|
|
Post by megagyas on Jul 6, 2015 18:49:57 GMT -8
I would like a bit of information as to how to take good quality photos after dark when certain species (Stenopis auratus) fly for very brief times just after dusk. Here are a few photos taken tonight in my backyard woodlot of this particular Hepialid. I am sorry that I don't have good quality photos since my camera is a SONY point-and-shoot- a difficult task in order to not disturb the moth causing it to fly. A mating pair is much easier to photograph since they remain in copula- even when a tip of a fern is clipped and the pair can be moved to a more suitable location for photographing. They are just now beginning to fly and the males fan pheromones while hanging at the tips of ferns or other plants along the trails. Later, females are attracted and remain in copula until an hour before dawn when they separate and the female flies along over fern stands and sprays her tiny ova over the plants. Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by exoticinsects on Jul 6, 2015 21:32:10 GMT -8
A stunning species, you are lucky to be able to observe it in your backyard.
If you don't stumble upon the right location, these would be very hard to find.
Sent you a PM.
,Benny
|
|
|
|
Post by nomihoudai on Jul 6, 2015 23:24:22 GMT -8
Well if the topic is "how to take a good picture with a point-and-shoot?" I don't really know how to give an answer to this. I bet I wouldn't have spend thousands of dollars on gear if there was. Anyway, there is two things you can try that I think could enhance the picture.
If you really want to take the picture at night I would position myself in such a way that you only have the leaf/fern that the moth is hanging of in the frame and the moth. The background itself should be far away. Now with the flash you illuminate the moth and the leaf and will only have a black background. That looks better than some blurry thing in the background. The other thing is that I would somehow try to diffuse the light a bit. On the first pic the camera overexposed the moth and the leaf.
The other thing that most people do when photographing moth is to catch them and store them in a cool bag. The next day you can put the moth on some support you like and take a picture in daylight which is easier.
I myself have a DSLR with a ring flash and a lens of macro abilities (actually a tele with extension rings in between). The ring flash has very good diffusers. I can take pictures of moths in plain darkness and the flash will perfectly and completely illuminate the scene. I want to show an example pic but cannot find them right now in the mess of files on my PC. Usually I don't take pics at night.
|
|
|
|
Post by nomihoudai on Jul 6, 2015 23:29:03 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by megagyas on Jul 7, 2015 2:04:57 GMT -8
Thanks for your suggestions- I will collect more tonight and cool them before taking better photos-best wishes- HR
|
|
|
|
Post by megagyas on Jul 10, 2015 18:51:43 GMT -8
Amazing how these mating pairs of Stenopis auratus remained in copula while being carried out of my woods on bits of fern. All of the jiggling around while walking over 100 yards through the woods at night didn't seem to bother them- I brought them into my home for a few minutes to photograph them, then returned them back to their ferns in the woods. Later, they w   ill part and the female will make a flight over the ferns to scatter her tiny ova while she is airborne. HR |
|
