Photographing moths

[PMG]

Elaine it is possible to get shots of almost everything you wish to photograph but it may take some time to achieve it!!

I begin by choosing what I want to photograph the moth on - peice of wood or bark or a nice moss covered rock off the wall ! I'm usually at the caravan so a small confined place like the caravan is handy - making sure all wiindows and roof lights and cupboard doors are closed. It can be easier when I've got up at daybreak to empty the trap and pot up the ones I want - cos by the time I get back up at a more daytime hour the moths should be quiet. Its all about quick, quiet but steady approach - hands not shaking - not getting excited and breathing on the moth - open the pot and with a determined flick tip/knock the moth out onto the prepared substrate/perch. Many of mine are done on the bread board when I want a clean clear background! If you manage a steady first time flick onto the board the moth will often just sit there - don't be tempted to try and move it to a better place - have you camera set up ready and take a few shots - use a bit of fill-in flash -2 or -3 setting to get the detail in the seperate scales cos you are indoors and the light ius never as good as ambient daylight - experiment with shots. Then you can try moving the moth to somehwere better - if it flies off try and see where its gone and recapture for its own good. If it disappears it will reappear at night when you put the lights back on! Then if you are satisfied with the indoor shots you can walk outside and try ambient light (bright shade) and take some more - but beware - if the moth flies your nearest chaffinch, robin or blackbird may grab and eat it right in front of you which will make you feel upset. So be prepared to only remove its cover if you think it won;t fly off - many species won't fly - I find all the flirty flighty carpets, thorns, all the almost 'butterfly' looking ones will fly - immediately and are a right pain to photograph and I very often have to accept photographing them where they choose to land - not on my nicely prepped set up! Good Luck - have fun!!

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by PMG

Elaine it is possible to get shots of almost everything you wish to photograph but it may take some time to achieve it!!

I begin by choosing what I want to photograph the moth on - peice of wood or bark or a nice moss covered rock off the wall ! I'm usually at the caravan so a small confined place like the caravan is handy - making sure all wiindows and roof lights and cupboard doors are closed. It can be easier when I've got up at daybreak to empty the trap and pot up the ones I want - cos by the time I get back up at a more daytime hour the moths should be quiet. Its all about quick, quiet but steady approach - hands not shaking - not getting excited and breathing on the moth - open the pot and with a determined flick tip/knock the moth out onto the prepared substrate/perch. Many of mine are done on the bread board when I want a clean clear background! If you manage a steady first time flick onto the board the moth will often just sit there - don't be tempted to try and move it to a better place - have you camera set up ready and take a few shots - use a bit of fill-in flash -2 or -3 setting to get the detail in the seperate scales cos you are indoors and the light ius never as good as ambient daylight - experiment with shots. Then you can try moving the moth to somehwere better - if it flies off try and see where its gone and recapture for its own good. If it disappears it will reappear at night when you put the lights back on! Then if you are satisfied with the indoor shots you can walk outside and try ambient light (bright shade) and take some more - but beware - if the moth flies your nearest chaffinch, robin or blackbird may grab and eat it right in front of you which will make you feel upset. So be prepared to only remove its cover if you think it won;t fly off - many species won't fly - I find all the flirty flighty carpets, thorns, all the almost 'butterfly' looking ones will fly - immediately and are a right pain to photograph and I very often have to accept photographing them where they choose to land - not on my nicely prepped set up! Good Luck - have fun!!

Thanks P for the tips.
I will try this, they have flown off before, out side the back door is a wall covered in hydrangea and Virginia creeper and they make for this so they get shelter before the birds can get them..

[PMG]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

Chris Harlow has produced a leaflet on how to photograph moths http://www.staffs-ecology.org.uk/sta...ng%20Moths.pdf

If that link doesn't work Google Photographing Moths/Chris Harlow. I just double checked and it is still current. It appears that there are also some other items from him which may prove useful.

Thanks Geoff - that is an excellent well produced document that Chris has put together and I've enjoyed reading all of it!

[djeyewater]

For moths I find in the house in the evening, I trap them in a jar, then place the jar in a plastic insect tank / container, which gives the moth a bit more room to move about.

The next day I try and coax the moth onto a piece of paper to take some 'studio' photos of it. You can see a photo of this on my flickr: Moth photography setup | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

If the moth flies away instead of going on the paper, I will generally catch it and try and get it on to the paper a couple more times. If it still flies away after that, I capture it again and release it outside, where it will fly away somewhere it can't be photographed.

Sometimes I have had success putting a bit of honey near the moth so they stop to drink the honey, allowing me to get a few shots.

Dave

[theresa dockery]

Originally Posted by djeyewater

For moths I find in the house in the evening, I trap them in a jar, then place the jar in a plastic insect tank / container, which gives the moth a bit more room to move about.

The next day I try and coax the moth onto a piece of paper to take some 'studio' photos of it. You can see a photo of this on my flickr: Moth photography setup | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

If the moth flies away instead of going on the paper, I will generally catch it and try and get it on to the paper a couple more times. If it still flies away after that, I capture it again and release it outside, where it will fly away somewhere it can't be photographed.

Sometimes I have had success putting a bit of honey near the moth so they stop to drink the honey, allowing me to get a few shots.

Dave

I use exactly the same method: with a glass jar, some sugar solution/honey to tame them and a bit of patience - there's no need to put them in the fridge.

If they get too fluttery, put a dark cloth over the jar - they will soon adopt a resting posture.

Some species of geometer prefer to rest in a vertical position on a wall and refuse to settle on a horizontal flat surface. Just blu-tack a piece of paper to the wall, catch the moth in a glass/jar and trap it over the pice of paper until it settles.

[nightshade]

I have always used Rosehip Syrup, most Moths, Butterflies etc. seem to like it
and it holds their interest, I have even sprayed shrubs with it! to attract flying insects