Our butterfly bush has the tendency to explode in August. This year has been no exception. One weekend I noticed that the bush was covered in Monarch butterflies, so I retrieved my camera and started shooting.

All the images here are captured with a Canon 40D and a Canon ef135mmf/2L lens. All photos are processed with Nik Software's Color Efex Pro 4 by applying contrast adjustments and a Fuji Velvia 100 filter unless otherwise noted.

The Fuji Velvia 100 filter made for vibrant purples and oranges...maybe a little too vibrant. Here you see a Monarch upside down on the flower.

In this image a Monarch is captured as it begins to fly.

Trying to capture a Monarch with its wings spread and get an interesting background proved quite difficult on this day. This image was about as close as I came to achieving my goal.

These photos were taken in the later afternoon and this Monarch was located in just the right position to be illuminated by the fading sun behind. The light from the sun lends a nice color to the orange and yellows on the wing.

I love the ef135mmf/2L lens...this image below is why.

This image is processed using Nik Software's Pro HDR and 3 exposures. I like the way the leaves in the background faded out. The HDR effect here is subtle.

Here I have applied a Kodak Portra 400 filter. You can see the purples are more life like as compared to the Velvia filter.

Thanks for stopping by!