Pond Skaters and Some Butterflies

On the same visit to Pignal Inclosure where I took the close ups of the butterflies, I also had my Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro lens with me and managed to grab some further away shots of some of the butterflies ( see end of this article).  I also though used it for the first time to capture some water insects – these pond skaters which were swimming on a large puddle in the path.  I lay down next to it and took these at water eye level.  I think the results are worth the slightly damp trousers that I got from the attempt.

Pond Skater.
Canon EOS 50D (100mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec, ISO400)
Pond Skater.
 Pond Skater.  Taken on Canon 50D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens.  ISO 400 F5.6 1/125.  Natural Light.

Pond Skater 2.
Canon EOS 50D (100mm, f/6.3, 1/100 sec, ISO400)
Pond Skater 2.
Pond Skater 2.  Taken on Canon 50D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens.  ISO 400 F6.3 1/100.  Natural Light.

Pond Skater 3.
Canon EOS 50D (100mm, f/6.3, 1/100 sec, ISO400)
Pond Skater 3.
Pond Skater 3.  Taken on Canon 50D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens.  ISO 400 F6.3 1/100.  Natural Light.

As mentioned at the start of this article I also took some shots of the butterflies with the 100mm lens.  My favourite of the photos is this one of the Small Heath that was so co-operative in having its photo taken with the MPE-65.

Small Heath at Pignal.
Canon EOS 50D (100mm, f/8, 1/100 sec, ISO400)
Small Heath at Pignal.
Small Heath at Pignal.  Taken on Canon 50D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens.  ISO 400 F8 1/100.  Natural Light with Tripod.

I also liked this one of a skipper too.

Skipper at Pignal.
Canon EOS 50D (100mm, f/8, 1/80 sec, ISO400)
Skipper at Pignal.
Skipper at Pignal.  Taken on Canon 50D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens.  ISO 400 F8 1/80.  Natural Light with Tripod.

Finally this long way out image is certainly no where near a macro shot – and probably not even a close up, but I like the photo as it shows some more of the environment that the Ringlet is in, and it has its wings open.

Ringlet on Bracken.
Canon EOS 50D (100mm, f/8, 1/500 sec, ISO400)
Ringlet on Bracken.
Ringlet on Bracken..  Taken on Canon 50D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens.  ISO 400 F8 1/500.  Natural Light.

Map of Location

Pignal Inclosure , New Forest.

Chris

I've been taking macro photography from 2004. I use both Canon film and digital cameras.

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