I spent ages trying to get a decent portrait of these delicate little creatures when we were in France, they were everywhere… I love Hummingbird Moths – we have a few in Bavaria too, but I have yet to manage to capture one perfectly. As you can see from my attempts below, the results weren’t amazing. My camera can’t cope with the speed of their wings (soon to be rectified with a new camera, can’t wait!) and their constant movement, and neither obviously can the photographer…
Awful… delete delete…
Nope, not quite there… Keep still please…
Getting better, but not good enough…
And on it went… I took around 50 pictures in all, and none of them good enough. But then, just as I was about to put the camera down, I looked up to see this…
Is there anything more delicate than a butterfly’s wings? They really do set them apart from all other insects don’t they? After all, to use the words of The Five Year Old – “without them they are just a thin spider”, not that he has ever deprived any poor creature of any wings or legs hopefully! It sat and posed quite happily, and for me this one picture made up for all of those of its frustrating smaller relations!
Rollercoaster Mum says
Wow – you caught the perfect shot in the end. I spent ages the other week trying to get a good pic of a bee on lavender ’cause they just wouldn’t keep still – damn them! V jealous you’re getting a new camera!
bavaria says
Thank you! Yep, bees are just as annoying :D
Jazzygal says
Great photo…well worth the wait!
xx Jazzy
bavaria says
Thanks Jazzy! :) xx
Kerry says
Stunning picture! xx
bavaria says
Thanks Kerry (: xx
Mama Syder says
Beautiful butterfly. Its so difficult to capture a butterfly, I try all the time x
bavaria says
Thanks Mama, a lucky shot, definitely! :) x
HelpfulMum says
Wow – absolutely stunning photo. I don’t think I have ever seen a butterfly stay still long enough to to take a good picture!
bavaria says
Thank you very much (:
Grace says
A suggestion which I have tried before – put your camera on Sports setting to try to catch the hummingbird hawk moth – probably an unorthdox method but worked for me! Brilliant try though. Mx
bavaria says
Didn’t work for me, I think my camera is protesting at overuse!… But thank you! :) xxx
violetsdiary says
Oh – I’d love to get a picture of a butterfly. I’ve tried before and had to give up either because someone wants something or the camera battery has died!! – They are all beautiful shots. I love butterflies and lavender, so perfect :)
bavaria says
Annoying aren’t they? Thanks so much, glad you like them! :)
Lady Briggs says
A lovely shot and a similar interpretation of the theme to me this week! :)
bavaria says
Great minds! :) Thanks for the comment!
Mummypinkwellies says
Beautiful!
bavaria says
Thank you! (:
Mags (Mummy's Space) says
Great photos! I love the butterfly one – excellently taken. x
bavaria says
Thanks very much Mags :)
Steph (@imcountingufoz) says
Very delicate indeed, what a beautiful set of photos.
bavaria says
Thanks Steph, much appreciated! :)
Notmyyearoff says
I was going to say the first picture had very nice effect but the last picture is just wow!!
bavaria says
Thank you (:
bluebirdsunshine says
Wow, amazing final pic and I loved seeing all the shots you took to get there! Bet you had a great time escaping to their world while you were focusing on them and snapping away.
bavaria says
Thank you! I did indeed, bet they were thinking “oh hurry up and b*”@!r off”! :)
fivegoblogging says
I’ve never seen a hummingbird moth but I think you’ve captured it pretty well in that last photo. The butterfly is beautiful, so graceful too.
bavaria says
Thank you FivegoBlogging, very kind :)
Mary says
The butterfly shot is quite simply stunning. Well worth the wait. And how nice to have an insight into your process. So all your gorgeous photos don’t just emerge fully formed, they do require some effort as well as an artist’s eye!
bavaria says
What a lovely comment, thank you! Indeed they don’t just emerge most of the time! :)
Singlemarriedmum says
Such fantastic photos! I really like the ones with the blurred wings – catching the rapid movement. Wonderful contrast with the purple too :)
bavaria says
Thank you! Yes, I guess they do capture the movement of the wings. Just not as perfectly as I would have liked! Thanks for your lovely comment! :)
Emma The Mini Mes and Me says
I’ve often taken lots of photos too of one thing to get the perfect shot – well done on your patience. Beautiful purple colouring highlights the butterfly more and they are most definetly fragile x
bavaria says
Thank you very much! (:
Herding Cats says
I think they’re all fnatastic pictures. I love the blurr on the wings.
bavaria says
Thank you, so glad someone likes them :D
Nikki Thomas says
Wow those are beautiful photos and really do fit with the Gallery theme! Amazing!
bavaria says
Thanks Nikki :)
Lesley Beeton says
A lovely set of photo’s. So pleased you got your shot in the end x.
bavaria says
Thank you Lesley! Yes, I was grateful for the one decent one! :)
Jenny Paulin says
A butterfly is a great choice of delicate! You were very patient trying to take the perfect photo of that hummingbird moth, x
bavaria says
Thank you! Patient, or stupid! :D
Funky Wellies says
Gorgeous! The lavender makes a perfect background. xx
bavaria says
Thank you! (: xx
Helen says
Haha your five year old is really quite smart indeed, im sure with all your fab pictures you will get this shot in the end
bavaria says
Thanks Helen, too smart for his own good sometimes!! :D
Louise says
Beautiful photo. Love the thin spider idea!
bavaria says
Thanks Louise! :)