Photographing Butterflies

16 years ago

Pat Garner allowed me to share this article she wrote Â I added a few notes at the end of the article.

I have been asked many times over the last few years: "How do you get so close to the butterflies?" I am by no means a professional, but these are a few of the things that have worked for me:

- Wait for the butterfly to begin nectaring if it is on a flower. The butterflyÂs focus seems to be totally on the sweet nectar, and not on you.

- Move VERY SLOWLY towards your subject, whether it is a butterfly or an insect.

- Get as close as you feel is safe without frightening your target and snap a photo so as not to completely miss the target should it decide to fly.

- Hold the camera so the butterfly canÂt see your face. IÂve noticed that if I do this, the butterfly isnÂt as likely to fly.

-Continue to move forward slowly, extending your arms toward the butterfly and snapping every step or two, which gives you a better and better capture. (When you edit your photos, you can delete all but the last shot.) I think that by moving the camera straight toward the butterfly, the target doesnÂt detect the movement as easily as when you move around from side to side. In this way, IÂve been able (IÂm sure others have, too) to get within 3" of many of my subjects. And when you get that capture, it makes you feel soooo good!

Happy snapping Â I hope this will be a great butterfly year for everyone.

*****************************

Notes from Tom

If you get within a couple of inches, use your cameras "macro" setting to get those great closeups.

Also if you camera has some manual settings, if you set the F stop to F22 or anything as close to that as possible allows you to get more depth of field. Also donÂt try to zoom in, set the camera for the widest shot possible.

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Comments (5)

tdogmom
16 years ago
I think when you hand-raise butterflies they become 'used' to you, too, and are not as timid and are less apt to fly off when you come at them with a camera.

Here's a shot I took yesterday. The Painted Ladies (Vanessa cardui) were mating and decided to take a drink on the orange slice. I moved the slice over to the grass. They weren't at all upset by my moving the slice nor by the camera! The male is the one on the right.
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terrene
16 years ago
That's a great photo. Did you raise those Painted ladies?

That is remarkable that she gets three inches away from a butterfly with the camera. Not sure that my point and shoot would take a good picture that close, even in the macro setting. I find that moving slowly around wildlife, like butterflies and birds, lets me get closer. The wildlife responds well to a quiet vibe.
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tdogmom
16 years ago
Thanks, terrene. Yes, I raised those particular Painted Ladies. I am currently revising my Painted Ladies website. It isn't quite complete but I have a lot up already. I have been taking new pictures this week which is why I've decided to hold off on finishing the site. I went ahead and put it online because I recently taught a butterfly science class and wanted the teachers to see some of the pictures. :) I've been very successful with breeding these beauties although I only breed one 'brood,' so to speak,' then let them go.
susanlynne48
16 years ago
Sherry, how is it you always seem to get those "mating" photos! Heehee.

Another method for photographing butterflies for me, is to just stand still in the area they are nectaring - if they fly away, it won't be for long because they seem to come back to the same flowers - and wait for the butterfly to land on the flower, sometimes you have to wait for a spread-wing shot. Then get closer by moving slowly. Sudden movements usually startle them. I was able to get many photos using this method, too.

Susan
tdogmom
16 years ago
Susanlynne,
Just lucky I guess! tee-hee!

It's weird...Painted Ladies are usually so skittish but when in the mating mode, they're very docile. I moved one pair one day several times and they had NO problem with me photographing them or moving them from place to place. I ended up not using their pics. The photo here is of a different pair. I swear, it is odd, to be sure, that I am able to get some of the shots that I have had, of mating butterflies. Lucky? I don't know. I chalk it up to having a good rapport with nature. :)

Yesterday I hung out in the backyard in my LaFuma chair, computer in lap, iTouch blaring, Chelsea asleep nearby under her umbrella, and Painted Ladies fluttering EVERYWHERE! A Monarch flew by as did numerous Hummingbirds. It was truly paradise for me. Too bad my spring break ends this weekend. Oh well. Summer vacation does begin soon! I do admit to having a blast this year with my middle school kids, though.