After a long period of rainy weekends I was excited to be able to get out for a quick trip to Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens. With my official bug spotter in tow, we headed off for a nice sunny walk. Along a nice hedge row we came across a couple of small butterflies enjoying the sun. I snapped a bunch of shots but, as with most of my experiences with flying insects, they seem to have a sixth sense to fly on shutter press! These shots are not what I would call technically brilliant macro shots but they have great appeal to me. I hope you enjoy them as well (click for larger versions).
FAMILY LYCAENIDAE
Happy shooting.
AiM
This is almost certainly the Cycad Blue butterfly (Theclinesthes onycha) with a wingspan of 25-30mm. You can just make out the eye pattern of orange and black on the underside margin of hindwings with its little tail attached. The caterpillars of these butterflies are the scourge of cycad growers as they settle in vast numbers and devour young leaves.
Thanks!
Hey felix, its me from the forum.
I have purchased a Raynox DCR-250 and waiting for it to arrive, I’m just wondering what the best lens to use with it? I have a Sony A57 not for if I can use tamron lenses with Sony DSLR’s?? I just have the twin lens that came with the kit ( SAM 18-55mm & 55-200mm)
P.s. Loving the blog mate! Keep it up.
Thanks!
Definitely try it on the 55-200 at 75mm+. To make your life easier, make sure you rig up a flash diffuser! Show us the results, good luck.
Cheers, I’m an ameture just started photographing. What s a flash diffuser? Cheers.
Check out this post here for a quick explanation on diffusers. Mark Berkley has just the thing for your camera.
Any way of making one on the popup flash? Mark B1 uses his doesn’t he?
Yep that’s Mark Berkley, I made one using a Pringles can before I bought my external flash, Google DIY Macro Snoot or Diffuser.
Hey Felix, I can’t find anything on DIY could you possibly post a link?
Cheers.