Photographing Meadow Browns.

Gruditch · Post by **Gruditch** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 6:39 pm

Meadow Browns, they may be about the most common butterflies out there, but I find them one of the trickiest to get a good shot of. I finaly got this shot which I'm happy with, but I'm not sure what it is that makes them so tricky

is it getting the eye sharp

or am I the only one who struggles with them.

Gruditch

Canon EOS 10D
Sigma 150mm 2.8 Macro
Monopod used
F 11.0
Shutter speed 1/125 sec
ISO 400
Manual focus
No flash

Post by **Pete Eeles** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:09 pm

Nope - you're not the only one! I reckon they're one of the hardest - and almost impossible if using flash!

On a positive note, since they're relatively common, they're an excellent species for helping hone your technique

Nice shot, by the way!

Cheers,

- Pete

brianwaugh · Post by **brianwaugh** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 8:07 pm

I agree M.B. Gatekeepers Common blues are quite difficult to photograph sharp, I think its due partly to the mass of thick hairs around the body area and in the case of MB's and Gatekeepers the lack of contrast.

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:14 pm

There is one time when they hang around a bit...

Martin.

Dave McCormick · Post by **Dave McCormick** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 10:04 pm

Well, I don't seem to have much of problem. Looking at all pics I did get of them, most of them are of upperside, except a mating one and one of underside.

I have used flash and they don't flinch for me. I just wait until they settle, approach very carefully and shoot without causing a shadow or moving vegetation they are on. I have numerous videos of them (up close). If they are in long grass, you have a bit of a problem. Otherwise, not much problems for me.

My dad has a vivitar 4345 and seems to get good (not best as its not designed for this) upperside shots.

And Gruditch, nice shot btw.

Here is one I took with flash:

Samsung Digimax L85
Mode: Manual
F-Stop: f/3.4
Exposure: 1/1000 Sec
ISO: ISO-400
Exposure: 0 Step
Focal length: 19mm
Max Apeture: 2.971
Metering Mode: Multi Spot
Flash: No Flash
Handheld

I found it a bit tricky getting mating pair, mainloy cause male flew off while they were in coup, cause they did not like me getting close.

One of the upperside (not hard in my opinion, don't cast a shadow or block sunlight, and just find them when they open wings) I have too many uppersides and not enough undersides. (5 uppersides and 1 underside pic so far

Samsung Digimax L85
Mode: Manual
F-Stop: f/3.6
Exposure: 1/500 Sec
ISO: ISO-400
Exposure: 0 Step
Focal length: 23mm
Max Apeture: 2.971
Metering Mode: Multi Spot
Flash: No Flash
Handheld

Well, its not hard if you have the patience. Ones in Europe are better looking, but our local ones are not too bad either.

Dave McCormick · Post by **Dave McCormick** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 10:27 pm

Thinking over it, maybe using a powerful flash can deter them? Since I only have a compact, the flash on it won't be as powerful as SLR ones.

alex mclennan · Post by **alex mclennan** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 9:39 pm

I was on top of Sharpenhoe Clappers this afternoon. There was a gale blowing. I saw a pair of meadow browns in cop - they were being blown over by the wind every time they tried to settle in the grass. I coaxed them onto my hand and carried them to a sheltered corner of the field where I tried to put them down - but they didn't want to leave. So I let them stay on my hand for several minutes until they decided that they had completed their task. I watched them slowly 'disentangle'. They then remained as in picture two for a couple of minutes then flew off. Apologies for the quality of the pics - it's not easy trying to operate a Canon 400D with one hand whilst holding butterflies in the other!!
Incidentally, the target species on the Clappers was Chalkhill Blue - we saw many males but not one female. Several Dk Green Frits still around
in good condition.

Dave McCormick · Post by **Dave McCormick** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 10:49 pm

OK guys, now I seen the problem. Was in a meadow I never been in before. Was trying to get a shot of these, but they would not land and when they did, it was hard to get near them.

However, I discovered for the first time there was common blues in area. They were chasing meadow browns so it was hard to shoot them anyway. Cleg flies did not help much (swallowed two and got bitten around 12+ times).

daveyboy · Post by **daveyboy** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 6:49 pm

I was lucky enough to get these shots the other day.........

Gruditch · Post by **Gruditch** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:20 pm

I'm OK with Gate Keepers, its just the bl@@dy Meadow Brown.

Gruditch

eccles · Post by **eccles** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:25 pm

Gatekeepers are easy enough. I shot this female today.

it344x · Post by **it344x** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 5:58 pm

nice shot Mr Eccles - what lens was that with?

regards
Martin
( http://www.mgnastro.org/wildlife.html )

eccles · Post by **eccles** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 10:43 pm

Lens was Raynox DCR-250 stuck on a Canon S3. It won't cane a real macro lens on a dSLR but it can sometimes turn in an ok result.

Malcolm Farrow · Post by **Malcolm Farrow** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:15 am

I find meadow brown hard - very quick to react to flash and seem to have a sixth sense for when you have a camera in your hand! I find speckled woods a nightmare too. Glad it's not just me!

Dave McCormick · Post by **Dave McCormick** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 10:57 am

Speckled woods? I find them real easy, just depends. In a clearing in a wood, they are easy, in a thicker wood, they are harder.

Think its more a case of these creatures on where you fidn them. I find them difficult by only where I find them, in think grass they are hard, in thinner grass I just wait for them to land. On flowers, not so easy like others.

Tricky to get with wings open, meadow browns, cause when they sun themselves, its usually where your shadow will cast over them if your anywhere near close. But I don't have much problems there.