~ 2010 Butterfly Collection ~

[solardarkroom.com]

Nice Shot! That could work in both landscape and portrait too. If I'd had to guess I would have said you used some fill flash but the light was obviously just right. I've often wanted to try a ring flash just for a little fill and sparkle. I'd probably get a few more keepers since I'm always shooting into the sun

[JohnKoerner]

Nice Shot! That could work in both landscape and portrait too. If I'd had to guess I would have said you used some fill flash but the light was obviously just right. I've often wanted to try a ring flash just for a little fill and sparkle. I'd probably get a few more keepers since I'm always shooting into the sun

LOL, you're right David. In checking the exif data, I actually did fire a flash. It was a few months ago, so I must have forgot. However, I am 100% certain  it wasn't the ringlight, though, but rather the pop-up on my 7D that (as you said) was used for fill.

I do agree with you that the use of a little flash in harsh sunlight makes all the difference in the world. I took several photos of this spider in both natural light as well as with flash ... and the colors in the natural photos came out terrible in the harsh light ... but they came out absolutely perfecto through the use of flash.

Jack



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[nass]

John, might I suggest, build yourself a moth trap. Moths have been a thing of mine since I was a kid and I built a Robinson trap with a MV lamp on it. My interest has waned now but I still run once a month on a timer outside the back door because my kids love it. This usually catches 50-500 moths during a night, even in winter (although they tend to be grey/brown and drab during the winter here in the UK).

-Nass

[JohnKoerner]

John, might I suggest, build yourself a moth trap. Moths have been a thing of mine since I was a kid and I built a Robinson trap with a MV lamp on it. My interest has waned now but I still run once a month on a timer outside the back door because my kids love it. This usually catches 50-500 moths during a night, even in winter (although they tend to be grey/brown and drab during the winter here in the UK).
-Nass

Thank you for the suggestion. While I certainly see the advantages to trapping moths, and I appreciate the suggestion, I personally don't trap anything. I know of people who even go so far as to "refrigerate" butterflies (to slow them down), and who then place the disabled butterfly on specifically-chosen flowers for added effect, and then they can just fire-away and get some really nice images.

But that kind of thing takes the magic out of it for me. I just photograph what I am lucky enough to come across

Jack




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[JohnKoerner]

A few more taken today ... all natural light ...

Gulf Fritillary on Blazing Star



Gulf Fritillary on Pickerel Weed



Juniper Hairstreak on Spanish Needles

Enjoy,

Jack




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[solardarkroom.com]

The Gulf Frit shots are spectacular!. The dorsal shot's my favorite with the side-light punching up the surface detail so well. Did you use fill flash? I can't tell on this one so it doesn't even matter. The shot just works.

David

[JohnKoerner]

The Gulf Frit shots are spectacular!. The dorsal shot's my favorite with the side-light punching up the surface detail so well. Did you use fill flash? I can't tell on this one so it doesn't even matter. The shot just works.
David

Looking at the exif data, the top and bottom shots were with natural light, while the center shot used a fill flash. In posting it, though, I thought the light was with natural light ... but apparently I did musta used the pop-up flash for fill. I tool so many photos that day, it's hard to remember the details of each shot. I did not bring the ringlight with me that day though, which makes the camera much lighter

Thanks for you comments and glad you liked them!

Jack




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[JohnKoerner]

Zarucco Duskywing (crop)




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[JohnKoerner]

Some cool moths ...



Angle-Winged Emerald



Melonworm Moth



Unknown Moth




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