Butterflies from the conservatory (Large Post)

Harv · July 15, 2007

Butterflies are not my 'thing' but I was there and took photographs. I shot these with my 1D MkIIn and a 100 macro I borrowed from a friend along with some fill flash at FEC - 1-2/3 stops. I sure could have used IS for this shoot as ISO was high and shutter speeds very, very low and we were shooting handheld.

For anyone who has viewed this thread earlier, please note that I was not happy with the post processing I originally did and have reworked the images, adding one.

1.

2.
http://harveyg.smugmug.com/gallery/3152339#173215568

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Thanks for looking.

Skippy · July 15, 2007

Harv wrote:

Butterflies are not my 'thing' but I was there and took photographs. I shot these with my 1D MkIIn and a 100 macro I borrowed from a friend along with some fill flash at FEC - 1-2/3 stops. I sure could have used IS for this shoot as ISO was high and shutter speeds very, very low and we were shooting handheld.
Thanks for looking.

Hi Harv, these are really nice, I could look at butterfly pictures for hours

Thanks for sharing......... Skippy
.

ShepsMom · July 15, 2007

Beautiful shots Harvey

For my taste, i would either add more contrast or saturation to bring more details!!

Maestro · July 15, 2007

Well for not being your "thing", you did a fine job!

emmalou · July 15, 2007

Such colors!!!! Lovely Harvey...........

Two days ago I chased a swallowtail around the yard.he flitted everywhere but where I could get a shot.....

I know the neighbours are positive I have lost my mind.

Harv · July 15, 2007

Skippy wrote:

Hi Harv, these are really nice, I could look at butterfly pictures for hours
Thanks for sharing......... Skippy
.

Thanks for stopping by, Skippy.

Harv · July 15, 2007

ShepsMom wrote:

Beautiful shots Harvey For my taste, i would either add more contrast or saturation to bring more details!!

Thanks, Marina. That's good advice and I'll have to give it a try.

Harv · July 15, 2007

Maestro wrote:

Well for not being your "thing", you did a fine job!

Thanks a lot, Stephen.

Harv · July 15, 2007

emmalou wrote:

Such colors!!!! Lovely Harvey...........

Two days ago I chased a swallowtail around the yard.he flitted everywhere but where I could get a shot..... I know the neighbours are positive I have lost my mind.

Thanks a lot, Emmalou. I'm sure my neighbours think I'm nuts too when they see me on my deck with the 500 on a tripod. They probably think I'mtrying to see stars in full daylight.

ShepsMom · July 15, 2007

Harv wrote:

Thanks a lot, Emmalou. I'm sure my neighbours think I'm nuts too when they see me on my deck with the 500 on a tripod. They probably think I'mtrying to see stars in full daylight.

Or better yet, they might think you're spying on them

I had my share with weird looks from neighbors when i first got my macro lens

. They had no clue what i was doing. I was looking for bugs everywhere, grass, climbing trees, crawling on the ground, you name it

. But it was fun to keep them amused

Harv · July 15, 2007

ShepsMom wrote:

Or better yet, they might think you're spying on them

I had my share with weird looks from neighbors when i first got my macro lens . They had no clue what i was doing. I was looking for bugs everywhere, grass, climbing trees, crawling on the ground, you name it . But it was fun to keep them amused

I can just picture it.

Dick on Aruba · July 15, 2007

Maestro wrote:

Well for not being your "thing", you did a fine job!

...and how true is that!

Thanks for sharing,

Dick.

Harv · July 16, 2007

Dick on Aruba wrote:

...and how true is that!

Thanks for sharing,

Dick.

Thanks a lot, Dick. Much appreciated.

Art Scott · July 16, 2007

nice set...all except for #2......it is not there

but I presume it as nice as the other 9....Great work. keep posting them

Debboggy · July 16, 2007

You did a great job with these. I'm so disappointed at our zoo. They used to have a butterfly house and when I started photography this year, I couldn't wait to go there to get some great shots like you have. Unfortunately, the butterfly house is closed and rumored that it will be a new home for a different exhibit, so it looks like my butterfly chances are gone. :cry

On the other hand, this thread with all the neighbors' thinking photographers are crazy has made me feel much better!

I've scoped out my grass and flowers I don't know how many times, looking for bugs. I've always wondered what they would think of me, sitting in the middle of my greenery with my 100mm macro and full set of Kenko tubes.

If my kids are out with me, and I hear a neighbor, I always make sure to ask the kids a little loudly if they can spot a bug for Mommy to take a picture of. That way the neighbors might realize that I'm using a macro set up for close ups and I'm not just REALLY into plants.

