Butterfly R.I.P.

Mrs L. noticed a butterfly hanging from a spider's web inside the top window of our dining room. Goodness knows how it got there or how long it had been there, but it had definitely given up the unequal struggle to stay alive. The photographic challenge was obvious: create a stacked photo of a butterfly hanging from a web about 6 feet above a carpeted floor. The slightest breath of air would make the butterfly move, while a fully extended tripod on a carpet is hardly the most rigid support for a camera on a focussing rack. But by moving slowly and carefully while standing precariously on a chair, black (as befits the subject) card was slipped behind the butterfly without doing too much damage to the web and the required set of shots was taken.

K3 + Sigma 70mm macro, stack of 20 with Affinity Photo. Processed with 'dark and grim' in mind. Here is the result. The shrunken image below really doesn't do the butterfly justice, click on it to see a bigger and (to my eyes) better version.

Thoughts, comments etc. welcome as usual.




Steve

Not only technically impressive, Lubbyman, it's also incredibly artistic. The black background and the subtle foreground image. Outstanding. As I said, it's artistic, one of the best I've seen in quite a while. Kudos.

Very well done.

Dark and grim indeed, Steve, and quite compelling. The tangled webbing and the torn wing - are they what drew you to the darker side? - really bring home the eeriness. Lovely processing.

well done Steve for picking up the challenge!
And, particularly, for doing your own thing with it, to such different, dark & eerie effect!

Roger.

Excellent, +1 to all the comments above.

It was a bit tough to see on mobile due to the white forum background but clicking for the larger image helped, it's a brilliant shot.

Thanks folks. I wasn't expecting such enthusiasm!

Partly. And the thought of the spider that spun the web waiting for a victim. And Mrs L. being in hospital for something potentially very serious (turned out not to be what we feared but a new twist on an existing problem).
And particularly interesting to have your woodlouse and my butterfly so close on the forum. Totally different ways of seeing dead bugs. And both equally valid.
Yes, the white forum background can be a nuisance. It would be good if the user could choose whether they wanted it light or dark. I always process with a dark background. Posting the result to this forum can sometimes make me doubt the processing.

Steve