First serious attempt at Butterflies - Some ID help needed too!

[Canon_Bob]

hey all,

I went low ISO and high DOF on most of these, so a fill flash was used to compensate. I plan to re-shoot tomorrow again, and try the 100-400 with no flash and higher ISO. These were shot with the 180 macro lens. I need a couple ID's also:

Here's a White Peacock:


I thought this was a Julia, but I don't think it is. Can't find the markings in the book.


Unknown moth of some sort. Very large (about 5 inches wide). I saw several of these today, but this was the only one I got to come off a tree for a shot.


Zebra Longwing:


I got several other more common species (Monarchs, Viceroys, etc.). My only swallowtail shot was of two of them stuck together. There were butterflies EVERYWHERE out at that place!

From my perspective, I'm not happy with the POV on any of these. I think you need to be either directly over, or to the side of these. The angled POV with high DOF just doesn't work for me. I may be wrong, but that's what I think.

[mn shutterbug]

I'm far from an expert on bug photography, but the first one looks a little blown out on the highlights. The rest of them look very nice, except I think, less DOF would better isloate them from the busy backgrounds. This is just my amateurish opinion so you may take it with a grain of salt. But, they are sharp and colorful.

[Loupey]

From my perspective, I'm not happy with the POV on any of these. I think you need to be either directly over, or to the side of these. The angled POV with high DOF just doesn't work for me. I may be wrong, but that's what I think.

I think it must be considered on a case-by-case basis. Some with gorgeous wings (like your moth image) virtually must be shot directly overhead. But I agree (in general) that the angled POV from behind is not as attractive as perhaps one from the opposite direction.

I know your preference for deep DOF and I'm sure you know my preference for ambient light shots. So for me, I almost always (99 times out of 100 I'd say) sacrifice DOF in order to keep the "natural-ness" of the moment. But that's just me and I'm watching with interest to see where your expertise takes you with macros.

[Canon_Bob]

Never being one to wait for results, I went back today and took a different approach with the Butterflies. Today was all shot with the 100-400L locked at about 350mm. More weight was given to ambient light, but I used the 580EX to fill a bit. I like the results better, and the subjects were MUCH easier to shoot as I was kept to the minimum focusing distance of the 100-400L (which is limited to 1.8m - or about 6 feet). I shot these in a fraction of the time of yesterday's shoot. I think if butterflies were going to be my forte, I'd probably get the 300mm f/2.8 as my preferred lens.

[Knight]

Bottom to Top .

Zebra
Cynthia Moth
Female Julia
White Peacock
Female Julia
Mourning Cloak
Mourning Cloak
Male Julia
Male Julia

BTW Like them all good Captures .

[Yarrow]

Beautful shots. Butterflies are my favorite subject. I'll be shooting more again soon..

As far as IDs...You were right on the orange one. It is a Julia.
The Moth looks to be a mammoth but I could be wrong. I shot a HUGE Mammoth last month. One wing was the span of one of my hands. yikes.
The brown, blue and tannish looking one is a moarning cloak.

[mn shutterbug]

This second batch is awesome. I love them all. It's a good thing you went back and experimented some more. It was well worth your time.

[quetzal]

Those are beautiful images.
Not too familiar with most of the others but I recognize the Mourning Cloak, I just saw and photographed one for the first time this past weekend.