Inspiring Photo: A Matter of Balance #14717020

A Matter of Balance

Uploaded: October 23, 2014 15:48:57 | Entered: March 15, 2015 18:45:15

Description

A monarch butterfly takes a breather on an old, rusted-out balancing whirligig in my garden. Haven't seen many butterflies this year.

DD

Exif: F Number: 6.3, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/640 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 800, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 300.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Comments

Natasha Pliss October 23, 2014

Beautiful and unique image, Val! Impressive composition and wonderful treatment. A fave for me. #1592187

JO ANN CLEVELAND October 23, 2014

Me too - a fave for me! This is sooo pretty and love the treatment Val! #11166416

Karen Bacon October 23, 2014

This is absolutely lovely Val! A fav for me! #11166434

Terry Cervi October 23, 2014

I just saw a handful at the end of the summer here, Ms.V. You have captured yours just beautifully and added such gorgeous treatment to create a masterpiece! Fave of course! #11166453

David Phalen October 23, 2014

Fabulous capture and treatment!! Beautiful!! #11166476

Dayna Cain October 23, 2014

Gorgeous work Val! Wow! #11166481

Carol L. Fowler October 23, 2014

Your tones and textures are phenomenal! #11166517

Leslie McLain October 23, 2014

Beautiful capture and texture, Val. #11166523

Robert R. Goodman October 23, 2014

Hi Valarie,Beautiful capture.Really like treatment,We haven't see a lot of them here in the desert my friend.Forecast for a wet winter here,should see a lot next year!!! #11166550

Bill Whala October 23, 2014

Stunningly beautiful, Val!! Original image and treatment are top notch. Fave for me too. #11166555

Sheri Whala October 23, 2014

What a cool shot! I love the treatment also! #11166628

Kathy Salerni October 23, 2014

Hey Val! I have read that the monarch butterflies have decline by 90% in the last 20 years.. Very sad.
Your treament on this image is stunning! WTG! #11166682

Laura E. Swan October 23, 2014

Is a whirligig anything like a thingamagig, because if so I have a few of those kicking around?! This is a work of art. I see so many DDR images that really should become greeting cards and this is surely one of them. I was just commenting on Steve Z's gallery saying I wish we could order cards from each others work here on BP. I'd LOVE having that option. :) Until we meet again, LOTW's aka LOTS! :) #11166730

Ann Coates October 24, 2014

It was on our news the other night that the monarch butterflies are in decline, how sad. Really like your treatment here Val, a beautiful image. #11166764

Tammy M. Anderson October 24, 2014

Only seen a few here too this year. Gorgeous tones, textures and vertical comp. Sure to see this again. Great work, Val. #11166792

Michelle Alton October 24, 2014

You have the perfect "eye" for a good shot, and then on top of THAT, you SEE the magic that turns the photo into a masterful work of artistry! Perfect. #11166953

Stephen Zacker October 24, 2014

Love the feeling you have created with this. Very Nice! #11166959

Don Christiana October 24, 2014

Amazing image Val. The composition, treatment, detail and colors make this a winner. Your a true artist with a camera. A Fave for me. #11167074

John Connolly October 24, 2014

A beautifully presented image Val! I love your treatment with this one! #11167128

Gord MacEachern October 24, 2014

Poor Monarchs are on decline here also, hardly any here last year, but a few more this year. A lot of people trying to help with different programs, we can only hope they turn around.
Now for the good stuff, WOW,WOW, WOW!!! Always such a pleasure to view your posts Val!! #11167173

Val Feldman October 24, 2014 1

Thanks everyone - appreciate your stop-by and comments....and Laura, a whirligig is really more like a thingamabob than a thingamagig...subtle difference but if you look real close..... :) :) #11167177

Nadia Paul October 24, 2014

A gorgeous capture Val - lovely tones, perfect comp and detail and artistic presentation - winner my friend! #11167311

Laura E. Swan October 24, 2014

Thank you so very much. I'll go get my pen and notebook and get this jotted down! YOU'RE THE BEST! :D #11167344

Julianne Bradford October 24, 2014

Wonderful background Val! #11167368

Patrick Rouzes October 26, 2014

Love the tones, textures, dd work & image, Val. Super job, my friend.
#11168473

Emile Abbott October 27, 2014

We have had Zero in Del Rio, Val. This is wonderful capture and treatment. #11169290

