Butterfly stalking - a few pics

[Monkey Orchid]

Hi, folks.

I decided to try and develop my 'butterfly stalking' skills for photography this year, with a bit of helpful advice from a friend who takes some cracking shots of invertebrates in the field.

All of the following shots were taken with my Pentax Optio W10, mostly on the macro setting. I'm posting them here for people to see... I'm by no means a proficient nature photographer (and I don't have the money to buy lots of kit), but I'm pretty happy with these shots as a first effort. All constructive feedback appreciated!


Comma basking on bramble scrub


Dingy skippers mating


Grizzled Skipper


Small Copper


Common Blue female


Small Heaths mating

[Wild-Woman]

Well, your stalking skills have certainly paid off. A great set of butterfly pictures. Well done.

[Monkey Orchid]

Thank you!

[david156]

Great pictures.

Just goes to show, its field craft that can get you the good shots not just the technology.
Well done,

David

[Naturenutz]

Exellent,you cant improve much on them if at all.

[Monkey Orchid]

Cheers, David and Naturenutz!

It's really encouraging to get such nice feedback. I will see if I can get a few more shots while the warm weather lasts. All the rain showers we've had recently have produced some actual flowers which hopefully will attract nectaring butterflies. (Previously, all the hot dry weather had led to most areas looking like baked savannah, with nary a blossom in sight.)

[Tringa]

Excellent photos, Monkey. Having tried to stalk butterflies I know how difficult it can be. Any tips from your friend will be appreciated.

As an owner of a bridge camera it is good to see what can be done with a non DSLR.

Dave

[turkeyneck]

Originally Posted by Tringa

Excellent photos, Monkey. Having tried to stalk butterflies I know how difficult it can be. Any tips from your friend will be appreciated.

As an owner of a bridge camera it is good to see what can be done with a non DSLR.

Dave

Yeh great set of photos Monkey, what's the advice then, like Tringa I'm intrigued. I find butterflies very maddening, frustrating and a a right 'pain in a$s' to get a decent shot of. I have nightmares about common blue's

[Susie]

I'd be interested in advice too. There's always something new to learn.

[Naturenutz]

I agree with you turkeyneck.Earlier this year i found a very large field with a equally large amount of common blues which were skipping around and accasionally landing on the clover.I thought my lucks in here .I walked the full circumferance of the field without a single good shot as they never rested for long,so i know how frustrating they can be.The sun was to bright and hence the butterflies were too active.I have found that in late evening they rest up on tall grass stems for the night,often in large compact numbers,if you can find these rest up spots(often on slopes), the late evening sunlight offers some good shots of them resting up with wings closed.To get good shots with wings open ,early morning is good while they are warming up and before they are too lively,also a day with cloudy spells is often better than a fine bright day,as they often lay up and become less flighty in the cloudy spells.But in general they are not the easiest i agree,also because they are small you often have to get that bit closer to fill the frame and if you make any sudden movements or cause a shadow,they are off in a shot.Move slowly and with a low angle of attack is the best advice i can give .Its easy to get shots,but to get good shots with wings wide open is far harder.I have some great shots but when i consider the hours ive put in,these are definatly one of the harder species to capture good shots off.
Hope i have given a few useful tips,ive learnt something during them many field hours put in .
regards
vic