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Post by MJB on Jul 19, 2023 11:42:54 GMT
I'll post something this evening about my approach to butterfly photography. I have a far greater hit rate now than I had 5 years ago, but I still get quite a few random empty bramble flower shots.
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Post by peterob on Jul 19, 2023 15:23:54 GMT
I had a fruitless day. Lots of wing damage evident. I didn't want to keep any ragged winged shots so I'm left only with a small tortoiseshell and the pictures aren't much good. The minimum focus distance on the 150-600 is 2.75 m, this is incredibly far. I found myself too close most of the time. Hairy back!  DSCF5022.jpg by Pete, on Flickr Sideways view  DSCF5020.jpg by Pete, on Flickr |
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Post by MJB on Jul 19, 2023 19:58:30 GMT
I had a fruitless day. Lots of wing damage evident. I didn't want to keep any ragged winged shots so I'm left only with a small tortoiseshell and the pictures aren't much good. The minimum focus distance on the 150-600 is 2.75 m, this is incredibly far. I found myself too close most of the time. My current lens preference on the R7 for butterflies is my EF 100-400mm L, which has a 1 metre minimum focus distance. In fact I've only used my macro lens just once on the R7. I've never felt that a macro lens was essential for butterfly photography. Lovely sharp images, but depth of field is easier to manage with a typical mid to long zoom and you don't need to get as close to the subject. The extra reach is handy for those butterflies such as the tree dwelling hairstreaks. I don't use flash, but if you wish to eliminate hard shadows then a diffused flash is best. As you're finding, fieldcraft is probably the biggest factor to successful butterfly photos IMO. Obviously knowledge of the species' preferred food sources, both adult and larval, will help you locate them. I find that most butterflies can be quite territorial and if you spook them they will often return to the same plant. It really does pay to just spend time observing a general area, making note of flight paths and favoured plants. Sometimes just sitting by a patch of popular nectaring flowers such as cornflower, knapweed, scabious, and bramble will reap rewards without targeting a specific species. If you want to target a specific species then a bit of research is called for. I'll add a few links at the end of this post. Weather plays a part. Dull days see less activity, but more open wing displays. Hot, sunny days will make butterflies be very active and if they settle it's usually with closed wings. Binoculars are handy for scanning the area. When approaching a butterfly take slow,soft steps being extremely conscious of your shadow. A sudden shadow will spook a butterfly, but a very slow approaching shadow just seems like clouds passing. In fact on a hot day a cast shadow can encourage your target to open its wings. I start taking photos a little way away and then edge closer taking shots as I go. I've got a few inches away from some skittish butterflies like this. It takes a bit of patience but soon becomes second nature. Don't expect loads of 'keepers'. I'd be overjoyed with 10% good shots and 2% great shots on some of the harder targets. Hopefully this helps anyone wishing to photograph butterflies, but remember this is how I do things and people will have different ideas as to what works for them. Resourcesbutterfly-conservation.org/uk-butterflies/a-to-zwww.ukbutterflies.co.uk/flighttimes_this_week.phpThe FSC A4 gatefold ID guides are great. www.field-studies-council.org/shop/publications/butterflies-guide/This book is good too. www.amazon.co.uk/British-Butterflies-Collins-Complete-Guides/dp/0008106118/ref=sr_1_15?crid=2YUY5VXKWZHBV&keywords=butterfly+book&qid=1689796611&sprefix=Butterfly+bo%2Caps%2C309&sr=8-15 |
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Post by peterob on Jul 19, 2023 20:13:03 GMT
Thank you for that, very useful. Yes a 100-400 is much better than the 150-600 because of the minimum focusing distance even though the Fuji lens is not quite as good as the Canon. I was birding by first intent today and only carrying one lens. My son seems to have adopted my EF 100-400 mkII. I haven't seen it in months. I bought it explicitly butterflies after we had a similar exchange of advice/experience on APForum back in 2018. I can't imagine getting close enough to a skittish butterfly with a macro lens!
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Post by andy on Jul 19, 2023 20:41:35 GMT
I can't imagine getting close enough to a skittish butterfly with a macro lens! I can  .  The main problem I have with conditions still enough to shoot them on flowers is getting mauled by midges and flies. |
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Post by peterob on Jul 20, 2023 21:43:43 GMT
A very battered small white from today  DSCF5065.jpg by Pete, on Flickr and this peacock had seen better times too. This the best face  DSCF5068.jpg by Pete, on Flickr |
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Post by andy on Jul 21, 2023 11:44:29 GMT
A rather battered Speckled Wood:  Taken using "macro" mode on my phone so 3-5cm working distance with a 2.1mm lens. |
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Post by mick on Jul 22, 2023 11:16:10 GMT
I had a fruitless day. Lots of wing damage evident. I didn't want to keep any ragged winged shots so I'm left only with a small tortoiseshell and the pictures aren't much good. The minimum focus distance on the 150-600 is 2.75 m, this is incredibly far. I found myself too close most of the time. My current lens preference on the R7 for butterflies is my EF 100-400mm L, which has a 1 metre minimum focus distance. In fact I've only used my macro lens just once on the R7. I've never felt that a macro lens was essential for butterfly photography. Lovely sharp images, but depth of field is easier to manage with a typical mid to long zoom and you don't need to get as close to the subject. The extra reach is handy for those butterflies such as the tree dwelling hairstreaks. I don't use flash, but if you wish to eliminate hard shadows then a diffused flash is best. As you're finding, fieldcraft is probably the biggest factor to successful butterfly photos IMO. Obviously knowledge of the species' preferred food sources, both adult and larval, will help you locate them. I find that most butterflies can be quite territorial and if you spook them they will often return to the same plant. It really does pay to just spend time observing a general area, making note of flight paths and favoured plants. Sometimes just sitting by a patch of popular nectaring flowers such as cornflower, knapweed, scabious, and bramble will reap rewards without targeting a specific species. If you want to target a specific species then a bit of research is called for. I'll add a few links at the end of this post. Weather plays a part. Dull days see less activity, but more open wing displays. Hot, sunny days will make butterflies be very active and if they settle it's usually with closed wings. Binoculars are handy for scanning the area. When approaching a butterfly take slow,soft steps being extremely conscious of your shadow. A sudden shadow will spook a butterfly, but a very slow approaching shadow just seems like clouds passing. In fact on a hot day a cast shadow can encourage your target to open its wings. I start taking photos a little way away and then edge closer taking shots as I go. I've got a few inches away from some skittish butterflies like this. It takes a bit of patience but soon becomes second nature. Don't expect loads of 'keepers'. I'd be overjoyed with 10% good shots and 2% great shots on some of the harder targets. Hopefully this helps anyone wishing to photograph butterflies, but remember this is how I do things and people will have different ideas as to what works for them. Resourcesbutterfly-conservation.org/uk-butterflies/a-to-zwww.ukbutterflies.co.uk/flighttimes_this_week.phpThe FSC A4 gatefold ID guides are great. www.field-studies-council.org/shop/publications/butterflies-guide/This book is good too. www.amazon.co.uk/British-Butterflies-Collins-Complete-Guides/dp/0008106118/ref=sr_1_15?crid=2YUY5VXKWZHBV&keywords=butterfly+book&qid=1689796611&sprefix=Butterfly+bo%2Caps%2C309&sr=8-15Wise words Martin. If I had written anything about dragon/damselflies it would have been very similar (not food plants obviously). I may have added to wear dull clothing and keep low. I might also have mentioned that I sometimes add a short extension ring to a similar zoom to yours. Gets me that whisker closer. However the very best results are with my 200mm macro.
Fieldcraft is everything (almost) and what's not fieldcraft is patience.
Mick
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Post by gray1720 on Jul 22, 2023 18:04:11 GMT
A sh*t photo! A Dore beetle of some kind rolling a (very beetle-rich) lump of turd.  |
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Post by MJB on Jul 25, 2023 19:52:05 GMT
Three 'streaks and you're out! There's only 5 species of Hairstreak butterfly in the UK. We don't have the Black Hairstreak down here, and the Green Hairstreak is a spring flyer. I managed to bag the 3 others today. Purple Hairstreak. Resident of most old oak woodland in this country, but rarely do they come down low enough to photograph as their main food source is aphid honeydew. This one came down to eye level to feed. The purple refers to the upper wing colour, which features an iridescent purple streak. Like all Hairstreaks they prefer to settle with wings closed.  purple hairstreak by Martin Bone, on Flickr  purple hairstreak 2 by Martin Bone, on Flickr White-Letter Hairstreak. This one favours Elm trees, but is less catholic about it's adult food sources and will come down lower to feed. It's coming to the end of their flight period and they're starting to look tired.  white-letter hairstreak 2 by Martin Bone, on Flickr  white-letter hairstreak by Martin Bone, on Flickr Brown Hairstreak. No.46 of the Wiltshire 47!. Adults like Ash trees, but not fussy about food. The larval food plant is Blackthorn and all the ones I saw today were in scrubby woodland where bramble and Blackthorn entwine.  brown hairstreak by Martin Bone, on Flickr  brown hairstreak 2 by Martin Bone, on Flickr |
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Post by MJB on Jul 25, 2023 19:54:41 GMT
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Post by MJB on Jul 25, 2023 19:56:11 GMT
Stunningly marked Peacock. I've never seen one with the 5 dots on it's wings so vivid.  peacocok by Martin Bone, on Flickr |
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Post by peterob on Jul 25, 2023 19:56:48 GMT
A Comma at Erddig. It went very hot. Quite a few butterflies about on the long border but they were all very skittish and I soon gave up hunting.  274A1832.jpg by Pete, on Flickr A more environmental shot of a Gatekeeper. This is a crop - you wouldn't see it in the original at 800 px.  274A1847.jpg by Pete, on Flickr |
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Post by peterob on Jul 25, 2023 19:59:22 GMT
Three 'streaks and you're out! There's only 5 species of Hairstreak butterfly in the UK. We don't have the Black Hairstreak down here, and the Green Hairstreak is a spring flyer. I managed to bag the 3 others today. Purple Hairstreak. Resident of most old oak woodland in this country, but rarely do they come down low enough to photograph as their main food source is aphid honeydew. This one came down to eye level to feed. The purple refers to the upper wing colour, which features an iridescent purple streak. Like all Hairstreaks they prefer to settle with wings closed. purple hairstreak by Martin Bone, on Flickr purple hairstreak 2 by Martin Bone, on Flickr White-Letter Hairstreak. This one favours Elm trees, but is less catholic about it's adult food sources and will come down lower to feed. It's coming to the end of their flight period and they're starting to look tired. white-letter hairstreak 2 by Martin Bone, on Flickr white-letter hairstreak by Martin Bone, on Flickr Brown Hairstreak. No.46 of the Wiltshire 47!. Adults like Ash trees, but not fussy about food. The larval food plant is Blackthorn and all the ones I saw today were in scrubby woodland where bramble and Blackthorn entwine. brown hairstreak by Martin Bone, on Flickr brown hairstreak 2 by Martin Bone, on Flickr Astonishing, simply astonishing. Wonderful! |
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Post by aitch on Jul 26, 2023 11:00:22 GMT
 Tiny moth by SteveH, on Flickr
Another moth found in our stairwell. A bit over 1cm wide. Small Dusty Wave? |
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