Sunday, April 7, 2013

newsletter-2013-04

CITY ESCAPES

Nature Photography, LLC

 

 

Newsletter

April, 2013

 

 

 

Photographing Butterflies

It’s spring!  If they are not already, butterflies will soon be flitting about the green areas near you, perhaps even at your house.  Most of us have an appreciation for these insects’ delicate beauty, and many of us want to try to capture that beauty in a photograph – only to be thwarted by the butterfly’s flitting ways.  They just won’t hold still long enough for us to focus and snap that shutter.  Luckily, there are a few tricks that make the job easier – and they are pretty easy to implement.

The first thing to remember is that butterflies are basically solar-powered: their wings work best when they receive heat from the sun.  In the mornings and evenings, when the sun is lower in the sky and not as strong, and the air temperatures are cooler, they are much more sedate and still.  The magical quality of light at those times of day is just an added bonus.  Conversely, in the middle of the day when the sun is overhead and stronger, and the air is warmer, those wings work just fine and the butterflies often flit about like crazy.  If the weather is generally colder, you will likely have better luck than when the weather is warm.  Of particular note at any time, however, is that the insects will actively seek out sunlight.  That means that if you cast a shadow over the butterfly while trying to get close enough for a really good shot, it is likely to fly away.  It is important to ensure that your movements never put the butterfly in shadow, whether it be from your body, hat, or camera.

Next, move slowly.  Butterflies are skittish creatures, easily frightened into flying off.  Another wise approach (that admittedly takes a good bit more patience) is to not move at all: find a flower that looks like a likely candidate for a butterfly visit and set your gear up in advance.  Especially if you use a remote shutter release, the butterfly will never have to see you move, though you may be sitting only inches from it (you are using a tripod, right?).  This approach could require anywhere from a few minutes to a half hour or more to get a proper opportunity to snap a shot, but the results could be dazzlingly worth it.

We often use shallow depths of field when photographing butterflies to isolate them from the background.  The shallower the depth of field, the more important it is to have the wings in a single flat plane so that they will be in focus from tip to tip, as it is usually the beauty of the wings that we are trying to capture.  If you are trying for a head-on image, keeping the entirety of the wings in focus will likely not be possible with a shallow depth of field.  In such a case, the tried-and-true rules of all wildlife photography come into effect: focus on the eyes.  If you are relatively new to working with depth of field, begin with a deeper one (a higher f-stop number) until you get more experience.  Having more in focus than absolutely necessary is far better than having a razor-thin plane of clear focus in the wrong spot.

And finally, use a fast shutter speed.  Even if you go out on a cool morning in the spring, a butterfly is not likely to give you a long period of time to get that perfect image with the wings fully spread and the brilliant colors and patterns shown off in all of their glory.  Plus, the insect will very likely be perched on some sort of flower or greenery – which moves with every slight breeze.  To freeze the image, start with your camera’s ISO setting at 400 and a shutter speed of at least 1/125 sec. Then adjust as necessary to get the image you are looking for.

Now that you know how to start, get out there and celebrate the arrival of the butterflies!

 

 

Thanks to All Who Supported Us at March’s Shows!

 

The two arts and crafts fairs we participated in last month in Spokane and Pasco were great experiences for us.  We made the acquaintance of some wonderful new people, had the unwavering support of old friends, heard great wildlife stories, and got a lot of new leads on places we should check out.  A tremendously heartfelt thanks to everyone who came to see us.  We hope to see you again at another show. In the meantime, enjoy the blooming of spring!

 

 

April Specials

 

Get 10% off of unframed, 10x15 prints of “Iridescence -- Butterfly” and / or 8x12 prints of “Amity Blossoms” when you order from our specials page. As with all of our unframed prints, these prints are eligible for our No Hassle Returns. 

 

 

Fun Facts

 

In the Spirit of April Fool’s Day, this month we focus on the currency of fools: Fool’s Gold.

 

·         “Fool’s Gold” is the common name for the mineral pyrite.  It got its name from its similarity in color to gold and its classic metallic sheen.

·          Pyrite was used to provide the spark that ignited the gunpowder in firearms of the 16th and 17th centuries.

·          Gold has no odor. Pyrite smells like sulphur – that unforgettable stench of rotten eggs.

·          When hit with a steel hammer, gold will flatten or otherwise deform (but not break).  Pyrite will spark – thus its use in firearms – and / or shatter.

·          Remember those Energizer (non-rechargeable) lithium batteries you recently bought?  They contain pyrite.

·          Early Native Americans polished pyrite and used it as mirrors.

·          In a phenomenon known as dust explosions, the oxidation of iron pyrite (the reaction of pyrite when it comes into contact with oxygen) can produce enough energy to create explosions and incidents of spontaneous combustion in coal mines.  Mitigating steps must be taken to keep this from occurring.

 

 

If you have any questions, or suggestions for future newsletters, please email us at: relationships@cityescapesphotography.com

 

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CITY ESCAPES Nature Photography, LLC

www.cityescapesphotography.com

774-277-9682