Giant Swallowtail

The Giant Swallowtail is among the more spectacular bugs in North America, on size alone…but the coloring is not to shabby either…especially if you consider both upper and under views. In my experience it is hard to photograph as it is continuously nectaring, hovering in front of flowers with wings quivering rapidly. And then, of course, the contrast between the black uperside and the yellow bands can turn those bands white if you don’t hit the exposure just right. It is definitely worth the effort. These are my most successful Giant Swallowtail images to date.  I include both top and bottom views here…which is the only way to do the bug justice 🙂

Estero Llano Grande State Park World Birding Center, Weslaco TX. Sony HX400V. 370mm equivalent field of view. Shutter preferred. 1/640th @ ISO 250 and 100 @ f6.3. Processed in Lightroom and assembled in Phototastic Pro on my Windows tablet.