The Butterfly effect

Gulf fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)
Focal length: 100mm
Shutter speed: 1/100
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/3.5

Butterflies are part of the insect species known as Lepidoptera. They have four stages of life cycle falling from larva to caterpillar to pupil and go through metamorphosis to turn into the beautiful and elegant butterfly forms with the varying patterns on its wings. There are three types of Butterflies, the true butterflies, the skippers and the moths. Ive noticed that humans tend to be fine with butterflies while, of the same species, they are very afraid of spiders or even ants. Butterflies are seen in many arts in different cultures symbolizing a lot of things from human soul to the state of nervousness. The butterfly effect is part of the chaos theory in mathematics to predict tiny variations affecting a bigger system. As the phrase goes: The flap of a butterflies wing can affect the weather system throughout the world if there are repercussions. So butterflies tend to be more important in our lives than we think. I love capturing butterflies. I think they have a uniqueness to each type of butterflies and like how i believe each one of us have a purpose in life so do these each unique butterflies. Call it a philosophical butterfly effect, I'm not sure, but there is something in each of them. So here are some captures from my backyard to creeks to butterfly parks. Enjoy!

Margarita Beltrán (Heliconius burneyi)
Focal length: 100mm
Shutter speed: 1/30
ISO: 500
Aperture: f/2.8

Margarita Beltrán (Heliconius burneyi)

Focal length: 100mm
Shutter speed: 1/100
ISO: 500
Aperture: f/3.2

Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charitonia)
Focal length: 100mm
Shutter speed: 1/25
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/2.8

Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charitonia)
Focal length: 100mm
Shutter speed: 1/160
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/3.5

Cattle Heart (Parides arcas)
Focal length: 100mm
Shutter speed: 1/30
ISO: 200
Aperture: f/2.8

Orange Julia (Dryas julia)
Focal length: 100mm
Shutter speed: 1/200
ISO: 320
Aperture: f/4.5

Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
Focal length: 100mm
Shutter speed: 1/50
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/2.8

Margarita Beltrán (Heliconius burneyi)
Focal length: 100mm
Shutter speed: 1/125
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/3.5

Great Eggfly (Hypolimnas bolina)
Focal length: 100mm
Shutter speed: 1/40
ISO: 250
Aperture: f/2.8

Malabar Tree Nymph (Idea malabarica)
Focal length: 100mm
Shutter speed: 1/25
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/2.8

Malabar Tree Nymph (Idea malabarica)
Focal length: 100mm
Shutter speed: 1/40
ISO: 250
Aperture: f/2.8

Postman (Heliconius melpomene)
Focal length: 100mm
Shutter speed: 1/160
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/3.5

California Hairstreak (Satyrium californica)

Focal length: 100mm
Shutter speed: 1/320
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/5.6

California Hairstreak (Satyrium californica)
Focal length: 100mm
Shutter speed: 1/320
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/5.6

Buckeye (Junonia coenia)
Focal length: 100mm
Shutter speed: 1/250
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/5

Gulf fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)
Focal length: 100mm
Shutter speed: 1/100
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/3.5

Wild Again

This past weekend was my birthday. Yes the big 22. My Parents surprised me by getting me a Canon Lens and a Flash. Yes my parents are crazy but Im so lucky to have them support me soo much. So the Canon Lensmy mom got me was...drum roll please...the Canon 100mm to 400mm f.4.5-5.6L IS USM Telephoto Lens. Now do you understand why they are crazy?! Im not sure if i deserve this great of a gift but hey im not gonna say no! :) So already a great gift, my mom topped it off by getting me a Speedlite Flash 580EXII. This was all on top of the Canon 5D my mom bought the beginning of this year. Woo thats a lot to say. So I really want to thank my mother. She is the inspiration and perspiration of all my dreams. I love you. I have to thank my dad too for all his support and guidance. Thanks so heres to them. So i went to the Wild Animal Park again to try my new lens and flash. Had a lot of fun since it was baby season. Enjoy!

