The Butterfly

[alfredo]

I went for a walk. Took my camera. Most of the walk was uninspiring. Sometimes a walk is a walk. I did take two images worth playing with and saving. The oak was one. I convinced my wife to cross the street with me to see the pond in this otherwise uninteresting park. The pond and an unrestricted view of the winter sunset are the best this park offers for a guy with a camera.

The pond was half empty, there were some mallards on the far side rooting through the muddy bottom looking for something to eat. You never think of ducks as being predators, but to bugs and fish, they are Velociraptors.

So I busied myself in a pursuit to find something of interest. There were a couple dragonflies, but I had a low tolerance for frustration and disappointment. Nearby there was a little orange butterfly. Nothing special, just a butterfly with aspirations to be a moth. I grabbed a few images in hope of getting one in focus. It was not easy timing the slow shutter to release when its wings were open. I wasn't completely successful, but one takes what they can get.

My goal wasn't representing reality, or a pretty symmetrical image. A little unsettling, unreal, imperfect, but eye catching is what I am aiming for.

I tried to emulate HDR, but it didn't work as I wanted. I didn't want to bring out detail in the dark areas. A very light application of the cartoon filter gave just the right amount of punch to the butterfly. It really brought out the browns.

The eye will focus on a light area not far from the tip of the left wing.

My tools: GIMP, layers, eraser, filtered BW, curves, the cartoon filter, and Ouzo.

The Butterfly

[Mira]

1. You achieved your goal, in my opinion. A startling and surprising

image. I was on edge reading and did not scroll down til I was through, and am glad for that.
The shadow is good. So it looks alive on the "concrete" background. It's amazing to me what all you can do.

[alfredo]

4. Thanks . I was in the mood to do something tedious, namely

erasing everything but one element in an image.

Using Color Accent might have made my task easier, but it isn't practical shooting wildlife.

[maheanuu]

2. Really a nice piece of work Alfredo

For sure it's a Keeper!

[alfredo]

5. Thanks and welcome to DU

[Gamey]

3. Excellent!

Like Oak too.

[alfredo]

6. Thanks. That was my pretty shot for the season.

[Solly Mack]

7. Alfredo with a hint of Dali

At least that's what I'm calling it. :)

I like that.


A lot.

[alfredo]

8. Thank you. Big fan of Dali.