NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/985091
Insect Photography Ten Tips for Photos and story by Chris Helzer ave you ever wanted to take better photos of insects? Of course you have; insect photography tops every self-respecting outdoor enthusiast's list of aspirations. It's hard to hold your head high among your peers when they're showing off spectacular photos of leafhoppers and damselflies and all you have is a blurry shot of something that might have been a bee. Worry no more, my friend. Here are 10 tips that will make you a better insect photographer. Many of these tips will also apply to other kinds of close-up (aka macro) photography, so if you can successfully photograph insects, you'll find that photographing flowers, tree bark, or your favorite Lego Minifigure will feel like child's play. By the way, I may refer to spiders and other non-insects in this article, and yes, I know they're not insects. It's just a lot simpler to write "insects" than it is to write "arthropods" or "invertebrates." Don't be pedantic. Tip #1. Be Prepared for Failure Here's the hard reality: most insects aren't going to let you take their picture. Just when you've crept nearly close enough to get a smashing photo of a cute soldier beetle on a flower, the little bugger will almost always jump or fly away. Alternatively, you'll knock the beetle off its perch yourself, with your big clumsy feet or elbows. You're going to get really frustrated. You'll find yourself on your hands and knees yelling bad words at a ladybug who won't stand still for just a second. If you can't handle that degree of exasperation, you might as well stop reading right now and go find something easier to do – like putting together jigsaw puzzles with no pictures. Tip #2. Approach Low and Slow Stalking insects is much like stalking any other prey. Approach your quarry slowly and avoid making sudden moves that might draw attention to yourself. Try not to bump or step on plant stems that could hit the stem your subject is on. Be aware of your shadow and make sure it doesn't pass over the insect as you're creeping toward it. Most importantly, keep your head down. Like many other creatures, insects will most easily spot you when you obstruct their view of the sky. Stay low enough that your head is below the insect's view of the horizon and you'll have a decent chance of getting close enough for a photograph. Tip #3. Camera Equipment Before you go out, let's talk about the kind of camera equipment you'll need. There are a few important things to consider when you're shopping for insect photography gear. You don't need to buy a camera that costs more than your car. All you need is something that lets you manually control exposure (shutter speed and aperture), allows interchangeable lenses, can attach to a tripod, and lets you remotely trigger the shutter, when necessary. Because you'll be working with very little depth-of-field, you'll need to manipulate the camera's aperture (more on that later) and often shoot with relatively slow shutter speeds. A basic 40 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2018