Photographing Butterflies

[spoonbillcourt]

Had at last a great Sunny day but the Butterflies were too flighty to photograph anyone got any tips?

I did get a great shot of a Bee Fly (Bombycilus major) nectaring on Perrenial Honesty. a fluke shot really that I will upload once I figure out how to do it with my new lap top.

This is my 2nd bee fly I have seen this year.some years they are absent.

SBC

[The Black Rabbit]

Originally Posted by spoonbillcourt

Had at last a great Sunny day but the Butterflies were too flighty to photograph anyone got any tips?
I did get a great shot of a Bee Fly (Bombycilus major) nectaring on Perrenial Honesty. a fluke shot really that I will upload once I figure out how to do it with my new lap top.

This is my 2nd bee fly I have seen this year.some years they are absent.

SBC

Hey Spoonbillcourt!
My advice would be to get the photo JUST after they've emerged - so instead of looking in the air or the tips of plants and flowers in a butterfly-rich habitat, get LOWER and look for emerging insects.
Check fences also and other sheltered spots for emerging or resting butterflies.
The two shots below were taken of a very freshly emerged male Large White - though I admit, I was trying to concentrate on this butterfly's beautiful eyes rather than its wings.

Click thumbnails and then the images to sharpen them...




Of course, if you are more interested in taking shots of the whole butterfly, or wings of the butterfly, or feeding behaviour (with its proboscis sticking out), my advice would be the same for most wildlife photography.

Drab clothes - you want the butterfly to land on a flower - and not notice you!
Get low - so as not to spook the insect with a giant body towering over it.
Move SLLLOWWLLY. (See above).

Very often if you put your camera away for a walk around a meadow, and you just observe when the butterflies are out, when they are most active, when they are most docile, which spots are productive for butterflies, which groups of flowers they tend to favour, what weather conditions (sunlight and warmth differences) they are less easily spooked by etc... etc... and THEN return with your camera with a clear idea of what MAY work, your success rate will go through the roof.

If (like many skittish insects like Dragonflies for example) you sit quietly near a favourite post or flower for a while, the butterfly or insect will accept you simply as part of the environment, and come to you, rather than you go to it, which is probably going to a be a bit hit and miss with butterflies etc...

I hope this is of some help...

TBR

[wildlifesnapper]

Hi

your best times to photograph them are early morning before they warm up or late afternoon when they are becomong less active, the light is also better at these times.
Another tip is when stalking or moving in closer for a photo ,decide from which angle you want to take the picture then start from a distance (6 ft +) and move slowly in a straight line towards the butterfly.Take some insurance shots as you move closer in case it flies off. When moving in DO NOT move sideways or move your hands around the camera (make sure all controls are set before you start to move in).A butterflies eyes are very sensitive to side ways movements and it will spook them, also try not to cast a shadow onto them as this will also spook them.

Good luck,

neil