I spied this Painted Lady on my walk last week, hovering above the sea lavender at Laguna Beach.
I slowed my pace, lifted my camera.
She flitted from flower to flower, dipping her proboscis into the purple blossoms, sipping nectar.
I could’ve circled back later, once my exercise routine was over. But ohhhh, those gossamer threads along her wings and back…!
She seemed totally unaware of my presence. I, however, was wholly engrossed in the slant of her antennae, her perfectly balanced wings and feet. Part physics, pure magic.
When she eventually flitted away, I stashed my camera and resumed my walk.
Mind you: I had a parking meter to feed, errands to run, writing projects in the queue, and…well. Unscheduled activities have their tradeoffs. And still: You can’t perform a cost-benefit analysis in moments like this one! Because even when we fall out of our target heart rate zones, even when our to-do lists are longer than the hours in a day, some things invite (and deserve) our full attention.
She’s beautiful and your photos exquisite. Where there’s a gimme there’s a gotcha. This time the trade off was worth it.
Beautiful I do love Butterflies too. Magical!
Beautiful lady, beautiful photography, beautiful sentiment. thanks for sharing!