Wayne Wendel's Photography
Photographing Butterflies:
Equipment used; Nikon D200 and Fuji S3 Finepix SLR Digital cameras, Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 70-180mm, Nikon AF Nikkor 300mm, and Nikon 500mm, Nikon SB-800 Flash, Gitzo tripod,Arca-Swiss ball-head with a Wimberly Side-kick.
Getting close allows you to use smaller lenses and get greater detail. You get close by; 1. approaching from the rear slowly 2. Use the camera and tripod as a shield 3. Sometimes you can stand still where butterflies are landing and they will light on a flower or leaf near you allowing you to get close with your lens. Butterflies on a group of flowers will fly off upon your approach. Pick a flower and get set up with your camera because the butterfly will often circle around and come right back to the same group of flowers to feed.
A 300mm lens with an f/4 is hard to beat. Add a 10mm lens extension and you have an excellent combination for butterflies or bugs.
Depth of Field: Your depth of field will vary depending on the amount of focus area needed for the butterfly. You want the depth of field to be as narrow as possible so the background is blurred out and doesn't become something the eye sees. Generally, taking photographs of the flat surface of the top of the wings and head you want the lens wide open. Watch your shutter speed and make sure you are at 1/125 or faster. In a dimly lit area such as enclosed butterfly gardens you should use a flash at exposure factors of -1 to -2 f stops.
Butterflies are like flowers that fly. This phase of the insect is nothing but quiet beauty. I thank God for creating such a beautiful creature. Most of the photos of these butterflies were taken in area parks. The butterflies are wild and not easy to get in front of a lens. Some of the photos of butterflies were taken at the Cockrell Butterfly Center, Mueseum of Natural History in Houston, TX. Other photographs were taken in state and national parks. I hope you enjoy these quiet beauties.
Equipment used; Nikon D200 and Fuji S3 Finepix SLR Digital cameras, Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 70-180mm, Nikon AF Nikkor 300mm, and Nikon 500mm, Nikon SB-800 Flash, Gitzo tripod,Arca-Swiss ball-head with a Wimberly Side-kick.
Getting close allows you to use smaller lenses and get greater detail. You get close by; 1. approaching from the rear slowly 2. Use the camera and tripod as a shield 3. Sometimes you can stand still where butterflies are landing and they will light on a flower or leaf near you allowing you to get close with your lens. Butterflies on a group of flowers will fly off upon your approach. Pick a flower and get set up with your camera because the butterfly will often circle around and come right back to the same group of flowers to feed.
A 300mm lens with an f/4 is hard to beat. Add a 10mm lens extension and you have an excellent combination for butterflies or bugs.
Depth of Field: Your depth of field will vary depending on the amount of focus area needed for the butterfly. You want the depth of field to be as narrow as possible so the background is blurred out and doesn't become something the eye sees. Generally, taking photographs of the flat surface of the top of the wings and head you want the lens wide open. Watch your shutter speed and make sure you are at 1/125 or faster. In a dimly lit area such as enclosed butterfly gardens you should use a flash at exposure factors of -1 to -2 f stops.
Butterflies are like flowers that fly. This phase of the insect is nothing but quiet beauty. I thank God for creating such a beautiful creature. Most of the photos of these butterflies were taken in area parks. The butterflies are wild and not easy to get in front of a lens. Some of the photos of butterflies were taken at the Cockrell Butterfly Center, Mueseum of Natural History in Houston, TX. Other photographs were taken in state and national parks. I hope you enjoy these quiet beauties.
