Baby Butterfly

[samchong]

Hi ,I am new in taking Butterfly shot. I do not have any close up filters or Macro len
Just taking these butterfly using my Canon 55 -250 IS , Your C & C are most welcome.

[log1t3ch]

although i find it almost impossible for myself in getting these shots without a dedicated macro lens, you have certainly proved me wrong. and with such a deep DOF, you even manage to get a clean background. my pic goes to the skittish palmfly and the last cycad blue.
perhaps a tighter crop will bring out the details more?

[samchong]

Originally Posted by log1t3ch although i find it almost impossible for myself in getting these shots without a dedicated macro lens, you have certainly proved me wrong. and with such a deep DOF, you even manage to get a clean background. my pic goes to the skittish palmfly and the last cycad blue. perhaps a tighter crop will bring out the details more?

Thanks for comment, indeed I have did a croping and sharpening on photo # 01, The # Photo 2 & 3 are original post
The original look like this

[log1t3ch]

#1 wings are blocked by the curvature of the leaf. while #2 and #3 are perched nicely.
i would work on #2 and #3 more though as #1 and #3 are the same species.

[jameskkmok]

Nice try

[simpleliving]

they are good shots....do take more !!!

[samchong]

Originally Posted by simpleliving they are good shots....do take more !!!

This is the first attand I take butterfly, I have to catch them when they are stationary.
Also must be quick for shot and adjust my exposure I really need to learnt from Expert
for macro photography and practice more ......

[log1t3ch]

without the EXIF, it is hard to give constructive comments
what i would recommend in this shot is to open up the aperture more, to allow a shallower depth of field and increase the exposure a wee bit more. if u are using flash, then use rear sync and lower the intensity, as it is only meant to be a fill flash, to balance the background with foreground. that way u will have a brighter bg and a properly exposed BF too.
composition i think u can afford to move back slightly so that there is a wee bit more breathing space at the top and btm of the butterfly.

[samchong]

Originally Posted by log1t3ch without the EXIF, it is hard to give constructive comments what i would recommend in this shot is to open up the aperture more, to allow a shallower depth of field and increase the exposure a wee bit more. if u are using flash, then use rear sync and lower the intensity, as it is only meant to be a fill flash, to balance the background with foreground. that way u will have a brighter bg and a properly exposed BF too. composition i think u can afford to move back slightly so that there is a wee bit more breathing space at the top and btm of the butterfly.

Hi log1t3ch , thank you for your tips , I shall try this in the next shooting.
The original picture without PP as look like this ...

[Alm1ghty]

Nice Butterflies ...

Anyone can advise, is Zoo or Sentosa a better place for butterflies shooting?

[Outlook]

Good pictures.

Good backlighting of wings in #1. But, with that lighting condition, it is a difficult to balance the exposure of the B.F. and the high light of the leave.

Clean background of #3 and #4 !


The sharpness is a bit over done, e.g. #1. The original looks more nature. What is the pp software you are using ?

[samchong]

Originally Posted by Outlook Good pictures. Good backlighting of wings in #1. But, with that lighting condition, it is a difficult to balance the exposure of the B.F. and the high light of the leave. Clean background of #3 and #4 ! The sharpness is a bit over done, e.g. #1. The original looks more nature. What is the pp software you are using ?

Hi Outlook thanks for comment .I am using the software from flickr call picnik. Ya... I agreed I had overdone the sharpnest and colour
These series I had taken at Alexandra Hospital Butterfly Trail yesterday afternoon...

[NovJoe]

Nice try and pretty clean shots!

I love butterflies but I have no luck with them as they just keep fluttering around me aimlessly...

[cmeptb72]

Originally Posted by Alm1ghty Nice Butterflies ... Anyone can advise, is Zoo or Sentosa a better place for butterflies shooting?

Try Alexandra butterfly trail & Pulau Ubin's butterfly hill

[log1t3ch]

Originally Posted by Alm1ghty Nice Butterflies ... Anyone can advise, is Zoo or Sentosa a better place for butterflies shooting?

sentosa is better, got more butts, and exotic species like the Green Birdwings, largest Genus of butterflies in the world. but its 16 dollars per entry now on top of the 3 dollars to enter sentosa .

Originally Posted by NovJoe Nice try and pretty clean shots! I love butterflies but I have no luck with them as they just keep fluttering around me aimlessly...

yes its hard at first, there are certain techniques and also ways of tracking them.
knowing their habits and hostplants/foodplants are a good way to start.
u can join us atbutterflycircle to find out more by asking the members.
also check out Sunny's article about butterfly tracking and photography 101.
it helped me alot when i first started.

[NovJoe]

Originally Posted by log1t3ch yes its hard at first, there are certain techniques and also ways of tracking them. knowing their habits and hostplants/foodplants are a good way to start. u can join us atbutterflycircle to find out more by asking the members. also check out Sunny's article about butterfly tracking and photography 101. it helped me alot when i first started.

Thanks for the advice .

[Papilio]

Originally Posted by samchong Hi log1t3ch , thank you for your tips , I shall try this in the next shooting. The original picture without PP as look like this ...

Sam, your shot looks underexposed. As you're using a Canon system, set to Av mode (aperture priority) and then set the flash to rear curtain. Select an aperture to suit the situation and whether you can get really in plane with the butt's wings, compose and focus, then let the Canon system take care of the rest.

Note that under such shady conditions, your shutter speed is likely to be very low. If you can pump up the ISO that's one option. Otherwise look for ways to support yourself to overcome the slow shutter speed.

[samchong]

Originally Posted by Papilio Sam, your shot looks underexposed. As you're using a Canon system, set to Av mode (aperture priority) and then set the flash to rear curtain. Select an aperture to suit the situation and whether you can get really in plane with the butt's wings, compose and focus, then let the Canon system take care of the rest. Note that under such shady conditions, your shutter speed is likely to be very low. If you can pump up the ISO that's one option. Otherwise look for ways to support yourself to overcome the slow shutter speed.

Hi Papillio, I was shooting these butterfly using manual mode + Nissin i622 flash at 1/5 of the power.The 1 st photo was using the AV mode.
I will try the rear curtain flash next time , Thanks a lot for your tips

[Papilio]

Originally Posted by samchong Hi Papillio, I was shooting these butterfly using manual mode + Nissin i622 flash at 1/5 of the power.The 1 st photo was using the AV mode. I will try the rear curtain flash next time , Thanks a lot for your tips

You're most welcome! Keep shooting. You will improve with more practice.

[Numnumball]

Nice effort for a first timer.
Same here as well exploring the macro world.