Thanks for the nice pics and the nice laugh.

Harv · July 16, 2007

Art Scott wrote:

nice set...all except for #2......it is not there but I presume it as nice as the other 9....Great work. keep posting them

Thanks very much for the kind words, Art.

Harv · July 16, 2007

Debboggy wrote:

You did a great job with these. I'm so disappointed at our zoo. They used to have a butterfly house and when I started photography this year, I couldn't wait to go there to get some great shots like you have. Unfortunately, the butterfly house is closed and rumored that it will be a new home for a different exhibit, so it looks like my butterfly chances are gone. :cry

On the other hand, this thread with all the neighbors' thinking photographers are crazy has made me feel much better! I've scoped out my grass and flowers I don't know how many times, looking for bugs. I've always wondered what they would think of me, sitting in the middle of my greenery with my 100mm macro and full set of Kenko tubes.

If my kids are out with me, and I hear a neighbor, I always make sure to ask the kids a little loudly if they can spot a bug for Mommy to take a picture of. That way the neighbors might realize that I'm using a macro set up for close ups and I'm not just REALLY into plants.

Thanks for the nice pics and the nice laugh.

Thanks a lot, Debbie. I appreciate your stopping in and thoroughly enjoyed your comments. It doesn't matter if the neighbours think we're nuts, so long as we get the shot.

raptorcaptor · July 16, 2007

Nice butterfly collection Harv!

Harv · July 16, 2007

raptorcaptor wrote:

Nice butterfly collection Harv!

Thanks a lot, Glenn.

kpoore · July 16, 2007

Butterflies
Thanks for posting. Such variety - awesome!
Now you have to find out the names of each of these guys!!!!! (-:
I have just joined SmugMug since Photosite is closing down.
I have to upload all my images.
kpoore.Smugmug.com
Austin, Tx USA

Harv wrote:

Butterflies are not my 'thing' but I was there and took photographs. I shot these with my 1D MkIIn and a 100 macro I borrowed from a friend along with some fill flash at FEC - 1-2/3 stops. I sure could have used IS for this shoot as ISO was high and shutter speeds very, very low and we were shooting handheld.

For anyone who has viewed this thread earlier, please note that I was not happy with the post processing I originally did and have reworked the images, adding one.

1.

2.
http://harveyg.smugmug.com/gallery/3152339#173215568

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Thanks for looking.

LCD · July 16, 2007

Who wouldn't want to be a butterfly photog with these beautiful specimen?!
Great captures. wonderful color and detail.
Just curious how much crop is involved with the 100mm macro?
Lisa

dbaker1221 · July 16, 2007

beautiful photos:ivar

Harv · July 16, 2007

LCD wrote:

Who wouldn't want to be a butterfly photog with these beautiful specimen?!
Great captures. wonderful color and detail.
Just curious how much crop is involved with the 100mm macro?
Lisa

Thanks, Lisa. The crop varied from shot to shot. Some of the butterflies I could approach quite close while others I could not. If I were going to photograph butterflies on a regular basis, I would opt for something in the 150-180-200mm range. I think a 70-200mm high end zoom with a short extension tube would also work great and if I were to go back, that's what I'd use the next time.

Harv · July 16, 2007

dbaker1221 wrote:

beautiful photos:ivar

Thanks a lot, Dave.

Shasoc · July 16, 2007

Very nice variety of well taken shots.

LCD · July 16, 2007

Harv wrote:

Thanks, Lisa. The crop varied from shot to shot. Some of the butterflies I could approach quite close while others I could not. If I were going to photograph butterflies on a regular basis, I would opt for something in the 150-180-200mm range. I think a 70-200mm high end zoom with a short extension tube would also work great and if I were to go back, that's what I'd use the next time.

Thanks for taking the time to respond Harv. I appreciate the info. A 'real' macro is one of the next items on my wish list.

Harv · July 16, 2007

Shasoc wrote:

Very nice variety of well taken shots.

Thanks very much. Appreciated.

Harv · July 16, 2007

LCD wrote:

Thanks for taking the time to respond Harv. I appreciate the info. A 'real' macro is one of the next items on my wish list.

You're welcome. I'm not really much of a 'macro' photographer. I do the occasional close-up shooting. Mostly, I shoot birds. Having said that, I've owned the 60mm and 100mm Canon macro lenses and the Sigma 150. Of the 3, I'd vote for the Sigma 150 for both reach and image quality. Superb lens. I've never owned the 180 so can't comment on that one.

Butterflies from the conservatory (Large Post)

Comments