As I was reviewing photos, I came across this and I stopped. The same way I’ve mentioned sometimes I’m walking down the street and I see a moment and have to capture it — that happened here just looking at it, and it’s because of the textures; do whatever you can, whatever you must, to see this photo as large as you can see it.

The gorgeous roughness of the leaves anchored in the corners, the amazing folds and velvet of the monarch’s wings, and the pink and cream ball of milkweed flowers in between, with the soft blur of the lush summer green background, make this a photo I really love.

July 9, 2022. Nikon D850 (FX sensor), Tamron 100–400mm at 400mm, f/6.3, 1/2,000, ISO 800.