Photo: Vani Kurup
Hello, my alien friend!
Macro photography and insects are special interests of mine. Combine them and you got one amazing treat – insect macros! I’ve asked friend and hobby photographer Vani Kurup to share some of her secrets for capturing these flighty critters. Though initially a bit reluctant, once Vani got talking, there was no stopping her.
Vani’s been grabbing her camera off and on for a few years now and looking through Vani’s Flickr photostream means discovering that not the devil is in the details but beauty. Utter and unexpected beauty! Even in something as simple as a leaf, as mundane as an air conditioner or as ordinary as a doorknob. Under Vani’s keen eye, textures turn into landscapes, vegetables into works of art and objects close-up into the unexpected.
Photo: Vani Kurup
This gorgeous beauty is a damselfly.
Insects seen through a macro lens exert a special fascination because they look so positively alien. And they are extremely hard to capture. As Vani says: “They are usually tiny, fast-moving subjects that can give even sports photographers a run for their money, excepting perhaps bugs or stick insects.”
“The smaller the insect and the more mobile it is, the more the readiness required on the photographer’s part. A bug is way easier to shoot than an ant; butterflies and moths are more difficult. The hover fly was my toughest subject. They are just about a cm in length and flit about like crazy settling over a flower for only a few milliseconds,” explains Vani.
Photo: Vani Kurup
Elusive hover fly
The good thing is, you don’t need to be a professional photographer to take your own insect images. Anyone can give it a shot (literally) and take inspiration from these tiny critters. “Not being a professional photographer and not knowing anything about equipment for lights and without a tripod, I set myself up for insect macro photography in their natural environment. My only tool is a super zoom camera on manual setting and loads of determination and patience,” says Vani.
And the rewards are huge as you can delve into a totally new world. “Taking a break for me means getting away from the computer, picking up my cam and heading to the balcony to capture the most widespread species on the planet – insects. Insects are around most of the year and make great subjects for those who are looking for some challenges within their living environment.”
Photo: Vani Kurup
Curious butterfly posing for the camera
And speaking of challenges, yes, there are many. But persistence and patience will pay off. Eventually. First of all, the insects’ size and speed and unpredictable movements and flight patterns makes capturing them not easy. Also, they are super sensitive to their environment, so getting close to them is a challenge but hey, that’s what the zoom is for. And for those used to working with black boxes or artificial environments, that’s hard to do with insects but there are tutorials for that online. For capturing insects in their natural environment, Vani has shared eleven tips that have worked for her. Here’s what she says:
1. It is important to have a camera with tele-zoom lens, because it is very difficult to get any closer than 6 inches to an insect.
2. Observe where the insect likes to be most, flowers or fresh shoots or just sitting about in the shade of a certain plant. Select one of those as your background.
Photo: Vani Kurup
Well camouflaged butterfly
3. Select your frame the best you can.
4. Adjust your camera settings (hoping that the ambient light doesn’t change); manual mode; at macro; zoom in; set the aperture for maximum light to enter (f/2.8 if possible). In zoom, it will change, flash if required (though photographs don’t come out good). Try to keep the shutter speed as fast as you can per the light conditions. This is because insects move quickly and a slow shutter speed shoots blurry images.
5. Position yourself comfortably, steady your camera and hand and wait. Once in a while you would have to look up and see if the insect has given up that particular point you have focused on and now prefers another flower or area.
6. Click a few quick shots to test if your light settings vs. shutter speed are giving you good shots. If not, readjust and test again.
Photo: Vani Kurup
I’m a bee, I’m a bee, I’m a bee…
7. Now we come to the actual shots. You may miss a few as you are adjusting for manual focus. Manual focus is better as it gives you the flexibility to zero in on the part of the insect you like. Sometimes auto focus can also be used to get a feel of the composition. But, there is no time for extensive thought.
8. Take as many shots as you can.
9. Be ready to keep a lookout for the insects and to chase them around as they settle in other areas. I spend sometimes a whole day trying to photograph one subject. They may choose to go over to the neighbor’s before visiting you again after a couple of hours.
10. Run the shots through your computer. Select a frame in Photoshop and crop. I have always had to crop insect photos as it is impossible to get very close.
11. Get lucky.
Photo: Vani Kurup
Any more questions? – Grumpy lizard
Phew! Lots to consider but the results will be worth it. And it sure beats sitting indoors in front of the computer all day. Vani, by the way, also holds a PhD in Zoology. This sure comes in handy when trying to figure out what all the critters big and small are. For the exact camera settings for each shot, do visit the image page and do check out Vani’s Flickr stream for more amazing photographs. (All images are copyrighted; if you would like to use an image, contact Vani.)
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