Melbourne Zoo Butterfly House

Hi there,

yesterday we went to the Melbourne Zoo, have been there many times but never with a good camera.

Sadly it was school hollidays and boy was it busy! so as you can imagine difficult to setup a tripod
but here are 4 shots where i managed to setup.

My DOF is still limited but am working on it. This place is so amazing. Butterflys I could never possibly
imagined to see in the wild, right in front of us.

Comments and criticism most welcomed, good or bad.

Regards Darren

P.S. I am after a good butterfly ID site, if anyone knows one

1.
Exif Data. 1/6sec, F/5, 100mm Macro Lens, ISO-100, AV.

Wonderful series - excellent compositions
Brian V.

Really nice shots great colour and compositions. - I've yet to actually photograph butterflies or moths this year, but if my results can come anywhere near as good as yours Darren, i'll be a very happy bunny.

Great shots. #3 works best for me.

Thanks all I appreciate the comments. Was very lucky to see such magic creatures. Heading back down after school holidays when I wont feel so rushed

Regards Darren

Those are excellent. Nailed the focus as far as I can tell, especially given the large apertures used.

Lovely series, very well done, #2 is my fave!

Dave

I agree 100%, Excellent captures.

Thanks for the comments,

Regards Darren

Some lovely photos, congratulations especially on number 2. No-one has mentioned a good website for ID, but I have just looked at the CSIRO site at www.ento.csiro.au and there are some good links and suggestions there. I can certainly recommend their butterfly book, which is available at bookshops here in Brisbane for around $40, and which has excellent illustrations, distribution maps etc. Highly recommended. Another link is http://www.publish.csi​ro.au/pid/5144.htm
Good luck,
Mike

I love #1...

Darren,

Here is another site which you may find to be of use.

http://www.usyd.edu.au​/macleay/larvae/

I haven't looked at it carefully, but it seems to be pretty good.

Mike

Nice shots I like the 2nd one

Thanks for the comments and sites. Will bookmark them.

Regards Darren

Sharnbrook wrote:
Some lovely photos, congratulations especially on number 2. No-one has mentioned a good website for ID, but I have just looked at the CSIRO site at www.ento.csiro.au and there are some good links and suggestions there. I can certainly recommend their butterfly book, which is available at bookshops here in Brisbane for around $40, and which has excellent illustrations, distribution maps etc. Highly recommended. Another link is http://www.publish.csi​ro.au/pid/5144.htm
Good luck,
Mike

I actually have the book "backyard insects" - it's OK, but nothing special imho. A field Guide to Insects in Australia is a much better book. Of course, the behemoth, Insects of Australia by CSIRO publishing is the most authoritative book on Insects (I do actually own it, so can make fair comment on it). I am curious to which book on butterflies you are referring to, do you have a link (I'm lazy, it's early in the morning, I haven't had my morning coffee yet and I don't feel like searching lol).

Dave