Macro Butterflies-Bees-Bugs coming in droves now.

Butterflies-Bees-Bugs coming in droves now. · **1 Like**

I tried a little experiment with my hummingbird nectar.I put several drops on 4 flowers in the yard and in 15 minutes it was a feeding frenzy.I could get as close as I wanted and they didn't care at all.I bought the solution at Lowe's and it is "Hummingbird Nectar Concentrate".It is sugar-protein-fiber-and fat.Give it a try.I was outside taking shot after shot just like being a kid in a candy store.

--charliezap

loco · 08-22-2012, 08:00 AM

Wow, Charlie, that is some serious sharpness and detail! Beautiful creatures and you have so many!!!

**Bob Harris** · 08-22-2012, 08:54 AM

that really paid of Charlie, and what a variety. You did good, great colors here.

**dcmsox2004** · 08-22-2012, 09:20 AM

stunners charlie.... the detail is amazing, as are those pentax colors.... some of the best captures i've seen... what flash are you using? may need a tip (or two) from ya..... dave m

**crewl1** · 08-22-2012, 09:25 AM

Great shots Charlie, you are now the local butterfly drug dealer

charliezap · 08-22-2012, 12:21 PM

Originally posted by dcmsox2004

stunners charlie.... the detail is amazing, as are those pentax colors.... some of the best captures i've seen... what flash are you using? may need a tip (or two) from ya..... dave m

Hi Dave.I have a Vivitar 285HV ($85) that I normally use but this series of shots was just with the K5's on board flash. I try shoot at 100-200 ISO at 2 stops smaller than the picture without a flash would be taken.This keeps the background a tad darker than the subject and if you balance it right you can achieve a shot that doesn't look like a flash was used.These shots are from 1-2ft away.The flash works real well when the subject is back lit. 1/125 at f/16 is a good starting point.You can make adjustments from there.Give it a try-It's really neat to shoot at f/16 and beyond.

--charliezap

charliezap · 08-22-2012, 01:57 PM

Originally posted by loco

Wow, Charlie, that is some serious sharpness and detail! Beautiful creatures and you have so many!!!

Right now Lori it's just like shooting fish in a barrel.I hope this keeps up.--charliezap

**TER-OR** · 08-22-2012, 02:01 PM

Very nice work. Next year plant some hyssop and they'll all come without aid.
We have hummingbirds too, they're fiesty little critters.

bluestringer · 08-22-2012, 03:57 PM

Very nice Charlie. I'll have to give that a try, the hummers have not shown up here this year, so I have some extra nectar. I've seen a lot of butterflies, but they don't sit still long enough for a shot.

slowpez · 08-22-2012, 05:11 PM

Well done Charlie. Sharp and the colors are incredible. Who knew you could entice them with hummingbird food.

charliezap · 08-22-2012, 07:19 PM

Originally posted by Bob Harris

that really paid of Charlie, and what a variety. You did good, great colors here.

Originally posted by crewl1

Great shots Charlie, you are now the local butterfly drug dealer

I'll salt the flowers tommorrow and see who shows up.--charliezap

charliezap · 08-23-2012, 05:24 AM

Originally posted by TER-OR

Very nice work. Next year plant some hyssop and they'll all come without aid.
We have hummingbirds too, they're fiesty little critters.

Thanks for the tip. I'll have to try that next year.---charliezap

Originally posted by bluestringer

Very nice Charlie. I'll have to give that a try, the hummers have not shown up here this year, so I have some extra nectar. I've seen a lot of butterflies, but they don't sit still long enough for a shot.

They sit for 5-10 minutes on my zinnias when I put the nectar on them. Give it a try Dennis and let me know how you make out.--charliezap

**Sailor** · 08-23-2012, 06:02 AM

Capn, you're certainly nailing those guys well. Great job, buddy.

Jer

daacon · 08-23-2012, 07:09 AM

Wow that must be crack for bugs ! Can't believe the butterfly and bees share the same the flower.

**TER-OR** · 08-23-2012, 08:11 AM

Oh yah - bumblebees pretty much don't care what else is there. You'll even find the males sleeping in the flowers later in the day. Usually they'll cling beneath a leaf or under a flower, but sometimes they just conk out on or in the flower itself. They're very amusing.

