What is buzzing or flying near you today??

Some butterflies like the whites and orange-tips never settle and will spook as soon as you go near. I'm not sure if they can hear or if they pick up vibrations. I do know that if your camera goes "beep" when you turn it on or when it gets into focus - the butterfly will move off. Peacocks, painted ladies and red admirals are much less timid and will happily pose for you. These brightly coloured butterflies all have bold markings which are designed to scare away attacking birds. So they stay put and display their wings very nicely to you - just in case you are a hungry bird. Buddlia is a great butterfly attracter, but best of all, and coming into flower now,are the ice plants (sedums) and michaelmas daisies. A telephoto helps and a macro is essential. Most digital cameras have them to a limited extent. Professional photographers with loads of money will have mega expensive lenses that can come in really close while standing a long way off. I have to creep in patiently and stalk them - but that's all part of the fun. Have a go - now is the very best time of year for butterflies, but you will need a sunny day.

 

Smashing pic Marley! Nature is never still

 

Nice one Marley! I've still to get a good sharp shot of a bee in flight too.

 

I'm not surprised that it's hard to photograph bees in flight, apparently they beat their wings at around 250 beats per second, and the axis of rotation also moves.
I don't know much about shutter speeds but it would need to be faster than 1/250 second?

 

Caught this bee today as it was landing so it was fairly steady. Shutter speed 1/500, f5.6 (f8 eqivalent) 75-300mm telephoto lens.



And yet another buterfly!

Tortoiseshell on Catnip

 

Amazing pictures.

 

found this guy helping himself to a free lunch at my local garden centre yesterday

 

Nice one Wiz!

 

this pic was taken back in may but i thought i would add it to the 'flight 'collection :D

 

I don't know how you do it, GW, but it's an ace flyer!