If your were cropping for the sake of the flower then by all means crop but the swallowtail seems to be right where it needs to be. Very little distractions in the composition but I am a fan of a little of the natural environment out of focus (weights the picture). Nice cone flower and a good shot of the butterfly Sandi. If the butterfly had turned just slightly toward you it would have been more in the light but those guys just don't like to pose very well.
The angle you took this shot from is superb and the detail is outstanding in this wonderful capture .Love how the petals on the flower hang down as if to say get as much pollen as you like my dear friend.
I think this shot is terrific - your skill with butterflies is amazing - I do agree with Thad about a slight crop at the top but other than that I think the background suits well and adds interest.
This Image GRABBED my EYE. That's Why I Stopped By. Thanks For Sharing ! Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience
Great deatail, focus and background. The main subject of the picture, the butterfly, stands out proud. Personally I'm not a huge fan of squarish images but the butterfly is gorgeous.
It's a fine shot, Sandi. A tighter crop from the top (halfway to the wings) and about the same from the right border to the petals will increase the subject's impact and also draw more attention to the soft focus yellow flowers along the left border.
As a crop failure specialist I'm the worst person to ask for advise. :) Though it wouldn't hurt to cut the top back. The focus could be sharper and maybe throe in some selective contrast to darken the highlights in the scene. Nice composition of the photo and lovely colours Sandi.