Maybe I'll try sugar-watering some of the other flowers this weekend and see if more butterflies show up.

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08-22-2012, 12:21 PM	#6
charliezap Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: saugus ma Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,686 Original Poster	Originally posted by dcmsox2004 stunners charlie.... the detail is amazing, as are those pentax colors.... some of the best captures i've seen... what flash are you using? may need a tip (or two) from ya..... dave m Hi Dave.I have a Vivitar 285HV ($85) that I normally use but this series of shots was just with the K5's on board flash. I try shoot at 100-200 ISO at 2 stops smaller than the picture without a flash would be taken.This keeps the background a tad darker than the subject and if you balance it right you can achieve a shot that doesn't look like a flash was used.These shots are from 1-2ft away.The flash works real well when the subject is back lit. 1/125 at f/16 is a good starting point.You can make adjustments from there.Give it a try-It's really neat to shoot at f/16 and beyond.--charliezap

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08-22-2012, 08:00 AM	#2
loco Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,846	Wow, Charlie, that is some serious sharpness and detail! Beautiful creatures and you have so many!!!

08-22-2012, 08:54 AM	#3
Bob Harris Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canon City, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,477	that really paid of Charlie, and what a variety. You did good, great colors here.

08-22-2012, 09:20 AM	#4
dcmsox2004 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: rhode island Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,522	stunners charlie.... the detail is amazing, as are those pentax colors.... some of the best captures i've seen... what flash are you using? may need a tip (or two) from ya..... dave m

08-22-2012, 09:25 AM	#5
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	Great shots Charlie, you are now the local butterfly drug dealer

08-22-2012, 01:57 PM	#7
charliezap Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: saugus ma Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,686 Original Poster	Originally posted by loco Wow, Charlie, that is some serious sharpness and detail! Beautiful creatures and you have so many!!! Right now Lori it's just like shooting fish in a barrel.I hope this keeps up.--charliezap

08-22-2012, 02:01 PM	#8
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	Very nice work. Next year plant some hyssop and they'll all come without aid. We have hummingbirds too, they're fiesty little critters.

08-22-2012, 03:57 PM	#9
bluestringer Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Cotton fields of South Georgia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,748	Very nice Charlie. I'll have to give that a try, the hummers have not shown up here this year, so I have some extra nectar. I've seen a lot of butterflies, but they don't sit still long enough for a shot.

08-22-2012, 05:11 PM	#10
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,461	Well done Charlie. Sharp and the colors are incredible. Who knew you could entice them with hummingbird food.

08-22-2012, 07:19 PM	#11
charliezap Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: saugus ma Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,686 Original Poster	Originally posted by Bob Harris that really paid of Charlie, and what a variety. You did good, great colors here. Originally posted by crewl1 Great shots Charlie, you are now the local butterfly drug dealer I'll salt the flowers tommorrow and see who shows up.--charliezap

08-23-2012, 05:24 AM	#12
charliezap Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: saugus ma Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,686 Original Poster	Originally posted by TER-OR Very nice work. Next year plant some hyssop and they'll all come without aid. We have hummingbirds too, they're fiesty little critters. Thanks for the tip. I'll have to try that next year.---charliezap Originally posted by bluestringer Very nice Charlie. I'll have to give that a try, the hummers have not shown up here this year, so I have some extra nectar. I've seen a lot of butterflies, but they don't sit still long enough for a shot. They sit for 5-10 minutes on my zinnias when I put the nectar on them. Give it a try Dennis and let me know how you make out.--charliezap

08-23-2012, 06:02 AM	#13
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,203	Capn, you're certainly nailing those guys well. Great job, buddy. Jer

08-23-2012, 07:09 AM	#14
daacon Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alberta,Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 20,914	Wow that must be crack for bugs ! Can't believe the butterfly and bees share the same the flower.

08-23-2012, 08:11 AM	#15
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	Oh yah - bumblebees pretty much don't care what else is there. You'll even find the males sleeping in the flowers later in the day. Usually they'll cling beneath a leaf or under a flower, but sometimes they just conk out on or in the flower itself. They're very amusing. Maybe I'll try sugar-watering some of the other flowers this weekend and see if more butterflies show up.