[marcinklysewicz]

Example photo from Isle of Wight Butterfly World - if you like butterflies this is the place you have to visit. I was surprised, and I spent there more then 3h in incredible hot, I was all wet but very heppy. And now I'm addicted - I'm planning already another session with those butterflies. This time I'll be more organized - because my first visit there... well I was behaving like a child in store with candys (not eable to think and choose what to do).

[sawdust]

Fantastic shot I to love going to Butterfly farms love the one at Stratford on Avon not been to this one though What kit were you using.
All the best Alan

[Rob Barron]

Crop 3cms off the right and 1cm off the top and this is a winner Lovely to see the full butterfly in focus and with slightly less space behind it and that tiny bit of leaf gone from the top, this is a well composed shot with good colours and sharpness, very nicely done Marcin

Cheers,
Rob

[marcinklysewicz]

Rob Barron thank you for your advice. I'll try it later. And I have better photo of this butterfly but I'm not aloud to put in onto internet before competition on other forum is finished so I'll keep you waiting. I'll just say this other shot is with lovely light and wings are soooooo colorful .
sawdust I'm a poor man with only one lens for my camera. it's Canon 100mm F2.8 macro lens.

[danpen]

Nice shot, very shallow DoF but the focus is spot on.

Did you do anything to keep the condensation off your camera, last time I went to the Stratford Butterfly Farm I wrapped the camera in a plastic bag until the condensation has stopped forming, took about 45 minutes (it was a cold day).

Sawdust, I don't know if you've been to Stratford before but it's one of the better butterfly farms I've been to, they don't mind how long you stay in there, the place is packed with butterflies all year round and they are near to the paths making great macros pretty easy.

The pathways are rather narrow and it does get busy so it might be worth trying to find a quiet time, for that reason I've never taken a tripod in - don't want to be too in the way. Flash can be used to keep the shutter speeds up at small apertures and avoid shake but then you have to be careful to light the background too otherwise you get an unnatural black. Personally I've tried to use natural light as much as possible but a tripod would definitely help.

cheers

Dan

[Markulous]

Yeah, been to Stratford and found it excellent with loads of species - perfect for practising the real thing! We used monopods (it was an unplanned visit, so a very pleasant surprise as we didn't know it existed) which was sufficient, mostly. A little too dark under the foliage but just OK for natural light.

Ironically, went to one in West Wales (only open in the summer) with tripods (we were only people there) and didn't get anything particularly great - too much movement from fans, butterflies moving, etc

[marcinklysewicz]

well i really recommend that butterfly world on isle of wight - especially during sunny day. people are somwhere else - so it's almost all for you - and butterflies are flying and not just sitting or hiding. there is some very nice and helpful man working - he told me that best time is during sunny day. i was there like 3 hours and no problem with lens - maybe because it's canon and it's sealed very well. no idea. lens was absolutely fine - it was me sweating like a pig. and footpahts are very very close to plants and butterflies. it is absolutely fantastic place.

[Rob Barron]

Hey Marcin, if you're only gonna have one lens, the 100mm f2.8 macro is a cracker It's got a good aperture, it's long enough to get medium telephoto (being 160mm on a dSLR) and is a superb macro lens.

Have you thought about treating yourself to a nifty fifty? They cost very little and would be perfect for a 'standard' lens when you just need to get back a little further than you can with the 100mm. Lot of lens for little money

If you want to try mine anytime, I really must get on over for that coffee

Cheers,
Rob

[Dutchie]

Lovely photo Marcin, butterfly houses are great. I've only been to one, but can't wait to go again. If I get the chance, i will.

But I like your butterfly. Great photo once again

[marcinklysewicz]

Rob Barron I'm sorry but I don't understand "nifty fifty" - is it second hand? I was checking my dictionary and it's not there . could someone explain it to me, please .

[danpen]

It's the Canon UK - EF 50mm f/1.8 II generally considered to be an excellent lens for the cash (although some prefer the MK I).

cheers

Dan

[Rob Barron]

As Danpen has said, the 50mm f1.8 lens is usually considered a 'must have' lens as it is extremely light, very small and gives fantastic blurring for portrait shots by way of its f1.8 aperture.

The word 'nifty', Marcin, is an informal or slang term that means 'useful', hence the 'Nifty Fifty' as it is a useful 50mm lens

Cheers,
Rob

[marcinklysewicz]

thank you Rob - now i'll know. i'm waiting for my canon cashback and maybe i'll go for this one.