This South American beauty was photographed inside a small Conservatory where the lighting was extremely difficult to work with.

Extreme contrasts - of overly bright, quite harsh sunlight mixed with extremely heavy, dense shadows - on the same suject was not usual. At other times, low, very flat lighting was the rule.

Because photographer movement was restricted inside the Conservatory, one had to be patient and wait for brief opportunities when both the butterflies and the lighting cooperated. This is one of my personal favorites of a Blue Morpho shot that day. I feel that this very brief moment was well worth waiting for.

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From my "Powell Gardens Festival of Butterflies" gallery: http://www.pbase.com/britestar/powell_gardens_2007_butterfly_festival

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Any and/or all usage or copying of this image, without express written permission from the photographer, is prohibited by law. Copyright 2007, Elizabeth Bickel. All Rights Reserved.