www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Hi all,

As a new member to the UKB forum I have noticed that the largest (by far) percentage of posts relate to cameras, photography, and the photographic competition.

Other topics (on the ocaision that they're raised) don't seem to prompt anywhere near as much interest or debate.

This strikes me as odd considering the number of regular users.

This is nothing other than an observation, but can any of the 'more seasoned' members of the forum explain why this is?

Perhaps the site should be called "UK Butterfly Photography"

That was a joke. Don't hit me.

Best regards,

Felix.

I'd say it's because it's winter and there's no Leps about!
Most things now have there own forums anyway, but camera forums seem like battlegrounds these days, and seeing as we're all adults in here and can talk about them without throwing our toys out of the pram, I think that's the reasonwe discuss them here.
It seems there is a very nice and gentlemanly unspoken rule here...Leave your egos at the door before entering

Martin. (The one with an ego the size of a small country! )

Hi Felix,

I agree that this is partly to do with the season - we also have good discussions on ID and sightings when the season gets going!

However, I also think this is the result of me spending (literally) years asking people for their photos and videos to populate the website.

Now that we have that almost sorted, the future of this website will be focusing on other areas - such as conservation, education, attracting youngsters and alignment with the objectives of Butterfly Conservation. The first step will be announced shortly with a steering committee for UK Butterflies that will help guide the website's evolution.

One of the main areas of discussion so far is how we bring visitors back to their appreciation of butterflies and conservation - the whole point of the website, rather than a focus on photography (among other things). A concern is that we all end up trying to get "ticks" of species and end up inadvertantly descending upon well-known and fragile sites looking for that elusive species where, unfortunately, the welfare of the species comes second. In which case, this website could be perceived as being part of the problem. Anyway - it's under discussion

On that note - I'd appreciate any suggestions!

Cheers,

- Pete

trying to get "ticks" of species and end up inadvertantly descending upon well-known and fragile sites looking for that elusive species

A case in point being Stockbridge Down last year, and the wanton damage done by hoards of people trying to photograph the black veined white. The place looked like a herd of wildebeast had past through on their annual migration! Pity the poor sole that I met who had turned up in the hope of photographing wild flowers!!

Who nicked the ova by the way??

Anywayhoo, it was just an observation not a judgement - a couple of interesting points have been raised recently (eg. butterflies on Ebay - (Large Blue, Heath & Marsh Frit doing well on there!) and some worrying stances being taken by Natural England) which only received a couple of comments; however, a post which asked which is nicer Coke or Pepsi oops - I mean Canon or Nikon - generated a huge response.

Ok, so the two posts I mention were mine, but hey - I have an ego too!

I shall await new posts with interest. Now, I must just go and pick up all my toys...

Felix.

Alex
I think the reason that photography seems to have such a disproportionately high incidence of interest on this site is due to a number of factors.

1/ As Peter mentioned, for a while photography was an important factor in the evolution of the site with demand for photos for the web pages, and the regular competitions sustaining the sites growth.

2/ I have met very few butterfly enthusiasts who don't photograph butterflies. Very few birders take photographs due to the spookiness and inaccessibility of the quarry, but butterflies are generally much more confiding.
However, once you start photographing butterflies the joint problems of the smallness of the subject and it's flightiness set you off on a wonderful pursuit of both new techniques and kit to help solve the problems.

3/ Butterflies are wonderfully photogenic.

Your other two posts received lots of views, but few replies because they were not contentious.

Butterfly collecting is BAD thing.

Habitat destruction is a BAD thing.

Once someone has replied stating this, there is not much to add.

Ask someone what lens or camera to buy and we all have different opinions (some very firmly held! )

I would also agree with Mike and Pete that the time of year is pretty relevant.
Not a lot to say during the winter, except that my hibernating peacock in the shed is still doing fine.

This is the finest butterfly site on the web. A tremendous amount of authoritive information and very easy and logical navigation.

I first found this site whilst trawling the web for good butterfly locations, and ended up making some really good friends.

Interestingly, (but without trawling back through the archives to check), I would guess that we have had as many posts regarding technique, composition, field craft and other “non-kit” photographic topics as we have on kit.

Stick around and have fun.

Roger

p.s. Love your Avatar - Hamearis is my favourite butterfly - it has a pugnacious, confident and endearing character.

I take your point, Felix, and as Pete knows, I have raised this topic myself.

It does occur to me that if the internet had existed 100 years ago the hot topics of discussion might have been nets, killing jars and setting techniques, as well as the standard bragging about what we all had in our collections!!! Methods have changed but people are much the same!

In many ways, the obsession with cameras and photographs is much healthier, but it is perhaps good to remind ourselves that over-zealous photographers can do just as much damage (through trampling habitat, interfering with butterflies' behaviour &c.) as over-zealous collectors.

Guy

In many ways, the obsession with cameras and photographs is much healthier, but it is perhaps good to remind ourselves that over-zealous photographers can do just as much damage (through trampling habitat, interfering with butterflies' behaviour &c.) as over-zealous collectors.

I agree entirely Guy. The difference being that 100 years ago our butterfly populations could (and indeed did) sustain collecting. What little habitat we have left in this country has become so fragmented and fragile that over zealous photographers could actually have an impact which is greater than that of our net wielding forebears.

Oh, and thanks to you and to all those who have taken the time to answer my original post.

With kind regards,

Felix

I think this issue always gets a bit out of proportion. Yes some idiot photogapher tramperling through a Marsh Frit colany is not good, and he/she needs to be educated. But I have hardly ever bumped in to another photographer when in the field, which brings me to the conclusion that there aint that many of us. That said maybe we should put the advisery guide lines for butterfly photographers, that I think Pete has already done, on the start of each comp. As this site may encourage some eager new camera owner to get some pics and enter the photo comps.

Gruditch

Yes Felix I too was disgusted by the distruction at Stockbridge Down.

Gruditch wrote: But I have hardly ever bumped in to another photographer when in the field

Unless it's Noar Hill of course...it's positively "Standing Room Only" for the amount of UKB members that get there!

Gruditch wrote: Yes Felix I too was disgusted by the destruction at Stockbridge Down.

I went there on a Monday or Tuesday, after the mad weekend... I couldn't believe what I saw! I have to say that I walked on those "motorways" between the vegetation, but in my defense they were already there, and I made a reasoned decision to do so as I could not possibly make it any worse. That doesn't stop me felling guilty somehow though. I really hope I never see that again...who knows how many butterfly eggs of other species were destroyed there that week?

Martin.

I'm still flabbergasted that anyone would travel to go and see a very-obvious release of captive-bred stock!

Cheers,

- Pete

To be fair Pete, it wasn't that obvious at the time...especially to "wet behind the ears" newbies like me

Martin.

Fair enough - I guess if I hadn't seen them on the continent I would have been there too

Cheers,

- Pete