The Story of Held with Care

I was visiting a friend in South Florida when I decided to take a walk around their property to explore the flora and fauna. As I wandered past blooming milkweed and several mango trees, I discovered dozens of monarch chrysalises. Several butterflies were already emerging, and I knew I had stumbled into something special. Never having seen this before in my life, I lay down in the grass to watch.

I began photographing the butterflies with a remote shutter. Time seemed to slow as I watched them emerge, stretch, and prepare for their first flight. It was one of those rare moments in nature where patience is rewarded far beyond what you expect.

During that time, one newly emerged monarch fell upside down into the grass beside me. I waited, hoping it would right itself on its own, but it struggled over and over before eventually becoming still, almost as if it had exhausted itself. With birds constantly moving through the trees overhead, I knew it might not have another chance if I simply walked away.

I gently offered my hand, giving the butterfly a safe place to cling while its wings continued to dry and strengthen. For several minutes, it rested there, slowly stretching and opening its wings until it was finally ready to fly.

Butterflies have always held a special place in my heart because of what they represent: hope, transformation, and the reminder that change often happens in ways we cannot see.

This photograph represents so much more than the beginning of a monarch’s journey. To me, it represents patience, awe, and wonder, and the recognition that sometimes the smallest acts of care make all the difference.

Location: South Florida

Collection: Life Together

Captured: December 2017

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T5i

Lens: Canon EF50mm f/1.8 II

Settings: 50mm • f/5.6 • 1/125 sec • ISO 100

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