This is probably a good time to go searching for insects.
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The prolonged drought has meant bird life in this area of the Hunter has suffered to a great extent and will take some time to recover - although, like everyone, I am delighted at the recent downfalls. About time.
Strangely, I am hearing however of other areas in Australia where the drought has had an impact and yet the bird life seems to be normal.
Photographing insects is a fascinating subject, one I certainly enjoy as it tests your skill and your patience.
I have been photographing them for a number of years now.
We do have some set practices and which I use continually and which helps make the success rate good.
First, let's look at the camera gear required for photographing insects.
I use Ccanon cameras, a macro lens 180, flash 2. The reason I use 2 is is that it is a small unit which I use for a back light when possible - I say when possible because most of the time it's a challenge getting the front-on shots as the subjects can be very touchy.
So this is what I do when working with insects.
My day looking starts with preparing the gear: a tripod - I use one which lets me go right down to ground level - mount the camera on, flash for back light in your pocket. I also carry an old towel because it just seems to come in handy.
Now I'm set. Then I set the camera . . . you can be sure you won't have time to do it when you find the subject. I use the manual set shutter 200 f11 iso 200 flash 1/16 power, with aperture adjusted just prior to taking shots.
This setting will freeze any slight movement.
Now we come to actually taking the shots. Finding the subject is the hard part, looking everywhere, over uneven ground, along the riverbank ... wherever. Bingo, you finally find your insect.
Does your planned shot have impact? Is there anything in the background that will be a distraction in the final image?
Don't rush in, weigh up these things first. Set your tripod away from your subject, same level and direction, take a shot on anything close by to check exposure. Once that's right, get yourself low down, ease your old towel out in front, all very slow and careful and then creep in with your gear.
Once in position, and your subject is still there, focus the camera making sure it is square with the subject. This is important to get everything sharp. Take your first shot if you have time and position, check exposure (this is important), then take a number of shots.
If you have room, take shots of the image from different distances while holding your back light in position. The advantage of using the 150 macro is it gives you more space between you and subject, still getting life size images.
Now for the images with this article, all of which took some time finding along the river edge - damsel flies, and dragonflies pairing, robber flies, quite a number of those away from the river, an owl fly and a praying mantis that I was lucky to get shedding skin.
Till the next time.