Many people see signs, for the record, I do not. So when a battered old, weak butterfly shows up on your birthday, perhaps some would take notice and look for a reason. I look for the camera and take photos. This one could barely fly, was limping around, wings are torn, colors faded. I will give it credit though, it slowed me down. I am swamped with work, all in a good way. In a year that business has been down, I am in the middle of a very steady run. Senior photos, Home School photos, Family photos, trying to meet all the requests, while leaving time to edit those I have taken, every moment of my day scheduled, and a butterfly shows up to tease me. I first found it while getting stuff out of my truck, grabbed the camera, took a shot on the leaves, back to work. 30 minutes or so, I’m back out the door and now it has moved to the gravel but right in my view, sitting in even better light, so another couple photos. Maybe 15-20 minutes later, there it is on an old board near my studio, just begging for more photos. Screw it, quit what I am doing, move the poor thing to the best light, get the macro lens, and give it a proper session. Why stop there? Inside would be better, bring the board in the studio, set up some lights, put the butterfly on my old box. It walks around, finds a comfortable spot then poses for a few minutes. I found myself conversing with it, we had a good talk, got some decent photos. When we were done I took it outside and placed it gently on some leaves on the bench by the door. Later I would look and it was nowhere to be found. It was a welcome, yet unplanned diversion, from being busy on a day I needed to take a break. thank you to my Battered Birthday Butterfly.
tr/trp
