Small heath?

[MetalMoth]

Well I don't have a picture of a Small Heath as I said they always fly away as I get near to them. I don't have a camera with a good zoom so to get good pictures I have to use my cameras close-up mode, which does produce very nice clear images. However it means the challenge I have is trying to get my camera lens as close to the subject as physically possible. In some ways this is a good thing because it means you have to learn to creep up on or stalk wildlife in a way that won't disturb it, which means you learn how the animals behave and also results in you getting good close up views. The obvious downside to this is that if it is difficult/impossible to get close to the animal you wish to photograph (as is the case with Small Heath's!) then you can't really get a picture. Which is why I am hoping to save up and buy a good camera with a good zoom.

[Miss Caretaker]

I have exactly the same problem as you Metalmoth; my camera isn't a professional or expensive one and therefore the old "creep up quietly and try to get the camera to focus really quickly before it flies away" technique comes to the fore. I have yet to master this though as you can tell...

[MetalMoth]

Well I find with insects like butterflies and dragonflies you need to follow them and when they rest crouch low and move down towards them very slowly, avoiding sudden movements. Also if you watch them in a certain area they often have certain spots they come back to to settle. If you stand near this spot very still and wait often they will settle right next to you and you can then move your camera lens slowly up to them for it to focus for a close up. It takes a lot of patience and to some extent skill in moving slowly and carefully. Oh and of course obvious things like if the butterfly is on the ground tread softly and watch where your shadow falls. Now you see what I mean when I say it is fun doing photography in this way because you learn a lot about animal behaviour and get to be up close with the animals. I know that all good wildlife photography makes use of knowledge of the subject animal but I think close up pictures take a lot of skill, especially is the animal refuses to stay still!