![]() ![]() In addition, you should know that insects’ eyes are ultra-sensitive to changes in light. The rule of thumb here is to plan your movements carefully and perform them as if in slow motion. Making sharp, abrupt movements close to an active insect will likely cause it to flee. The first thing to know is that insects are highly motion-sensitive. But its not as difficult as it may seem if you know some basics. Getting close enough to photograph them at macro-required distances while they're exhibiting interesting behavior is another skill altogether. Handling insects is easy to do if you approach them in their dormant hours.Įarly morning is great for unique scenes, such as this robber fly warming its flight muscles.ĭramatic lighting is another important reason to shoot during the 'magic hours' of early morning.įinding insects is one thing. Under crisp early morning conditions, not only will insects hold 'poses', they can be easily manipulated and repositioned by hand without causing them any harm. Why? Because insects are less active when the temperature is lower. The best time to shoot non-active arthropods is very early in the morning. ![]() Time of day has a huge impact not only on subject activity, but obviously on the quality of light as well. Time of dayĪrguably the most important consideration of all is knowing what times of the day are most conducive to locating and shooting invertebrates. All else being equal, you'll likely have much more success in a sparse poppy field than a densely packed sunflower plantation for example. Fields of low growth vegetation are much easier to maneuver in and generally allow for more pleasing compositions. Many species of course, have no problem with a drier environment robber flies and mantises, to name just two. Some insects (such as dragonflies) are only found close to water, since their larval stage is fully aquatic.īe careful when you walk in the field: there are countless meticulously-built spider webs! A body of water with a field beside it is just perfect. I always recommend exploring areas near lakes or in fields with low growth. The best locations though, are usually ones with damp earth, vegetation, and most importantly – water. And the more remote and wild the location, the higher the quantity and diversity. Insects and other invertebrates are everywhere. One of the most common questions I get is, 'Where are good places for finding little critters?' The answer is simple. Most adult insects will have died out and the newborns will be in one of their larval stages. In the fall and winter, however, things are usually not as good. The male often waits for the female to catch prey before he approaches, so he doesn’t become her next meal himself!ĭuring summer months, insect numbers dwindle noticeably but there are still lots of subjects available. The fields are absolutely packed with invertebrates of all species, flying, hunting, mating - doing everything we want them to do to create an interesting shot. Spring, in most species, is the time of year when the adult hatches from its cocoon, and starts frantically looking for food and for a mate. While there are insects present year round in most climates, it is in springtime that the populations truly boom. The first order of business is getting to know the best seasons of the year to find and photograph insects. Here I'll speak to my experiences photographing in countries with 'normal' winter/summer climates in which mornings are chilly and midday is considerably warmer. ![]() The key for any successful macro photographer is to be able to closely observe a subject without disturbing its natural behavior.įirst, however, I should point out that insect activity is influenced by climate and seasonal conditions, which of course vary greatly around the globe. In this article I'll walk you through the task of locating and handling macro subjects in the field.Įlad and Bruno admiring two spiders in their natural habitat. Finding them in their native habitat exhibiting natural behavior, however, can be a challenge for those new to wildlife macro photography. With over a million recorded species - believed to be but a fraction of the actual total - you can shoot ten different species every single day of your life and never get close to documenting them all. The arthropod world is virtually endless. A spider on the hunt is one of countless scenes available to photograph, if you know how to find them. ![]()
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