www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

After my dad, who posts on UKB as nfreem, got me interested in butterflies and nature, he kindly gave me his old camera and after following my dads diary on here for a few months now I decided to give it ago myself to keep a personal track of what I see out and about and also to practice and improve my photography skills as this is something I am new to, so all advice, hints and tips welcome.

Since receiving the camera I haven’t had many opportunities to get out and about due to work and the recent bad weather, however this month I have managed 2 lovely outings with the father. The first of these was to Bishops Hill, which provided me my first chance to try out taking some photos as this is something I have never done before.

This was back on 09/06/12 and the day was cloudy but pleasant with occasional bright spells and just warm enough for a few things to be out and about. While there we saw Common Blues, Small Blues, a couple of Grizzled Skippers and Small Heaths and a couple of faded Dingy Skippers. We also managed to see a few Burnet Companion moths and a single Yellow Shell moth.

Cracking photos!

Well done Gothic Dreams! Wish my early butterfly shots had been as good as these. I particularly like your Grizzled Skipper. Keep posting please.

Thank you for the comments Susie and Colin, im glad you like the photos I shall be keeping a regular update of what i see out and about.

You're giving your dad a run for his money there Gothic dreams - great grizzled skipper shots!

It comes to something when I take him out and he takes better photos than me.....with my old camera as well

Best of it was, I completely missed the Grizzled Skipper being on another part of the site at the time.

Looks like I will have to up my game

Neil.

Thank you Pauline, the Grizzled Skipper shot is one of my favourites too

Chris

The second of my outings with the father this month was at a place called Babbs Mill which we visited yesterday afternoon.

It was a fairly cloudy day with bright patches, however with it being a dry day and only being 10mins away from where I work, and being a place neither me or my dad had been before we took the opportunity to have a look to see if it would be a place worth while visiting over the next few months. Not expecting to see anything we were very happy and surprised to see a single Painted Lady, which was very faded and looked like it had seen better days, and a single fresh looking male Meadow Brown.

The place looked a lovely area and definitely a place worth checking again when the weather has improved.
More to come

Chris

Cracking shots Chris - looking forward to the "more" that's following!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thank you Wurzel, im pretty new to taking photos but look forward to getting out and about more over the summer and hopefully getting some good practice in over the coming months

Chris

Welcome Chris! I look forward to sharing the rest of your season through your diary. As others have commented, that's a great shot of the grizzly. It captures the species perfectly.

Guy

Thank you Guy, im glad you like the grizzly shot

Chris

Hi Chris,

Glad to see you`re following in your dads footsteps. If you have just picked up a camera for the first time then i would love to see your photos in a couple of months time, some lovely pictures already.

All the best,

Nick.

Thank you Nick, im lucky that my dad gave me some good tips to get me started, and also the fact he gave me a pretty decent camera pretty pleased with my first shots but hopefully will improve over the coming months, reading tips from other members on this forum and a few outings with the father over the next few months should go along way to helping

Chris

lovely pictures, I really enjoyed seeing them. Debbie.

Chris,
I don't think you need any tips on photography. I think you should be passing tips on to us! I recently bought a Lumix FZ150, but like you I have been struggling to find days when I can use it so far this year.
Nick

Love your Photo's , keep them coming Goldie

Thank you for the kind comments Debbie, Nick and Goldie. Hopefully i will be able to get about a little more over july with a few days out planned with the father

Chris

Hi Chris,

I'm pleased to see you following in your fathers footsteps and also launching straight into a Personal Diary. Something I have still not got round to starting yet............ I am impressed with the quality of your photos and would be pleased if you could add your Meadow Brown male upperside to the Species-Specific Album when you get time.

Regards,

Vince

Thank you for the kind comments Vince, im glad you like the photos, I have added the Meadow Brown male upperside to the Species-Specific Album as requested

Chris