Wrong colour on butterfly

Wrong colour on butterfly · 07:51 AM

Hello

I took this butterfly this morning. It appeared to me as being nearly as yellow as the flower. Now on the photo, it appears rather green.

How does it come that the flower has the right color, but not the butterfly? Could it be linked to the coating?

Leya216 · 04-15-2007, 07:55 AM

I have had a similar issue. A number of times, usually when I use flash together with other lighting, I get all colors accurate EXCEPT dark blues that come out purple. I have yet to understand why it happens and just fix it in PS with a selective color mask.

little laker · 04-15-2007, 08:28 AM

It doesn't look (to me) like a flash was used there, and in my opinion it's just that some objects absorb more light than others making them appear different on the camera.

It's still a nice macro, so I wouldn't worry about it.

tcom · 04-15-2007, 08:38 AM

I did not use a flash.

As I left the macro lens at home, I had to do with the lenses I was carrying, I used the Tokina 80-400 ATX-II at 400mm and it worked pretty well.

I am not too much worried about the colors, I am just wondering where it comes from. It is probably just like some blue flowers which might turn violet in digital cameras (or back in film days).

Alvin · 04-15-2007, 11:58 AM

Nice photo. I haven't bumped into a similar situation yet, so I can't offer too much help - sorry.

Chocolar · 04-15-2007, 04:06 PM

Well, I just put my hand over the yellow flower to cover it, and the butterfly appears yellow

I think that's just the way human brain works, thats my scientific explaination and I'm sticking to it

hanamai · 04-15-2007, 05:24 PM

Either way, it's a lovely photo and green is comely on that dainty little butterfly.

**NaClH2O** · 04-15-2007, 05:33 PM

Hi Dom, I'm thinking that the butterfly picked a bit of reflection off the flower, that may have fooled the eye but not the camera. Have you ever noticed any other chromatic aberrations with this lens?

NaCl(the human mind can play tricks)H2O

tcom · 04-15-2007, 08:52 PM

Originally posted by NaClH2O

Hi Dom, I'm thinking that the butterfly picked a bit of reflection off the flower, that may have fooled the eye but not the camera. Have you ever noticed any other chromatic aberrations with this lens?

NaCl(the human mind can play tricks)H2O

No, I never encountered a similar problem with this lens before.

tcom · 04-15-2007, 08:53 PM

Thank you for all your replies. I guess we will never know.

Donald · 04-16-2007, 06:14 PM

Butterfly wings exhibit structural colour, the relative surface height of the wing structure peaks and valleys reflect or absorb proportionally different light wavelengths. Under different light conditions (polarized, collimated, filtered) the same butterfly will exhibit different colour patterns, sometimes no colour at all.

As well, all colour vision perception is based on context the colour is in.

It could be that the slight variation in the photo is due to a slight variation in the incident light when you saw her to when you composed the photo through the viewfinder. And indeed, the bright yellow flower may slightly affect how you perceive the butterfly's colour.

GLThorne · 04-16-2007, 07:38 PM

I agree with Donald. Many times, especially in bright natural light, the human eye will "make" joining items similar in color. The camera and lens will not. They'll only capture exactly what they see.

We have similar butterflies down here and they look exactly like what you've shot.

As to the shot itself, great shot! Very crisp and detailed!!!

tcom
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04-15-2007, 07:55 AM	#2
Leya216 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 184	I don't know the answer but I have had a similar issue. A number of times, usually when I use flash together with other lighting, I get all colors accurate EXCEPT dark blues that come out purple. I have yet to understand why it happens and just fix it in PS with a selective color mask.

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04-15-2007, 08:28 AM	#3
little laker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,697	It doesn't look (to me) like a flash was used there, and in my opinion it's just that some objects absorb more light than others making them appear different on the camera. It's still a nice macro, so I wouldn't worry about it.

04-15-2007, 08:38 AM	#4
tcom Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Switzerland Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,293 Original Poster	I did not use a flash. As I left the macro lens at home, I had to do with the lenses I was carrying, I used the Tokina 80-400 ATX-II at 400mm and it worked pretty well. I am not too much worried about the colors, I am just wondering where it comes from. It is probably just like some blue flowers which might turn violet in digital cameras (or back in film days).

04-15-2007, 11:58 AM	#5
Alvin Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,517	Nice photo. I haven't bumped into a similar situation yet, so I can't offer too much help - sorry.

04-15-2007, 04:06 PM	#6
Chocolar Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: OC, California Posts: 147	Well, I just put my hand over the yellow flower to cover it, and the butterfly appears yellow I think that's just the way human brain works, thats my scientific explaination and I'm sticking to it

04-15-2007, 05:24 PM	#7
hanamai Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Florida, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 202	Either way, it's a lovely photo and green is comely on that dainty little butterfly.

04-15-2007, 05:33 PM	#8
NaClH2O Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bronx NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,631	Hi Dom, I'm thinking that the butterfly picked a bit of reflection off the flower, that may have fooled the eye but not the camera. Have you ever noticed any other chromatic aberrations with this lens? NaCl(the human mind can play tricks)H2O

04-15-2007, 08:52 PM	#9
tcom Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Switzerland Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,293 Original Poster	Originally posted by NaClH2O Hi Dom, I'm thinking that the butterfly picked a bit of reflection off the flower, that may have fooled the eye but not the camera. Have you ever noticed any other chromatic aberrations with this lens? NaCl(the human mind can play tricks)H2O No, I never encountered a similar problem with this lens before.

04-15-2007, 08:53 PM	#10
tcom Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Switzerland Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,293 Original Poster	Thank you for all your replies. I guess we will never know.

04-16-2007, 06:14 PM	#11
Donald Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 329	Butterfly wings exhibit structural colour, the relative surface height of the wing structure peaks and valleys reflect or absorb proportionally different light wavelengths. Under different light conditions (polarized, collimated, filtered) the same butterfly will exhibit different colour patterns, sometimes no colour at all. As well, all colour vision perception is based on context the colour is in. It could be that the slight variation in the photo is due to a slight variation in the incident light when you saw her to when you composed the photo through the viewfinder. And indeed, the bright yellow flower may slightly affect how you perceive the butterfly's colour.

04-16-2007, 07:38 PM	#12
GLThorne Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: USA - South Carolina Photos: Gallery Posts: 372	I agree with Donald. Many times, especially in bright natural light, the human eye will "make" joining items similar in color. The camera and lens will not. They'll only capture exactly what they see. We have similar butterflies down here and they look exactly like what you've shot. As to the shot itself, great shot! Very crisp and detailed!!!

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