Social Butterflies

Some Tips for Photographing Butterflies:

Be patient! Take it slow and easy. Take one cautious step forward at a time and I would suggest take a photo each time.

Take a lot of shots. Don’t worry too much about perfectly setting up your photo, animals move quickly, so take all the shots you can. You can always edit them later.

Be ready. Butterflies can appear anywhere. This one was sunny itself in the early evening on a low wall next to the sidewalk. I passed by on my way home from work.

Don’t allow your shadow to fall across them. This seems to alert them to your presence and they will often flit away before you can say “smile!”

Plant their favourite foods in pots or in your garden to attract them. Don’t forget to plant for their caterpillars too! Swallowtails love dill.

The best time of day to catch them is first thing in the morning when they’re warming up after a cool night. They’re likely sunbathing, so you’ll get a good shot of their beautiful wings and they’ll be a bit slower, so it’ll be easier catch them resting.

Enjoy the challenge!