I had the opportunity to teach a two-day Garden and Insect Photography workshop at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron earlier this month. What a great experience.
As a macro photographer, I love teaching others how to capture the intimate world of insects and flowers through photography. While we had many self-proclaimed newbies in the class, I was hugely impressed with the participants’ enthusiasm for photography and their skill.
We spent our first day in the classroom learning about basic DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) camera terminology and techniques. Participants left with an understanding of ISO, aperture and shutter speed (the basis of the exposure triangle).
I was also sure to include an in-depth look at macro photography techniques and equipment. One of the photographic techniques I focus on is called reverse lens macro. By mounting a wide-angle prime lens backward (with an adaptor) on your camera, you can achieve high magnification, perfect for capturing every last detail in the wing of a dragonfly or face of a bee. An added advantage is that this technique is far cheaper than investing in an expensive macro lens.
Our second day of the workshop was supposed to have been met with warm temperatures and dry, sunny weather. Although the Weather Channel swore there was a zero percent chance of rain, we were met with light rain showers for most of our morning photo shoot in the gardens. As I walked dismally through the grounds at Stan Hywet hoping to catch any glimpse of sunlight, I realized that the cool, wet weather was actually quite perfect for shooting bees and other insects.
Insects are ectothermic, meaning they rely on external sources of heat to warm their bodies. Until their bodies are warm, insects are usually rendered somewhat immobile, making them perfect photography subjects. As I walked through the gardens, I saw bee after bee hanging onto plants waiting (much like me) for the sun to make an appearance. Workshop participants were able to take great advantage of the situation by photographing these perfectly posed insects. Lucky us.
A few days later as I was preparing to start cleaning my vegetable garden, I noticed a plethora of bees hanging out on my native flowers. Several bees sat perfectly still on brightly colored asters waiting for the sun. Of course I quickly grabbed my camera just in time to take a few shots before the sun warmed the bees enough for them to fly away.
If you’re interested in practicing your insect photography skills, fall is the perfect time to do so. Early morning walks are especially magical as you can often find insects bejeweled in dewdrops.
These tiny creatures will wait patiently for the sun to dry their wings before flitting off. You may notice that bees will vibrate their wings quickly to build enough energy to warm themselves. Butterflies and moths will orient their wings like tiny solar panels toward the sun to absorb warmth. Similarly, dragonflies and damselflies will lay in wait on grasses and other plants until the sun rises enough to heat the temperature. This is the ideal time to shoot insects.
I should also mention that wildflowers are also plentiful this time of year and they are just as beautiful as insects when covered in dew.
If you find yourself itching to hit the trail this weekend on a search for insects to photograph, always remember to practice environmental ethics. Last year while on a photo walk, I was shocked to find a photographer pulling clumps of vegetation out of the ground to get the perfect shot of some wildflowers in the National Park (keep in mind this is strictly against park policy).
Please be kind to our creepy crawly friends. It can be tempting to manipulate the environment to capture an amazing shot, but how would you feel if a giant monster started poking and prodding you as you were waking from a cold, wet slumber?
Danae Wolfe is the Summit County Ohio State University Extension educator for Agriculture and Natural Resources. If you have gardening questions, call her at 330-928-4769, ext. 17, or send email to wolfe.540@osu.edu.