Top Tips for Photographing Butterflies

Wildlife photography is always a lengthy process and you need some patience. I have tried butterfly photography before and not always got the shots I want. Slowly they are improving from a small subject in the middle of the screen to something with a bit more creativity (In my opinion :o)).

As said butterflies can be tricky to photograph, either you get too close and they fly off or they flutter from flower to flower without pausing or allowing you to focus properly.
As I have been trying to improve I have put below are some tips I have found useful when photographing butterflies;

• I have found that if I keep the tripod head loose and use the tripod for some stabilisation it allows me to get in quicker.
• Set the camera'ss sensor parallel to the wings this will help to ensure the wings and body are sharp.
• Wait for the butterfly to be front lit by the sun.
• Use a fast shutter speed (try ISO400 to help increase shutter speed)
• Wait for it to be colder, butterflies need the heat of the sun to use their wings, try and get them earlier or later in the day when they are sat absorbing the sun.
• Shooting in JPEG instead of RAW, you may want to consider shooting in JPEG instead of RAW. This will allow you to snap a lot more shots in a burst, increasing your chances of getting a sharp photo (when everything stood still for a microsecond) especially if you’re having a hard time with the wind and a constantly moving butterfly.
• Wait for the butteflies to come to you, focus on a flower and you will find they will come and settle on one near you rather than you chasing them. This requires some planning and research on my part and use a wide aperture (f/2.8-f/5.6 - f/4 is ideal) and a relatively fast shutter speed (maybe 1/1600s, however anything >1/250), ISO200-400 and then wait for a butterfly to appear. bracketing exposure may lso help - 3 shots if your camera has this functionality.
• Patience, patience, patience and practise practise practise. 
• Also try zooming in or macro shots, try with the flash as well , above all try and be creative 

MY SET-UP

Canon 1200D
7-300mm Lens, set to macro 200-300mm
ISO 200
f5.6
1/500
Tripod - Velbron Sherpa 200with ball head

 Examples from today's walk around Stretford Meadows, early morning;

 Gate Keeper

Large  White

Large White

Red Admiral

Meadow Brown 

I am more pleased with these images, still some room for improvement but finally getting there.

Dance Moves Support Evidence for New Bird-of-Paradise Species

I like my Birds of Paradise and follow this project with interest.

The Superb Bird-of-Paradise—the shape-shifting black bird of central New Guinea that woos its mate with an iridescent blue “smiley-face” dance—has an equally superb cousin in the isolated mountains of Indonesia’s Bird’s Head Peninsula in the island’s far west. Scientist Ed Scholes and photographer Tim Laman, with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Birds-of-Paradise Project, have now visually documented the distinct differences between the western population in the Arfak Mountains and the more common form found elsewhere on the island. Both believe the western form should be considered a new species.

“The courtship dance is different. The vocalizations are different. Even the shape of the displaying male is different,” says Scholes. “For centuries, people thought the Superb Bird-of-Paradise in the mountains of the Bird’s Head region was a little different from the other populations throughout the rest of New Guinea, but no one had ever documented its display in the 200 plus years this bird has been known to occur there.”
“Even after many trips to the region, we’d never seen the Arfak birds do their courtship display,” says Birds-of-Paradise Project co-leader Tim Laman. “When we finally located a display site and saw a male open his cape for the first time, what we saw was a complete surprise!”
When expanded for courtship display, the western male’s raised cape creates a completely different appearance—crescent-shaped with pointed tips rather than the oval shape of the widespread form of the species. The way the western male dances for the female is also is distinctive, being smooth instead of bouncy.

The raised cape of the western male (left) is crescent shaped and unlike the
oval shape of the widespread Superb Bird-of-Paradise (right) found throughout
most of New Guinea.
Left image © Tim Laman ML 62126951. Right image © Ed Scholes ML 458003

Scholes and Laman have been studying and filming birds-of-paradise behavior in the Arfak Mountains for the past 13 years. They first uncovered this population’s unique courtship behaviors in June 2016 and returned again this year to gather additional documentation for a forthcoming scientific paper.
A recently published independent genetic study confirms the visual and behavioral evidence collected by Scholes and Laman. A team of researchers from Sweden and Australia used DNA samples from museum specimens to examine the evolutionary relationships among Superb Bird-of-Paradise forms throughout New Guinea. Their research, published online in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, found that the western form is more genetically distinct from the widespread form than previously thought. They, too, say the western population should be recognized as a full species called Lophorina neidda inopinata. 
“The timing of this DNA-based study is perfect,” said Ed Scholes, “because it is great to have our field observations supported by solid genetic evidence. We really appreciate this in-depth study of the evolutionary relationships among the different forms of Superb Bird-of-Paradise.”
The Cornell Lab’s Birds-of-Paradise Project (birdsofparadiseproject.org) is a research and education initiative to document, interpret, and protect the birds-of-paradise, their native environments, and the other biodiversity of the New Guinea region—one of the largest remaining tropical wildernesses on the planet.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology Press Release published June 29, 2017.
Link to article here

Birds: Learn to draw a variety of amazing birds step by step (How to Draw and Paint)

Another learn to draw book to try out.

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Walter Foster (15 Mar. 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600583407
• ISBN-13: 978-1600583407
• Product Dimensions: 26 x 0.3 x 34.9 cm

Birds are an intriguing subject for artists of all skill levels, and aspiring illustrators and bird enthusiasts alike will find creative inspiration and valuable drawing instruction in Drawing: Birds. This comprehensive book opens by introducing pencil artists to the essential drawing tools, including graphite pencils, erasers, paper, and other materials. Valuable information on the different types of drawing pencils and the strokes they produce, as well as suggestions for ways to handle the pencil establishes the content to follow, including how to render a variety of techniques, such as shading, stippling, hatching, crosshatching, and others. Aspiring artists will also discover helpful tips for creating composition, understanding and seeing value, transferring photo references, and taking artistic liberties. Professional artist and nature enthusiast, Maury Aaseng, offers simple, comprehensive instruction for drawing a range of lovely birds, as well as information for achieving accurate proportions, capturing motion, and building up form. Special attention is given to creating realistic textures, such as feathers, bark, nests, and water. With easy step-by-step projects that start with basic shapes and progress to detailed final drawings, artists will learn to draw many birds of a feather, from the common to the exotic. Artists will explore the sizes and shapes of birdlife, including a golden eagle, crane, finch, pelican, and more. Easy-to-follow instruction and art tips throughout make Drawing: Birds a complete guide for artists desiring to create realistic and detailed drawings of their flighty feathered friends. For the aspiring avian artist, Drawing Birds is a must-have art-instruction reference.

Israel, Holy Land Travel Trip Oct 2018

Myself, Beth, Mandy, Billy, Julie and Bill have today paid deposits for our trip to the Holy Land next October (2018). A great opportunity to spend ten days walking with Jesus and some awesome photography opportunities.

An exciting year of planning and packing ahead.

Help Preserve Our Local Meadows - SIGNED!!

The campaign is created by Cllr Stephen Adshead

Concerning development of the Stretford Meadows

The Petition is to withdraw any suggestions, ideas etc. to develop industrial units/warehousing on the meadows greenbelt area that links Stretford and Urmston, and instead support the local community and Trafford Council’s strategy to help enhance this green space for the benefit of the local communities.

Why is this important?

These meadows are a former landfill site that has gradually over the years been transformed and enhanced into a green space with a diverse number of uses, Trafford Councils Strategy for the site includes:
• The provision of attractive, accessible links from surrounding residential areas;
• The creation of a strategic route encouraging cycling and walking, linking urban and
Countryside areas, that is highly accessible by a large number of Trafford residents;
• The inclusion of measures to secure improvements to biodiversity, for instance by
Enhancing the area adjacent to the existing wetland to encourage Reed Buntings,
Improving meadow habitat for Skylarks and supplementing naturally regenerating oak trees;
• Tree planting to create woodland to help tackle air pollution and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
All this could now be under threat if Land care develops proposals to industrialise our local greenspace, the local area includes high density housing and some depravation, and this green space is well used and valued by the local community. It is also home a diverse community of wildlife that would also be lost.

SIGN HERE - https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/help-preserve-our-local-meadows-1

up to 32 species of bird on the land (maybe more), lots of butterflies, moths and other animals. it is an important site and needs to be kept to support wildlife. We are loosing a lot of greenspace and we don't have much to begin with in Stretford, our Parks are also under threat of development, soon it could be a concrete jungle is that what we want?

Walk around Stretford Meadows to the Water Park (Sat 1st July 2017)

A nice sunny day today, so a good opportunity to get outside and enjoy the sunshine for a few hours.

Started on the meadows in a circular route so that I would end up at the café at the water park.

Some of the highlights from today's walk, in the main butterfly's. All taken with a Sigma 17-70mm lens, trying it out properly for the first time.

Small Tortoiseshell - Sun loving caterpillar's feed on nettles

Comma - feeds on nettles, note the ragged edged wings

Stretford House from the meadows

Meadow Buttercup

Bridge under Chester Rd

Red Admiral - Summer migrant, often in good numbers.

Stretford house from Stretford Ees.

Stretford Ees

Common Blue Damselfly - have to look close for this one (centre)

Bridgewater Canal

Speckled Wood

Side of the tram lines to SWP



River Mersey

Broad Ees Dole

Swimmers in the lake

Stretford looking good, very summery.

And to finish off the walk with a nice piece of Carrot Cake at the SWP Café - great afternoon!!