habitat or doing something interesting, though these variables are the ones over which I have the least amount of control.

On Monday I chased after this Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio glaucus) when I spotted it in flight and tracked it when it landed in some nearby vegetation. There did not seem to be any flowers there, so I was a little surprised that the butterfly had chosen to perch at that spot. I carefully chose my shooting angle and was pretty pleased that I was able to capture a lot of the habitat. Although there is still a lot of greenery, the dried-up leaves help to give the image an interesting autumn vibe.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.