Aliens Among Us

Photographers have the power to reveal the origins of alien life on earth. All we need do is grab a camera, lens and some extension tubes (or a macro lens or close focusing filter) and ‘the truth’ will be revealed!

NIKON 1 J5 + 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 49.3mm, ISO 1000, 1/160, f/9.0, MOVO extension tubes

From what part of the solar system did this creature evolve? Perhaps those residual red markings are an indication of a Martian heritage.

NIKON 1 J5 + 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 64mm, ISO 1600, 1/250, f/8.0, MOVO extension tubes

Bright yellow in hue…camouflage from a hot, bright planet? Mercury?

NIKON 1 J5 + 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 44.2mm, ISO 3200, 1/250, f/8.0, MOVO extension tubes

The thick coat on this beast may reveal that it travelled to earth from a distant, cold planet. While it is no longer classified as such, Pluto comes to mind.

NIKON 1 J5 + 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 57.2mm, ISO 1000, 1/250, f/8.0, MOVO extension tubes

Frosty white with fur…perhaps beyond Pluto and still thawing out?

NIKON 1 J5 + 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 83.2mm, ISO 3200, 1/250, f/8.0, MOVO extension tubes

As humans, do we mimic and copy alien visitors? Those rakishly curved antennae perhaps inspired mankind’s first attempts to fashion ‘ape-hanger’ handlebars for their choppers.

NIKON 1 J5 + 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 51.2mm, ISO 720, 1/80, f/5.6, MOVO extension tubes

Hmm…same thick fur that we have seen on other specimen. But wait…the colouring is different…brighter…highlighted ends! Could the origins of your local hair salon be alien?

All kidding aside, it can be a great, creative experience to grab your camera and head off to a butterfly conservatory in your local area. Go beyond capturing typical butterfly images of complete individuals. Take your extension tubes, macro lens, or close focusing filter with you. Try to get up close and very personal with the butterflies. When you do you’ll discover how surreal and alien they can appear. But be forewarned…you may no longer sleep well at night! These will not be ‘visions of sugar plums dancing in your head’.

All of the images in this short article were captured hand-held in available light with a Nikon 1 J5, 1 Nikon 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 zoom lens, 21mm and 10mm MOVO extension tubes during a visit to the Niagara Butterfly Conservatory in Niagara Falls Canada. Manual camera settings were used along with Auto-ISO 160-3200. Single point auto-focus was used for all images. Photographs were produced from RAW files using my standard process of OpticsPro 11, CS6 and Nik Suite.

Article and all images are Copyright 2016 Thomas Stirr. All rights reserved. No use, adaptation or reproduction of any kind is allowed without written consent. Photography Life is the only approved user of this article. If you see it reproduced anywhere else it is an unauthorized and illegal use.

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