Monarch butterfly on jewelweed

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BUG BASICS

 

I'm fascinated by bugs. So fascinated that sometimes I forget to click the shutter while I'm watching them. Still, the rewards are good when I'm ready for the right photographic moments with them.

 

Even when I don't make a photograph, I'll likely learn something about my subject. One thing I learned long ago was the value of a patient approach to an insect I'd like get up close to.

 

An insect will likely see you before you see it. You can look like a threat or just part of the landscape depending how slow and patient you are. If you take your time, your odds are better.

 

Here are a few DOs and DON'Ts.

 

Get your gear ready before you move toward your subject. Select your best lens for close ups. Choose a good shutter speed, aperture and ISO combination, so you can freeze the motion of you, the bug and the plant it's on. If you're hand holding your camera, Vibration Reduction could help, too. Select the lens' closest focus setting. Zoom out all the way first, if you're using a zoom lens.

 

Look through the viewfinder and move yourself closer to something not near your subject. This will show you how near you'll need to get for the closest image with your chosen lens. Click a frame and check for exposure, depth of field and background coverage. Make adjustments as you choose. Now you're ready to focus on your small subject.

 

Don't rush up to an insect. Whether it's active or resting, a quick approach could trigger its flight response to danger. Instead, ease in casually. Move in a little, then pause and let the bug accept your presence, then move in a little more.

 

Don't let your shadow pass over the insect, if it's a sunny day. That could startle it. And you may want the natural direct light for your photo, so keep your shadow out of your anticipated composition.

 

If it's a breezy day, time your movements with the wind and move when plants around and above you move. Your hope is that you'll always appear as something non-threatening.

 

As you move in, click a few frames before you move closer. Keep doing this until the composition is as tight as you'd imagined it. It's best to take a series of images just in case the insect moves or takes off. Always hope for the best, but make some insurance photos as you go.

 

Hang around if you can. You've done the hard work, so wait to see what happens next. And when you're done, don't startle your new favorite subject. Back away casually instead.

 

The more often you use these steps, the sooner they'll become a habit. Then you can think more about the artistry and not the mechanics of your process. When you get to that level, the better your photographs will become and the more you'll learn about the small world all around us.

 

 

A future essay will cover the equipment I use for making close ups. Before then, you can see it in my gear list here. 

 

You can find more about making close ups in my Journal entries. Click on the  “Close Ups” category listings in my Journal.

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In the CLOSE UP gallery, you'll find examples you may like.

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