TPS Meeting Tuesday 30th July

TPS Meeting Tuesday 30th July 7.30pm in Molloy’s carpark.

This Tuesday coming we are going to Phoenix Park. Please be early as we will leave at 7.30pm sharp.

We will met and start at the Victorian People’s Flower Gardens are located between the Parkgate Street entrance, and the North Circular Road Gate entrance to the Phoenix Park.

Meet in Molloy’s carpark (outside the Taxi office in the carpark) – we’re leaving at 7.30pm sharp, so please be early and don’t forget your cameras! Looking forward to seeing you there! Or you can make your own way out.
Don’t forget that we are going to The Butterfly Farm on Sunday 28th July.
We will meet in Molloy’s carpark on the Sunday morning at 8.00am.
If you would like to go to the Butterfly Farm, Please let me know and I will put your name on the list.
We are restricted to how many members can go, so names will be on a first come basis.

One thing that has now changed is that the Butterfly Farm opens at 10 o’clock to the public on weekends, which means we will need to take down our tripods if the paying visitors turn up – if there is nobody there at 10 we are fine. We can stay inside photographing hand-held as long as people can bare the heat – just no tripods.

We meet at Molloy’s at 8am and leave at 8 sharp so we would be down there by 8.30 and can get people shooting as quickly as possible to get the best out of it – that gives everybody and hour and a half before 10. If 8 is too early for some members they can always follow down and take their chance in case its quiet.

The other thing worth suggesting is that they warm up their cameras by any means to them – even leaving them in the sun on the way down. I will bring a hair dryer with me to speed up the cameras that need help.

For those that haven’t been before:

What there is to photograph – Butterflies, Caterpillars, Stick Insects, Flowers, Patterns, Textures. More than can really be done in one morning!!

If you want a preview……………… http://www.straffanbutterflyfarm.com/

Tips for photographing butterflies:

1. Use a tripod, but keep the head loose: butterflies move quickly from flower to flower, so you won’t have time to lock in your tripod. But, you can still use it for some stability by keeping the head loose (so you can quickly move the camera).

2. Position your camera’s sensor so it’s parallel to the butterfly’s wings: you only get one geometrical plane of complete sharpness, so you want to put as much of your subject in this plane as possible. With butterflies, you’ll want their body and wings tack sharp, so make sure your camera’s sensor is parallel to them.

3. Eye Contact: shoot at eye level where possible and make sure the eye is sharp at all times. If you change your angle and shoot head on to create some interesting angles always make sure the eye is in focus.

3. Use a fast shutter: when you’re photographing butterflies, three things are almost always moving: the camera, the butterfly, and the flower it’s perched on. To help freeze the action and increase your chances of getting a sharp photo, use a fast shutter by increasing your ISO if necessary.

4. Watch your Depth-of-Field: using a reasonably small aperture (f-8 or higher) will increase the depth of field available to you. The offset of this will of course be reduced shutter speed, so you will have to juggle around your ISO, shutter and aperture settings to get the best compromise you can. Lenses or cameras with image stabilisation can help to reduce camera shake at lower shutter speeds. This is why you should use a Tripod or other form of support.

5. Focus Mode: continuous auto focus allows the butterfly to move and still keep it sharp, but sometimes close up lenses struggle to lock focus when in this close. Alternatively use manual focus and move the camera in and out slowly. Try autofocus first and if the camera struggles try manual focus.

6. Wait for butterflies (patiently), don’t chase them: butterflies are very sensitive and will detect movement, no jerky movements, so move slow and carefully or try to just wait patiently at one flower instead. Although butterflies will usually get scared if you approach them, they’ll usually land on flowers right next to you if you’re already sitting there. Be patient though: it might be a few minutes before a butterfly settles on the flower.

7. Be careful not to cast a shadow on the butterfly: butterflies love the sun, so if you cast a shadow on them, they’ll usually fly away. Remember this as you’re approaching them.

8. Watch your Background: Avoid cluttered backgrounds and if possible avoid colour flowers as the will distract from the butterfly in the final image. It’s easier to change your angle than it is to remove it in photoshop afterwards.

9. Change your perspective: take a variety of images from different angles……if the butterfly is settled!! Make sure to capture the first one and then move so you have one on the memory card in case he flies off!!

10. Dress-code: no Insect Repellents or perfumes to be worn as these confuse the butterflies sences. Wear muted plain colours.

11. Be patient, and have fun!