Marijana Fajgl October 29, 2014

What a perfect capture, Val! Fantastic tones, background and details. #11170861

Teresa Burnett November 03, 2014

Simply beautiful, Val!! Love the treatment here!! #11177416

Mary-Anne Benusis March 18, 2015

Nice. What software do you use? #11267307

Mary K. Robison March 24, 2015

Beautiful colors, clarity, capture, and DD effects, Val. #11271125

Kathy Salerni April 14, 2015

Huge congrats on your beautiful Finalists, Val! WTG! #11285164

Marijana Fajgl April 14, 2015

What a beauty! Huge congratulations, Val! #11285238

Deborah Lewinson April 14, 2015

Congrats on another beautiful finalist, Val! #11285533

Michele Peterson April 14, 2015

Wow, weren't you in the right place at the right time! Beautiful in every way. Congratulations on your finalist! #11285582

Natasha Pliss April 14, 2015

Congratulation on your beautiful and truly unique Finalist, Val! Good luck in the next round. #11285655

Carol L. Fowler April 14, 2015

Gorgeous Finalist! Congrats! #11285668

Joannie Bertucci April 14, 2015

Val, you've out done yourself with this beauty! Congrats on your finalist! #11285808

Reynaldo D. Reyes April 14, 2015

So beautiful Val. Congrats on your awesome finalist. #11285815

Nadia Paul April 14, 2015

So glad to see this beauty get the recognition it deserves - congrats on a wonderful finalist my friend! #11285868

Ellen Hodges April 15, 2015

Huge congrats on this gorgeous finalist, Val!!! Best luck next round!! #11285946

Carol Eade April 17, 2015

Congratulations on this lovely finalist, Val! #11287681

Patrick Rouzes April 18, 2015

Love this beautiful finalist, Val. Congrats, my friend.
#11288025

Becky LeMaster April 19, 2015

Congratulations once again on this finalist also Val! It's beautiful! Best of luck to you! #11288584

John D. Roach April 20, 2015

Congrat! Beautiful image. #11288843

Lois Adomite April 20, 2015

so lovely congratulations on the big win! #11288881

Natasha Pliss April 20, 2015

I am so happy for you, Val! This is a fabulous and truly unique image. Congratulations on your Grand Win!!! #11288894

Ellen Hodges April 20, 2015

Huge congrats on a fabulous and gorgeous Grand Prize winner, Val!!!! #11288909

Carol Flisak April 20, 2015

Lovely image, Val... wonderful details, textures and tones! Huge congratulations on your wonderful beautiful Grand Prize Winner! #11288917

Cathy A. Rose April 20, 2015

Congratulations for your Grand Prize, Val on this beautiful creature!! #11288925

Sylvia Rourke April 20, 2015

Congratulations on your Grand Price win. Simply beautiful. #11288937

Michele Peterson April 20, 2015

Am I ever happy to see this get the GP! This is so pretty and well done in every way, Val! Huge congratulations on the win, now go celebrate!! #11288971

Peggy Pfister April 20, 2015

Wow! HUGE congrats on this superb Grand Prize winner, Val!!!! #11288979

Bojan Bencic April 20, 2015

This is beautiful, Val. Congratulations on your GP win! #11288986

Nikki McDonald April 20, 2015

Very lovely, Val. Congratulations on the GP win. #11289006

Kathy Salerni April 20, 2015

WooHoo! Biggest congrats on this awesome Grand Prize Winner, Val! So happy this won! #11289013

Val Feldman April 20, 2015

Yikes! To say I'm happily stunned would be an understatement for sure! Thank you BP Judges but most of all, thank you BP friends for your support and encouragement. A better group of dedicated, passionate and warm-spirited photographers there never was. Thanks, thanks. #11289040

Tammy M. Anderson April 20, 2015

I knew we would see this again. So glad too Congrats a well deserved GP. #11289080

Nancy L. Green April 20, 2015

WOW Val!!! HUGE CONGRATULATIONS on this well deserved Grand Prize!!! <>< #11289102

Daniella Puente April 20, 2015

Big congrats! #11289113

JO ANN CLEVELAND April 20, 2015

Congratulations on your fabulous Grand Prize Val! #11289126

Terry Cervi April 20, 2015

Hi Ms.V! Huge congrats to you on your stunning Grand Prize win!!! It's a beauty!! :) #11289191