Amara - the baby Cheetah (in the nursery)
Focal length: 400mm
Shutter speed: 1/50
ISO: 1250
Aperture: f/5.6

The Blue winged bird
Focal length: 400mm
Shutter speed: 1/250
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/5.6

The Orange Alien Bird
Focal length: 400mm
Shutter speed: 1/60
ISO: 400
Aperture: f/5.6

Waiting for food
Focal length: 400mm
Shutter speed: 1/30
ISO: 1000
Aperture: f/5.6

Raising a tongue - Okapi
Focal length: 300mm
Shutter speed: 1/200
ISO: 800
Aperture: f/5.6

Different Storks
Focal length: 400mm
Shutter speed: 1/125
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/5.6

Sumatran Tiger Cubs playing
Focal length: 400mm
Shutter speed: 1/80
ISO: 250
Aperture: f/6.3

The Lion Cub
Focal length: 400mm
Shutter speed: 1/250
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/5.6

The Lioness waits
Focal length: 330mm
Shutter speed: 1/15
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/5.6

The Cheetah Walk
Focal length: 400mm
Shutter speed: 1/100
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/5.6

The Beautiful Spots
Focal length: 400mm
Shutter speed: 1/100
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/5.6

Live to be Inspired

Went out to get inspired by the world, as people usually say it. I decided to choose this theme as I wanted to post about it before my birthday. Birthdays are usually when one learns from the past and hopes & dreams of the future. I used some inspirational quotes as the title for each picture to show inspiration. The quotes are not a very literal translation of each picture, but just a mere feeling i had of the pictures. Hope you enjoy it!

"Where there is Love there is Life."
~Mahatma Gandhi
Focal length: 105mm
Shutter speed: 1/200
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/6.3

"Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding."
~Albert Einstein

Focal length: 100mm
Shutter speed: 1/320
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/5.6

"Hear the meaning within the word."

~William Shakespeare

Focal length: 105mm
Shutter speed: 1.0s
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/4

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
~Eleanor Roosevelt
Focal length: 75mm
Shutter speed: 1/320
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/9

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."
~ William Edward Hickson
Focal length: 100mm
Shutter speed: 1/400
ISO: 100

Aperture: f/5.6

Thanks!

Old is Gold

Soaking my feet
Focal length: 33mm
Shutter speed: 1/500
ISO: 1600
Aperture: f/18

Old is definitely Gold. This is not just relating to age or memories but its also to old pictures. I found these pictures recently, which were taken not too long ago but when it comes to digital photography it sure does feel long ago. Digital photography helps you loose track of old pictures as you store them away on your laptop. It really does take time and effort to go back to these pictures. So i decided to post these pictuers before they became really old. These pictures were either taken on my trips to Yosemite/Lake Tahoe and Mammoth Mountains in 2007, with my Canon XTi 10.1 mp. This camera has definitely become old since Canon has just released the new Canon XTLi 12.8mp with video. First i thought film cameras were out of fashion and now some of the digital camera's are becoming out of fashion. Through time, technology and lifestyles change. I am not really sure if the change is for the good but we will see as time progresses. So here are the shots! enjoy!

Mammoth Lake
Focal length: 21mm
Shutter speed: 1/100
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/6.3

Mammoth Trees
Focal length: 25mm
Shutter speed: 1/200
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/10

Lake Tahoe
Focal length: 18mm
Shutter speed: 1/400
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/13

Lake Tahoe Water View
Focal length: 18mm
Shutter speed: 1/800
ISO: 1600
Aperture: f/16

Old Trees (at Lake Tahoe)
Focal length: 18mm
Shutter speed: 1/250
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/10

Yosemite El Capitain View
Focal length: 18mm
Shutter speed: 1/800
ISO: 1600
Aperture: f/22

Yellow Wildflowers
Focal length: 49mm
Shutter speed: 1/125
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/9