Simple Photography Tips - how to photograph Butterflies
- Michael Blyth
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Seven simple photography tips on taking beautiful butterfly pictures
Be patient - they can be exasperating!
Use a long lens, preferably a macro
check the depth of field and shutter-speed if you're using a camera
Beware of stuff in the way
Try to get it's eyes in the picture
Try to avoid post-adjustment
Go for various angles, above, sideways etc.
In that fantastic time of year known as summer, we are blessed to see the wonder of the few remaining butterflies. Yes, miserably, in most parts of the world, our pre-occupation with pesticides and monoculture, along with climate change, means there has been a staggering decline in both numbers and species.
For those of us lucky enough to still see these beauties, and whom have the desire to try taking pictures of them, here are a few Simple photography tips.
It has to be said that to really do justice to them, one really needs a camera with a fairly socking lens. They are small, generally flitty, and easily disturbed if you get in too close.
Perhaps you may at some point be inspired to 'trade-up' from your iphone or similar, in which case get in touch if you need advice.
Most of the photographs here are of a very common species called the Small White. As beautiful as they are, they do when caterpillars, rather like a serious munch at cabbages, so their popularity does not match their looks.
Image One, is a favourite style of image amongst butterfly photographers. Shot from the side, with the wings closed.
It's actually requires a mixture of moment and patience to get the image right, as it's very easy to find that the blighter is partially hidden by the flower it's feeding on, and you miss getting the eye in the image.
Image Two, is an easier image to get, and may even be captured with one of the better iphones.
If using a phone camera you will have to approach very carefully so as not to frighten it away. But generally this species is not too bad, and good to practise on.
These images were shot in woodland, feeding on thistles and bramble flowers. This morning, before going out I saw some feeding on the lavendar in the garden - so it should be possible to get some decent shots, even if you're housebound - or garden-bound.
Image Three, illustrates another good but slightly less usual photo-angle, and combined with the bramble flower shows both well. The light is really important with these chaps and chapesses as being mostly white, the picture burns out easily.
Image Four is quite similar to the first one, except that there is a more gentle backgound, and the upper wing is not so erect. The main difference is the light, much less harsh.
It's very easy indeed when photographing butterflies to end up with extranous out of focus stuff in the foreground, and as experienced as I am, I frequently get it wrong. You can see a very out of focus leaf in the foreground.
Image Five, is I feel, a rather pleasing one, and not the 'norm'. The partially spread wings allow it to be seen - if they're folded it more or less disappears from this angle - but not so wide as to dominate the image.
Image Six. Just for a bit of colour variation, I thought I'd stick in this image, it's a Silver-washed Fritillary, the largest of the UK Fritillaries. It is such a happy looking butterfly as it flies busily around sunlit woody glades.
Some days it's so busy flying that it seems to forget to land. There is a rare form, which is a different colour and has silver on the trailing edges of it's wings - thus the name.
Both of these varieties will rest or feed with their wings opened or closed, which is great for not only viewing them, but for interesting images.
Likewise the Red Admiral, and the White Admiral, Tortoiseshells, and Peacocks. But there are planty who flit busily around, land quite momentarily, and with their wings folded - frustrating to an extreme!
If you do become keen on photographing butterflies, consider seeking and joining a local butterfly group. There is much to learn.
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