A Butterfly

[Greg McCary]

I really wasn't set up for a shot like this when this guy came along, but I had to try anyway. What is the best set up for this? I took this with a 80mm-200mm lens and 200 speed film. I got tired of chasing him around and just focused on something I was sure he would land on....

[payn817]

Butterflies can be incredibly frustrating. Although they flutter about everywhere, they tend to come close to their last takeoff point. I would try manual focus, as it is easier than waiting for the AF to hunt and then focus on the wrong spot over and over. Try to spot meter on something near the color of the object, if not on it.

Not a bad first attempt. Keep working on it.

[Greg McCary]

What DOF and shutter speed would work best? Butterflys are difficult. Even when he was at rest his wings was always fluttering, Was the 80mm-200mm lens to much?

[payn817]

While a complete freeze is diserable, it is often difficult with Spicebush swallowtails. In nature photography, the important part is to have sharp eyes, all else is icing (wings,etc). IF possible, your aperture would likely be best around 9, that stops the lens down (where it's usually sharpest) and would give you a pleasing bokeh if the next nearest object is far enough away, otherwise, open up more to blur the BG. 200mm is not too much, I usually shoot butterflies around there, as does Loupey. As for the shutter, let the camera choose based on it's metering (use spot), if you need faster, perhaps 400 speed film.

One of my favorite (although not best) spicebush images, note the wings:

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...83PICT1232.JPG