Only rarely does a single photo of mine have so many positive attributes, for me at least.
When I’m evaluating one of my nature photos I’m generally looking for at least one of the following traits:
- does it have visual appeal?
- is it well done technically – sharpness, composition, things like that?
- does it document any interesting behaviors?
- does it illustrate any nature or science concepts that I can use as a ‘teachable moment’ on my blog?
If the photo accomplishes even one of those goals I’m often more than satisfied. A single photo almost never meets all of them but I think this one does, even though it isn’t perfect.
1/2000, f/5.6, ISO 1250, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender
Three days ago on Antelope Island I spent most of my time trying to get decent photos of Rufous Hummingbirds and White-lined Sphinx moths in flight as they were nectaring on Rocky Mountain Bee Plant (Cleome serrulata). The wildfire smoke was simply awful so it wasn’t easy. Focusing was difficult and I had to use higher ISO settings than I prefer in order to get barely sufficient shutter speed.
But I managed to get some photos I like, including this one, and I like it more every time I look at it. Let’s see how many of my goals it meets.
- Depending on tastes visual appeal is an individual thing but I think it’s a very attractive photo. Then the photo becomes even more interesting when the viewer notices the ants on the flower cluster in the lower right quadrant.
- The moth, the flower cluster and the ants are sharp where they need to be and in my view the composition works quite well.
- The moth and the ants feeding on nectar check off the interesting behaviors documented in the photo.
- The nectar that the moth and the ants are after is produced at the base of the flower stamens. Evolution has provided extremely long stamens that the moth and most other pollinators have no choice but to brush against as they’re collecting nectar so pollen collects on them to be transferred to the next flowers they feed on (the ants, being very small, do little if any pollinating). Evolution has also provided the extremely long proboscis of the moth which is capable of reaching the nectar at the base of the stamens. Nature and science concepts for a teachable moment – check.
Is the photo perfect? Of course not. Among other (minor) things the right wing of the moth is soft. It would have been better if it had been the left wing that was soft since that wing isn’t between the moth’s body and the viewer. Ideally both wings would be sharp.
But it’s almost unheard of for me to get this many of my preferences checked off in a single photo so I decided to share.
Ron
Ron Dudley! Stop being so critical of yourself and your photos. This photo left me wishing for more. I must say thank you for such an amazing shot and lessons on pollination, I remember seeing my Mom taking a little brush to pollinate plants because she said she didn’t see enough Bees & Butterflies around to do the job. Anyhow, you get a gold star & go to the front of the class!
Thanks Shirley but I don’t see it as being critical of myself. I actually think I’m a pretty decent photographer, all things considered.
But no image is perfect and what I try to do is critique my own photos, including the good and the not so good. And I think this one is pretty darn good, at least for my purposes.
You are incredibly hard on yourself, but I agree. This single photo ticks a LOT of boxes. Mind you, this is not uncommon with your photos and your narrative.
Hooray for the pollinators. The beautiful, efficient pollinators.
Thanks, EC. Pollinators – we’d be in a helluva mess without them.
Allow me to add “Aesthetics” to your list, and since I also took a photo of this very same moth about 3 yrs ago (saved in a box, too precious to dispose of), and my photo, top view, wings spread, shows a design with a distinctly Japanese type scrolling with those tiny pens in small spaces, a design that takes one’s breath away!! How marvelous that design is, worthy of framing! But your photo doesn’t show that breath-taking wonderment 🙁
Terri, for me aesthetics is part and parcel of “visual appeal”.
It’s hard to capture that particular “breath-taking wonderment” when they’re in flight.
I concur with all your points and more, as one could spend hours studying the particulars (biology, etc.) of the moth, ants, and plants. I can imagine Mr. Dudley assigning his students a choice of subjects to study based on this photo. Not to mention an object lesson in nature photography.
You’ve got this teacher pegged, Lyle.
Yep, this shot definitely ticks a lot of boxes. Well done! I don’t think I’ll ever stop marveling at the elegance of Natural Selection, even when the results are not in our favor (I’m looking at you, COVID variants).
Thanks, Marty. Speaking of selection pressures I’m quite fearful of another Covid variant that may be even worse than Delta.
Always the teacher. Keep teaching it suits you well and we all love the lesson!
It is a great photo.
Thank you for the Amaranth seeds, both Haley and my parents are excited to try growing them next spring.
You’re very welcome, April. And thank you for the peaches. I ate one as part of my lunch a few minutes ago and it was delicious. You’re a peach!
As an amateur artist, I find much to like with this composition. The design line is good and the repetition of the pink in the upper left corner is softer and less intense than in the lower right. There are some interesting aspects to find only if you study the image (the ants). It’s hard enough to design a well composed painting but I can’t imagine being able to do that in a matter of seconds out in the field with your subjects moving around. Well done, Ron!
I appreciate your artist’s perspective very much, Linda.
What a beauty–the best White-Lined Sphinx photo I’ve ever seen . If this
is the so-called end of summer, you’ve provided a beautiful coda- I hope it
goes on a long time yet for the little nectar- gatherers of the world .
Thanks very much, Kris. I’m still seeing plenty of plants actively producing nectar but I’m seeing fewer nectar-gatherers than I usually do this time of year.
Isn’t there also a bee? 🙂 it’s a very pretty shot.
Lol never mind! It’s another ant! It fooled my eye on my phone.
Arwen, I think the ant on the left is actually two ants. We can only see part of one of them.
Excellent photo and very interesting and informative narrative. If you were just passing by this photo without any narrative your eyes would of course focus on the moth and the plant. I think you might very easily miss the ants and the very long proboscis (not a familiar word) that reaches all the way to the base of the stamens. Interesting too that you can see its eye on the right side.
Thanks, Everett. The first time I reviewed the photos I took that day I completely missed the ants. But then I was reviewing pretty fast…
We have these here – though my garden is so dry, there’s little nectar for them. I love their eyes. Though I love what they aren’t – miniature human eyes looking at us.
Sallie, I agree about their interesting eyes.
Beautiful! Moth feeding shows up clearly and background sets it off nicely.:) Ants also feeding is a bonus reminding how many different creatures are dependent of “one” plant….. Their bent proboscis is always interesting…..
Thanks, Judy. Their proboscis is incredibly flexible and delicate in how it works. When I’m very close to the moth the proboscis is fascinating to watch through my viewfinder.