Photographing Meadow Browns.
- Gruditch
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Photographing Meadow Browns.
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
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
- Pete Eeles
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- Dave McCormick
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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.
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.
Cheers all,
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- Dave McCormick
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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.
Cheers all,
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
- alex mclennan
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- Location: Bedfordshire
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.
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
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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).
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).
Cheers all,
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
nice shot Mr Eccles - what lens was that with?
regards
Martin
( http://www.mgnastro.org/wildlife.html )
regards
Martin
( http://www.mgnastro.org/wildlife.html )
- Malcolm Farrow
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- Dave McCormick
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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.
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.
Cheers all,
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro