Butterflys from the conservatory

[johnnya]

Some shots from the conservitory while our weather was still sub par. Difficult lighting ...Inside greenhouse type setting. Some windows has shades on them, some didn't, others were blacked out and some areas had indoor lighting. It was difficult for me to get a good read on what settings to use. Tried my best lol.

14918 Rice Paper Butterfly f-5.6/ 1/250/ ISO500

14919 Rice Paper Butterfly f-5.6/ 1/320/ ISO500

14920 Owl Butterfly f-5.6/ 1/25/ ISO200

14921 Unknown f -5.6/ 1/60/ ISO400

[johnnya]

Tri pods and monopods were not allowed in the conservitory.

[eyerkish]

Very nice series, John, with good detail in your shots.

[mdonahoe1]

John
Great work especially since they're hand held. My favorite is the last one for composition and color.
Marianne

[johnnya]

Thanks Eddie and Marianne for looking and for the kind words. It really was a great place to go. I like #4 as well. It was the only vibrant coloured butterfly their. They bread the more colorful ones later in the summer.

[Kaye]

John, these are lovely shots. I rather like them all as they all have varying points of focus and nice DOF.
I presume you took these with your 18-200mm? Did you crop these?

[shirlm2]

Hi John a nice set of images in difficult lighting conditions. I rather like your focus on the decorative eye on the wing in #3.

[johnnya]

ThNks for looking Shirley. I'm glad you like them. Now that you mention it looks like an eye on the wing... I can "see" that. Lol.

[johnnya]

Thank you Kaye For taking the time to look. I'm glad you like them. Yes I used my 18-200mm. I didn't crop any of the photos from this outing. Unlike the birds. Once the butterflies land on a leaf or branch they become rather friendly. They slowly open their wings and make small movements. Thus allowing me to take a bit of time to compose the photo. BUT!!! there were times I was set and they would fly away :(

[Kaye]

Thank you Kaye For taking the time to look. I'm glad you like them. Yes I used my 18-200mm. I didn't crop any of the photos from this outing. Unlike the birds. Once the butterflies land on a leaf or branch they become rather friendly. They slowly open their wings and make small movements. Thus allowing me to take a bit of time to compose the photo. BUT!!! there were times I was set and they would fly away :(

OK, as you didn't crop them, my thoughts were with the 18-200, you may have gained a touch more detail by taking the shots just a tiny bit further away from your subject, then cropping a tiny bit if necessary. Perhaps worth a try on future shots. I find this works better with any floral shots I try with my 18-105mm.

[johnnya]

Thanks so much for the advice Kaye. Makes sense. I guess closer is not always better. My thought was... Up close for the detail.

[TimmyGator]

Beautiful shots. Love the "eye" in no.3

[johnnya]

Thanks for looking Timmy and commenting Timmy.

[delboy]

Great photos, taken not in the best of conditions. #3 & #4 are the best with nice sharp focus and a good DOF. Excellent John

Delboy.

[shirlm2]

Hi John I note with interest that Kaye suggests you take your shots a bit further away and crop after. I find I very seldom do this, 99% of my shots are composed when shooting and I find it difficult to take photos to be cropped later. I find it interesting that different people have different methods and as you progress you will find the method that suits you. I think your compositions are pretty good in these shots and even though a bit more of the wings could have been included, I'm certain that will all come right with practice. As they say practice, practice, practice & it's great to see the progress.

[Kaye]

Hi John I note with interest that Kaye suggests you take your shots a bit further away and crop after. I find I very seldom do this, 99% of my shots are composed when shooting and I find it difficult to take photos to be cropped later. I find it interesting that different people have different methods and as you progress you will find the method that suits you. I think your compositions are pretty good in these shots and even though a bit more of the wings could have been included, I'm certain that will all come right with practice. As they say practice, practice, practice & it's great to see the progress.

Hi Shirley,
I am really glad you posted this, as I (and perhaps John and others) can probably learn something here, as you have had practice with both the 55-250mm and also your macro lens 60mmF2.8.
If I was using a macro lens eg similar to what you have, I would certainly compose the shot correctly before shooting.
At present I only have the 18-105mm and find that trying to shoot macro shots with it tend to have more sharpness when not taken tooooo close, but by backing off just a little, with a slight crop later.
As John is using his 18-200mm, I felt that it may be worth a try for even more sharpness and perhaps a larger focal point/area.

I must agree with you that it is certainly my preference to compose all shots correctly initially rather than crop, but I was purely referring to shooting macro shots without a macro lens.
(With my old Olympus P&S and all my floral shots, many of them turned out sharper with more detail when taken just a hint further away, with a very slight crop later purely to enlarge a little).

Shirley, I hope I have explained what I meant a little better above. It is sometimes hard to put into words.
I would love your further thoughts from your own experiences if you have tried some close up shots with your 55-200mm.

PS I am looking for a macro lens at present, and just missed another one on Ebay tonight.

[shirlm2]

Hi Kaye I take your point about shooting macro without a dedicated macro lens. I haven't had a great deal of experience with this as have been fortunate enough to have had a macro from early on. I have therefore been lucky enough to be able to use the lens that suits the situation best and tend to use my 55 -22 for the attached type of shot. It was taken at F6.3 at 194mm & is not really a true macro. I really like my 55 -200 in public areas as don't have to be on top of the flower/butterfly etc to be able to fill the frame & it does give a wonderful bokeh. The down side is you get people standing between you and whatever you're trying to photograph :( I also cannot comment on whether the shots would be sharper if taken a bit further away as my lens will not focus if I'm too close so this has not previously occurred to me :). Kaye I hope I have added something useful here.

John hope you don't mind the discussion in your thread & my adding a photo to illustrate my point.

[johnnya]

Thanks for the tip Kaye. I'll be sure to heed your advice for next time. I'm hoping to get a macro Lens soon.

[johnnya]

Shirley. I don't mind at all :) we're all hear to learn. Especially me.

[Kaye]

Shirley, I thank you so much taking the time to reply, and yes your comment was very helpful thank you. I love your attached shot which to me is a perfect close up example of what I was trying to say with a similar lens.
I also understand very well what you mean about people getting between you and your subject :)

John, thank you for your above reply, and following Shirley's kind response, I guess we both have to try our distances with some close up shots and test for the best sharpness until we get our macro lenses. I can't wait, but they are so expensive.
Which one are you looking at John?

[johnnya]

Kaye. I'm looking at the EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro. From what I understand it can double as a portrait lens. I think with my 18-200 and the macro, I will have a good range of glass without breaking the bank. This macro is $550.
I was playing with it at the camera shop. It does take a very nice shot.
*

[johnnya]

Delboy. Thanks for taking the time to look and for your kind words. Im glad you like them.

[kinetic]

Hi John, I have been reading this one with some interest and looking at your EXIF.
I always compose the shot at the camera regardless if I am using a macro or my 300 or 600mm lens its makes no difference, it’s composed where I am and using the view finder to do so. The only time I move physically is to change my perspective of a scene.

John, what distance were you at from the subject and what length was your lens set at for the shots.
Could you let us know that information?
Mark