One of the many things I never saw coming when I began this journey into photography is how much I would end up enjoying photography of insects. They come in so many shapes and sizes. And insects are so interesting looking. Especially when you are able to get a good look at them.
And getting a good look at them is the whole point of nature photography. Capture a fleeting moment forever. Take time to study it and absorb it and become one with that little slice of nature in that moment.
I am not sure what it is that draws me to the Monarch butterfly over other butterflies. It might simply be the shear uniqueness of how they look. There are only a few other butterflies that look similar and one is quite literally a mimic. Trying to coast on the coat tails or, wings of the Monarch Butterfly. And if it is worth copying then it is worthy of my time for sure.
Maybe I just like the Monarch Butterfly because if there is one butterfly in the United States that you know the name of it is the Monarch Butterfly. And it is probably the only one that I could identify at all when I first began photographing butterflies. So it just stuck with me.
But they are also a very obvious and attention grabbing butterfly. The large orange wings pop against a background of green vegetation. And that orange color is distinct from anything else. I can’t think of many things in nature that are such a bold orange color.
And the markings aside from the orange colors are beautiful as well. I love the way the wings are divided up into large orange lobes by the think veins of black. And around the edges of the wings are thick black lines with white dots. And the large black body of the Monarch Butterfly is speckled with white spots.
I have been trying for a long time to grow milkweed in my yard to help attract and support Monarch Butterflies. Finally over the last couple of years it seems to be paying off. We have several large stalks growing in a few places in our yard now. I don’t remember seeing many Monarch Butterflies this past year, but hopefully I will see more int he future.
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