Joannie Bertucci April 20, 2015 1

All it takes is a Texas butterfly and an amazing photographer to get Grand Prize! WTG Ms. Texas! :-)
#11289216

Patrick Rouzes April 20, 2015

I wanted to say this was GP material, Kathy. Big CONGRATS, my friend.
#11289281

Patrick Rouzes April 20, 2015

Sorry, Val. Had just finished looking at Kathy's photo. Slow processing today.
#11289282

Patricia A. Casey April 20, 2015

Yahooooo....Congratulations on a well deserved Grand Champion of a photograph....just stunning..... #11289289

Deborah Lewinson April 20, 2015

What a fantastic Grand Prize Winner, Val! A butterfly with a personality! Huge congrats on win!!! #11289330

Marijana Fajgl April 20, 2015

Huge congratulations on your fantastic gold, my friend! #11289344

Lynn M. Whitt April 20, 2015

Congratulations on you big win. #11289403

Reynaldo D. Reyes April 20, 2015

Oh wow! Congrats on this well deserved win Val. Woohoo!~Rey #11289581

Carol L. Fowler April 20, 2015

Finally! The recognition you deserve! WTG Val! #11289596

Rona L. Schwarz April 20, 2015

Haven't been around much lately and just stopped by to see what was new...and so excited to see you, Val, with this stunning Grand Prize Winner!!! A simply gorgeous and unique treatment on this now very rare (unfortunately) capture, Val! But a very-well deserved Grand Prize - CONGRATULATIONS!!! #11289633

Ujjwal Mukherjee April 21, 2015

Congratulations on your wonderful Grand Winner,Val!! #11289677

Jeff Robinson April 21, 2015

Congrats Val on this Outstanding and Well Deserved GP!! #11289705

Dayna Cain April 21, 2015

Great big CONGRATS on this amazing GP win! Very much deserved!
#11289809

Leslie McLain April 21, 2015

Congrats on your Grand Prize winner, Val. #11289812

Susan M. Campbell April 21, 2015

Congrats on your win. This is fabulous! 😃 #11289857

Don Christiana April 21, 2015

A HUGE Congratulation Val on your stunning and so well deserved GRAND PRIZE WINNER. Your work is always an inspiration. #11289882

Mary K. Robison April 21, 2015

CONGRATULATIONS on your Grand Prize Winner, Val! Well earned!! #11290267

Nadia Paul April 22, 2015

So very pleased for you my friend - happy to this work art recognised - huge congrats!!! #11290301

Usman M. Bajwa April 22, 2015

Huge CONGRATZ on your wonderful capture, treatments and that GP Gold Badge, Val.

UB. #11290458

Janice Mezzacappa April 22, 2015

Congrats on your stunning grand prize! #11290466

Mary Beth Aiello April 22, 2015

No surprise here, Val. Exceptional capture and treatment. A joy to the eye. Huge congrats on your Grand Prize Winner. So well deserved. Love it. #11290876

Diane E. Deming April 23, 2015

Love the photo and the beautiful texture you applied. Gorgeous combination! Congratulations on your Grand Prize win, Val. #11291282

Teresa L. Brooks April 23, 2015

Beautiful, congratulations #11291312

Michelle Alton April 24, 2015

At last BP has seen fit to bestow the Grand GOLD on you! Way overdue but they have finally seen the light, and YOUR light. Huge Congratulations, Val! #11291481

Dr Silly April 25, 2015

Beautiful Grand Prize win Val. :O) #11292251

Teresa Burnett April 25, 2015

Loved it before, and still do!! Huge Congratulations on this well deserved Grand Prize Win, Val!! #11292429

Evy Johansen April 25, 2015

Congratulations on your Grand Prize Winner, Val! Beautiful image! #11292484

Carol Eade April 27, 2015

Big congratulations on your Grand Prize winner, Val! #11293430

Julianne Bradford April 29, 2015

Congrats Val! This is so-o deserving of the Grand Prize! You do such beautiful work. I've decided to cut back on BP $50 fee this year, so will be checking in less often. If you are on Facebook, I'd love to "Friend" you. I'm at julianne.bradford at Facebook.com. I look forward to checking in and seeing your beautiful work! #11294117

Lydia Williams April 30, 2015

Love Monarchs too Val...this image is great. Congratulations on your BEAUTIFUL WIN! #11294855

