Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

[Harold Gough]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Red-headed Cardinal Beetle: a Closer Look

I recently posted some images of this species where close approach had been limited by having to avoid disturbing the vegetation. That was not an issue with this set.

I picked up a log, intending to use it to help prevent wind blowing the tarpaulin off my stack of Sycamore logs. I immediately spotted this cardinal beetle. The log was about the size of my forearm and I was able to carry it to the bench where I like to work. Although the beetle walked around quite a lot on the log I was able to get angles I like over a period of several minutes. Even so, I had to frame a bit wide and these images have been moderately cropped.

Olympus EM-1 (aperture priority), Olympus 4/3 50mm f2 macro at f10, various shutter speeds, sunlight, hand-held.

Harold

[img] http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/ufi...?ts=1527316509[img]

[MJ224]

[art frames]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Harold

I like cardinal beetles and like these shots. There is something about them which means I am drawn to taking shots.

I usually have them against green where the colour sings. The brown gives a very different look, calm and elegant.

[Harold Gough]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

My First Picture-wing Fly Images

These tiny flies, with patterned wings, walk around rapidly on foliage and often take flight. I have never obtained an acceptable image until now.

I was photographing solitary bees on Bryony flowers when I saw this fly walking up a stem, on the side away from me. I hoped that it would pause on the buds at the top. I really needed more magnification but had to settle for 1:1.

It did as I hoped and even allowed a stereo pair before flying away.

These images could be better but I am pleased to have any usable ones. Frame size 17.5mm wide, uncropped for the stereo.

Olympus EM-1, Olympus 4/3 50mm f2 macro, sunlight, hand-held.

The stereo is crosseye.

Harold

[Harold Gough]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Harold

I like cardinal beetles and like these shots. There is something about them which means I am drawn to taking shots.

Thanks, Peter.

Precisely! I did mentally question whether I really needed any more Cardinal images. It's just as well that I ignored that idea.

Harold

[alfbranch]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Those cardinal beetle shots are great Harold

I have shot a few picture wing lies they are fascinating to watch displaying.

[Harold Gough]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Those cardinal beetle shots are great Harold

I have shot a few picture wing lies they are fascinating to watch displaying.

Thanks, Alf.

Yes, the flies are fun to watch. I have sots of wingtips, etc.!

Harold

[Gate Keeper]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Phil

Nice shot with the pansies and painted lady together. And the lady on its own shows you are getting the technique and focus sorted. Look forward to seeing a few more now as numbers increase.

The locusts are interesting but the swarm does make your stomach turn.

Thank you Peter, fortunately the locusts moved away and have not been back. Its not long now until your holiday in Croatia, so have a beautiful and enjoyable holiday and shoot lots of photos to tease us with. I try to remember your advice about the 24 inches rule for taking the close ups. You also mentioned about having a second camera, have you any preference?

[art frames]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Thank you Peter, fortunately the locusts moved away and have not been back. Its not long now until your holiday in Croatia, so have a beautiful and enjoyable holiday and shoot lots of photos to tease us with. I try to remember your advice about the 24 inches rule for taking the close ups. You also mentioned about having a second camera, have you any preference?

Phil my mention of 24 inches was talking about the closest that the lens allows you to get with focus (so called minimum focus distance). But it is a good reminder to try and get closer with your approach. It is tempting to not push too close and spook the insect, but I find the difference in detail to be significant. As always experiment. You may find there is a practical distance which is your limit, that is very noticeable for me with the height from the ground of the insect. Where I need to get low I hit practical issues! knees and back!

As for a second camera, many would recommend having two of the same. I have never done that. So I think of one camera that is best for the approach (EM5mk2 or now the G9, which like the EM1mk2 is fast) and one that is best for the 60mm macro lens (depending on whether you use manual or auto settings - you may want focus aids). I like Panasonics pinpoint focus - which enlarges the area around the focus point - as picture in picture, and also gives focus peaking and allows quick changes from auto focus to manual. But to me camera choice is flexible as they all have good and not so good points.

But do we really need all of the fancy new stuff?

My first digital butterfly shots were on a 3mp C3030 zoom (circa 2002). Which had all of the abilities I needed but was slow. (I upgraded it to the C5050 with 5mp but my company was paying!)



Before that it was slide film on an OM2n with a Tamron 90mm macro - which served me for 20+ years.

This was taken on the OM2n in the 1990s and captured from the slide on an EM5 a couple of years ago. Those were the days, no reviewing and worrying about exact focus. Just enjoy the moment.



I still have the C5050 if you want to make an offer!

[Harold Gough]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Phil my mention of 24 inches was talking about the closest that the lens allows you to get with focus (so called minimum focus distance).

The manufacturers give a "minimum focus distance" but that is from the subject to the focal plane i.e. the sensor. I prefer to use the unambiguous term "working distance" which is typically something like 20mm (my macro lenses) shorter if you use a hood.

Harold

[Harold Gough]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Hoverfly Preening

This individual was on a Bryony leaf. I was trying for a stereo pair but the position of the legs is different in each frame. The sharpness varies a bit.

The sequence I have chosen may differ from the actual sequence but I think it is representative.

All the images have been cropped.

Olympus EM-1, Olympus 4/3 x2 TC, Olympus 4/3 50mm f2 macro, f9, sun, hand-held.

Harold

[Gate Keeper]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Painted Lady resting on Tithonia Rotundifolia (Red Sunflower)

Painted Lady and Tithonia Rotundifolia (Red Sunflower) Nairobi by philip Gate Keeper, on Flickr

[Olybirder]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

I saw six Wall Brown butterflies at Carlton Marshes yesterday, although the first one settled on my back which made identification tricky! It was nice to see so many of these colourful little butterflies in one place.





Ron

[MJ224]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

[Harold Gough]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

[url=http://e-group.uk.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/99104]

I am ID'ing this as a Toad Spider, I am sure this will be confirmed or corrected (Harold)…………...

Looks like and egg ball as well...………...

Not a name I have heard of.

It is a Wolf Spider with egg sac.

Harold