FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 18, 2014

‘Lady in Purple’ Takes the Grande Prix in North American Butterfly Photo Contest

Contest-2014-161 (Mission, TX) – Jonathan McElvery, of Massachusetts, won the Grande Prix title and $500 prize in the North American Butterfly Photo Contest with his portrait of a Painted Lady. This prestigious contest is part of the annual Texas Butterfly Festival, which accepts submissions from anywhere in the world, so long as the image captured is that of a free-flying species that may be found in North America. Entry fees for the contest support the environmental conservation and education efforts of the National Butterfly Center, in Mission, Texas.

Lady in Purple was selected from hundreds of photos for its composition, technical merit and artistic appeal, which McElvery says is his greatest challenge. A self-taught photographer and professional engineer who likes to spend his lunch hour in the Tower Hill Botanic Garden, McElvery claims the technical aspects of photography come naturally; however, the creative aspects have been more difficult to master.

“I’ve always got to be shooting something,” explains McElvery, “So, I finally broke down and joined the garden. My wife had been a member for years, and I realized I could economize my time—and enjoy my hobby—by shooting what’s convenient. In this case, I chose to photograph flowers because the garden is a short drive from my office. Butterflies were not even in my thoughts, but they happened onto the scene.

“The truth is flowers can get a little boring,” he confesses, “I started shooting super-macro and trying different angles, shooting through things, always working on ways to make my subject more interesting, and that’s when the butterflies caught my eye.”

Speaking of his winning photo, McElvery says, “I like this image for it seems, to me, that this butterfly has a personality. I’ve caught it in the act of reaching to sip a drink, and he’s glancing ahead, looking at me. The focus is square on the eye, and it’s clear we see each other.”

Since discovering the beauty of butterflies, McElvery’s challenge has become connecting with them. His approach has been an analytical one: learning all he can about the species common to his region; when they are in season; and which flowers they prefer. This new-found knowledge now fuels his quest to photograph butterflies in flight.

As the time for flowers and butterflies has given way to winter storms, McElvery will turn his lens toward holiday light displays, raindrops and snowflakes.

“I like to be outdoors and my mind is always clicking,” states McElvery, who spent time this fall shooting fluffy milkweed seeds and turning foliage. “Before going digital, I was on the verge of selling all my lenses. I was stubborn and swore I would never switch to this new format, but I love the versatility and immediate feedback of digital photography. The fact that others appreciate my images and find them appealing is a real bonus. Winning this contest means I must be doing something right.”

The Grande Prix photo for each year has the honor of being on permanent display at the National Butterfly Center. To enter next year, view the full rules and restrictions for the North American Butterfly Photo Contest at www.TexasButterflyFestival.com, where one may also view the gallery of winners for 2014 and 2013. This site will open for online submissions September 1 -30, 2015.

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The National Butterfly Center is committed to ‘Growing Connections’ between people, plants, and the winged wonders that pollinate and propagate all that grows around us. We do this through educational and environmental initiatives that cultivate meaningful understanding of the processes that create sustainable ecosystems. The Center is open to the public, for visitors and members, seven days/week.

To learn more about the National Butterfly Center, and how you can join us, visitwww.nationalbutterflycenter.org, or call 956.583.5400. Your annual membership or charitable gift impacts the beauty of our community and helps preserve the biologically diverse, natural treasures of deep South Texas.