Irene Colling April 30, 2015

Amazing image Val. Congratulations on Grand Prize photo. #11294914

Cindy Bendush April 30, 2015

Lovely work Val - Huge congratulations on your fabulous GPW! #11294990

JO ANN CLEVELAND May 02, 2015

Thank goodness is right! Congrats on your GPW! #11295762

Lana Arcemont May 03, 2015

Big Congratulations, Val! #11296077

Emile Abbott May 04, 2015

Congratulations on your grand prize winner Val. I am running a bit behind. #11296578

Karen Bacon May 05, 2015

A huge congratulations on a very well deserved grand prize winner!You go girl!Hope you are done unpacking boxes! #11297046

Becky LeMaster May 13, 2015

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR GRAND PRIZE WINNER VAL!! :) #11301475

Ron Livingston July 23, 2015

Awesome editing. Congratulations. #11335855

Sylvia Rourke July 23, 2015

Congratulations on your Grand Prize Winner, #11335880

Laura E. Swan July 23, 2015

HOLY CROW! I thought I'd mosey on over to your gallery and see if there is a little Gold Dust sprinkled on your gallery and I just got blown away with gold nuggets everywhere! I had to duct at first! Ahahaha! Well my dear, your Whirligig and your Gorgeous Monarch took the Grand Prize and even took names! Very impressive and I am so happy for you. If I ever won the Grand Poupon, I'd faint. (SPLAT). You go girl! You deserve it!
#11335891

Patrick Rouzes July 26, 2015

Hi, Val, wondering if you have posted lately. Can't seem to find it. #11337645

Julie Burnett September 13, 2015

The warmest of congratulations for capturing the TOP PRIZE at BP, Val!! I always knew you'd be here, it was just a question of when. :) :) #11358432

Guy D. Biechele January 11, 2016

Congrats on your Winner!! Just stunning. #11421888

Jeffrey R. Bange February 06, 2016

Outstanding capture and presentation Val, well deserving of the Grand Prize. #11432352

Emile Abbott March 10, 2016

Congratulations again Val on another Best of the Best DD in 20 years on BP #11444840

Lydia Williams March 11, 2016

Congrats Val! :) #11445331

Ellen Hodges March 22, 2016

Huge congrats on All Time EP, Val!!! #11450356

Gord MacEachern May 31, 2016

This double gold so suits this Val, it's always such a pleasure to view your work.!!! #11480893

Patricia A. Casey June 01, 2016

Wowwwwzer.......I'm so delighted for you Val....huge congratulations......=^..^= #11481214

Jeff Robinson August 25, 2016

Congrats Val on your recent POTD and your plethora of awards for this wonderful image! #11509138

Tammy M. Anderson August 25, 2016

Congrats on a beautiful POTD. #11509155

Michele Peterson August 25, 2016

Wonderful to see this one yet again, Val! Congratulations on the POTD to add to the already worthy badges! #11509185

Peggy Pfister August 25, 2016

Congrats on this lovely POTD, Val! #11509186

Patricia A. Casey August 25, 2016

Congratularions, Val....on yet another deserving accolade! Cheers on POTD!!! =^..^= #11509214

Nancy L. Green August 25, 2016

OUTSTANDING Val, VERY well deserved addition to your already received awards, WTG!!! <>< #11509248

Lydia Williams August 25, 2016

Yup, awesome, Congratulations Val! #11509268

Chuck Green August 25, 2016

Exquisite!! #11509311

Val Feldman August 25, 2016

A big thanks everyone for stopping by and thanks to BP for making my day! #11509415

Leslie McLain August 25, 2016

Congrats on all your awards, Val, a beautiful capture. #11509474

JO ANN CLEVELAND August 26, 2016

Ditto Leslie, that is awesome, a fave for me for sure!! #11509644

Gord MacEachern August 26, 2016

Great big congrats again my friend!
This well deserves all the gold it gets!!! #11509693

Ann H. Belus August 26, 2016

Congratulations, Val! Awesome image! #11509834

Ann H. Belus August 26, 2016

Congratulations, Val! Awesome image! #11509835

Ann H. Belus August 26, 2016

Congratulations, Val! Awesome image! #11509836

Mary K. Robison August 27, 2016

Is this a well-earned triple Gold Winner, or what, Val? Congrats on such a gorgeous winner!! Love the treatment, too. #11509936

Teresa Burnett September 20, 2016

Have always loved this one, Val!! Huge Congratulations on your well deserved POTD!! #11518746

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