Getting great shots
- Dave McCormick
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- Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:46 pm
- Location: Co Down, Northern Ireland
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Getting great shots
I have only really taken pics of butterflies and moths indoors, (a few outdoors) and need to know a few things:
I have a meadow near me with various species: silver Y, peacock, small tortoiseshell, small copper, meadow brown, cinnabar moth, white ermine, winter moth, clouded yellows, large and small whites, red admirals and more. Loads of flowers in summer and just wanted to know a few things.
How would I go about getting great shots of butterflies in wild in this area especially? Would I position my camera on a certian spot and wait or put it beside a thistle? I can activate my camera from a distance via a controller.
Any suggestions before they appear in late April onwards would be good.
I have a meadow near me with various species: silver Y, peacock, small tortoiseshell, small copper, meadow brown, cinnabar moth, white ermine, winter moth, clouded yellows, large and small whites, red admirals and more. Loads of flowers in summer and just wanted to know a few things.
How would I go about getting great shots of butterflies in wild in this area especially? Would I position my camera on a certian spot and wait or put it beside a thistle? I can activate my camera from a distance via a controller.
Any suggestions before they appear in late April onwards would be good.
- Padfield
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I'm hardly an expert on photography, but I'll throw in a few tips to get things going anyway!
Firstly, since a great shot depends a lot on composition, I feel a remote snap would be rather inflexible. I've certainly never done it, but then again, I can't.
Most butterflies are very approachable if you have sufficient experience and a certain kind of intuition that comes with practice. I get my best shots at about 5cm from the butterfly (because my present camera has no zoom) and this only presents problems with a very few species. The tricks are: always be aware of where your shadow is - if it crosses the butterfly all may be lost; always move slowly and smoothly, even with your feet - your approach should resemble an action replay; don't forget that vegetation you are treading on transmits movement to the vegetation the butterfly is sitting on so be aware where you are putting your feet; don't let other equipment hanging round your neck (like binoculars) suddenly swing into a new position; don't forget that many butterflies are sensitive to sound - some will even fly at the noise of the autofocus (woodland browns, Lopinga achine, which fly near me, are exasperating for this - they fly as soon as I start depressing the shutter and the autofocus whirs into action!).
Horizontal shots, with sky or trees or even buildings in the background, often make for more dramatic pictures than shooting straight down onto the butterfly.
Finally, it is good to be aware that in chasing a butterfly for the perfect shot you may be trampling vegetation and/or other stages or insects. In my garden, I make a point of always following the same paths through the grass to minimise the damage I do to the whole community.
I'm sure better photographers than me will come up with far more sophisticated advice, but I'm equally sure you will quickly learn what works best for you!
Good luck,
Guy
Firstly, since a great shot depends a lot on composition, I feel a remote snap would be rather inflexible. I've certainly never done it, but then again, I can't.
Most butterflies are very approachable if you have sufficient experience and a certain kind of intuition that comes with practice. I get my best shots at about 5cm from the butterfly (because my present camera has no zoom) and this only presents problems with a very few species. The tricks are: always be aware of where your shadow is - if it crosses the butterfly all may be lost; always move slowly and smoothly, even with your feet - your approach should resemble an action replay; don't forget that vegetation you are treading on transmits movement to the vegetation the butterfly is sitting on so be aware where you are putting your feet; don't let other equipment hanging round your neck (like binoculars) suddenly swing into a new position; don't forget that many butterflies are sensitive to sound - some will even fly at the noise of the autofocus (woodland browns, Lopinga achine, which fly near me, are exasperating for this - they fly as soon as I start depressing the shutter and the autofocus whirs into action!).
Horizontal shots, with sky or trees or even buildings in the background, often make for more dramatic pictures than shooting straight down onto the butterfly.
Finally, it is good to be aware that in chasing a butterfly for the perfect shot you may be trampling vegetation and/or other stages or insects. In my garden, I make a point of always following the same paths through the grass to minimise the damage I do to the whole community.
I'm sure better photographers than me will come up with far more sophisticated advice, but I'm equally sure you will quickly learn what works best for you!
Good luck,
Guy
- Dave McCormick
- Posts: 2388
- Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:46 pm
- Location: Co Down, Northern Ireland
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Thanks, just been out tonight trying to get a pic of a moth with a lamp. That was difficult. But I did get the shot. I know a place at the bottom of the meadow I mentioned that is full of meadow browns in summer. Should be easy to get a shot there as sun is blocked out in places by bushes and one or two trees.
I like macro mode close-ups with Manual mode for better shots and I like taking videos too. I will keep a record of every butterfly I encounter this year to see how the meadow is doing.
I like macro mode close-ups with Manual mode for better shots and I like taking videos too. I will keep a record of every butterfly I encounter this year to see how the meadow is doing.
- markatbath
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- Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2006 1:01 pm
- Location: Bath
- Dave McCormick
- Posts: 2388
- Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:46 pm
- Location: Co Down, Northern Ireland
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It's perseverance really. Most Butterflies are difficult to get close to. I've been trying to get DECENT shots of all the regular British stuff. I've been at it for four years and still have no shots at all of Essex Skipper & Mountain Ringlet and only poor shots of Purple Hairstreak. All that's been the result of many thousands of miles travelled and many work days lost - I am self employed but am considering sacking myself if it carries on
To make it even more complicated I'm trying to do the same with Dragonflies & Damselflies and I've completed the nine reptiles which were much easier than Butterflies!!!
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
- Dave McCormick
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- Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:46 pm
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Well, so far I have more indoor shots of moths and butterflies. I have a few videos (easier to recird than photo). Last year I had not got a camera, but found it easy to get close to Clouded Yellow and small and large whites, should be alright this year. Hey, If I don't get a shot I can get a video instead.
- Dave McCormick
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- Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:46 pm
- Location: Co Down, Northern Ireland
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- Dave McCormick
- Posts: 2388
- Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:46 pm
- Location: Co Down, Northern Ireland
- Contact: