In the Field

Lorquin in the Light. Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. June 29, 2005.

This image was shot near the same time the image "Guarding Its Domain" was shot. In fact, I shot this image about 5 minutes before "Guarding Its Domain." And, when I shot this image I was pretty happy with it and considered moving on. But, I decided to sit tight and watch. And sure enough, 5 minutes later the butterfly dropped its wings and I captured "Guarding Its Domain" which is, by far, my preferred image.

I mention all this for one specific reason: I know many nature photographers that are, surprisingly, quite impatient and are almost always on the move. After capturing an acceptable image from a specific subject they want to move to the next subject (in search, I suppose, of that always-elusive million dollar image - which is probably sitting just beside the pot of gold at the bottom of the rainbow). I don't know how many times I've been ready to leave a subject and then I stop and tell myself just to settle down and watch. And, most of the time, THAT's when I capture the best images. So relax. The images will come to you - you don't have to chase them around!

Behind the Camera

Lorquin in the Light. Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. June 29, 2005.

Digital Capture; Compressed RAW (NEF) format; ISO 100.

Nikon D2X with Nikon 200-400 mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR lens @ 400 mm (600 mm equivalent with digital conversion factor) supported on Gitzo 1348 carbon fibre tripod with Wimberley head. SB-800 flash (fill) with Better Beamer Flash Extender mounted on Really Right Stuff flash bracket. VR turned to "On" and in "Normal" mode.

1/200s @ f6.3; -1.33 stop exposure compensation from matrix-metered exposure setting; balanced i-TTL flash exposure with -0.3 stop compensation on SB-800.

At the Computer

Lorquin in the Light. Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. June 29, 2005.

RAW Conversion, including first-pass sharpening, exposure compensation, and tone curve adjustment, using Phase One's C1 Pro.

All further digital correction on 16-bit TIFF file using Adobe's Photoshop CS2, including additional tone curve adjustment, selective saturation enhancement, and selective sharpening for web output.

Conservation

Lorquin in the Light. Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. June 29, 2005.

Ten percent of the revenue generated by this image will be donated to Wildsight.

Species Status in Canada*: This species is not designated as at risk.

The Lorquin's Admiral (Limenitis lorquini) is a dark, medium-sized butterfly found in western North America from British Columbia south to Baja California and east to western Montana and Idaho. This species will aggressively defend its territory against others of the same species and will, at times, chase other flying insects and birds. The species is considered secure globally although it may be quite rare in parts of its range (particularly at the periphery).

This Lorquin's Admiral was photographed in the Columbia Valley of the East Kootenays. While this species is not currently not considered at risk itself, many ecosystems within the Columbia Valley face development pressure, including pressure from logging operations. Wildsight is an effective conservation organization that protects biodiversity and promotes sustainable communities in Canada's Columbia and Rocky Mountains. Support for Wildsight, through donation or becoming a member, will help ensure that they remain effective in their efforts to conserve threatened or endangered species and ecosystems.

*as determined by COSEWIC: The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada