Bugs.

BUGS

Bugs, bugs, and more bugs! Summers are full of them. They are everywhere! In fact, several years ago, an Entomologist counted more than 100 different insect species, in his yard, within a week.

So why not get your camera and a macro lens and start shooting! I don't mean to kill them, but to record the creepie crawlers on film. Many of nature's insect friends and foes are very colorful and have unusual shapes and patterns that make interesting subjects for slide shows and competitions in both black-and-white and color.

My equipment for photographing insects consists of a Canon A1 camera, Tokina 70 to 210 macro-zoom and a Tamron 90mm macro lens with a 2x extender, and a ringflash. (See "Close-up Photography With a Ringflash" by K. Deitcher, M.D., in PSA Journal, February 1986, Vol. 52, No. 2, Pg 19.) The film I prefer is Tri-X and TMax 400 and Fujichrome 100 slide film.

You should walk through your yard, woods, or nature trail several times to observe the insect life before starting to take photographs. Study the behavior, habitat and life cycles of the species you see. Obtain further knowledge by studying some of the excellent and inexpensive handbooks available on insects in your local bookstores and library. See the Petersen Series Field Guide to Insects by Borror and White, and The Audubon Society's Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders.

Most insect photography requires a macro or macrozoom lens that does not crowd the subject. Shoot from about two to three feet away, especially when photographing bees, wasps and other stinging insects. I do not usually use a tripod because most insects are in constant motion, especially the more colorful ones such as butterflies and dragonflies. Many times these "bugs" will repeatedly land on the same flower or twig and may enable you to pre-focus and plan your next shot.

I try to use either a fast shutter speed to stop the action of the wings, or when using flash, a small f-stop, to get the maximum depth of field.

If you are fortunate in finding or purchasing moth cocoons or butterfly chrysalis, you can watch them emerge in the comfort of a mini studio in your home. When these Lepdoptera emerge they are sluggish and have to dry their wings for 24 to 48 hours before flying. This will give you ample opportunity for "set ups" and time for leisurely photography as the subject poses on twigs and branches you may arrange. After your shooting session, make sure you release your models.

When photographing insects, I usually use my aperture-preferred mode. I set the f-stop for the maximum depth of field that will allow a hand holdable speed--down to 1/45 second. At slower shutter speeds you will get camera shake.

When going into the fields and woods, dress appropriately. I suggest a sun hat, long sleeved shirt, long pants and waterproof hiking boots. Caution is the watch word! Protect yourself from excessive sun, heat and insect pests. I take with me a highly protective sunscreen lotion (No. 29), Deet, an effective insect repellent, and a canteen of cool water. For low level and terrestrial insect life, I take a folded plastic garbage bag to place on the ground so I can keep dry when kneeling or lying on wet weeds and marshy ground.

Last but not least, take plenty of film. You may encounter some unusual species that you can spend hours shooting. The photo of the female Ichneumon Wasp, depositing eggs through the bark of a tree into some unsuspecting grub, was taken five years ago at a local nature preserve. I took more than three rolls of black-and-white and two rolls of color slide film within three hours. The tree was covered with about 20 wasps depositing eggs. I have never seen this phenomenon again.

Five of the enclosed photos were taken with a ring flash and four with available light. Note that with the flash, the background is quite dark, isolating your subject. The photo of the Harvestman (daddy long legs) was taken at noon, with available sunlight, giving the interesting shadows of this Arachnid's legs and body. This type of photo could be easily missed if you did not look closely at and under small leaves and bushes. Be observant, walk slowly and keep your eyes toward the ground. The dragonfly photo has extremely shallow depth of field but the head is in focus.

I have been interested in Entomology for more than 40 years and have collected and photographed insects in the Amazon and in Trinidad. Many of my photos have been published in international nature photographic books.