Butterflies — an ever popular subject for photographers

From the moment I first held a camera in my hand, butterflies have been an ever present feature in my photography. I can remember chasing them around the garden in Essex where I grew up and, later, going on expeditions across the UK to track down rare species and add them to my ever growing collection of images. When I relocated to Italy, my interest was rekindled by the sheer number of species that we simply don’t see in the British Isles.

Butterflies of Fivizzano, Lunigiana, Tuscany, Italy

Part of the angellightphoto, butterflies of Fivizzano album, this ever changing gallery covers all the species of the skipper family, Hesperiidae, that I have found and photographed in and around our garden here in Fivizzano.

Part of the angellightphoto, butterflies of Fivizzano album, this ever changing gallery covers all the species of the white butterfly family, Pieridae, that I have found and photographed in and around our garden here in Fivizzano. 

Part of the angellightphoto, butterflies of Fivizzano album, this ever changing gallery covers all the species of the blue butterfly family, Lycaenidae, that I have found and photographed in and around our garden here in Fivizzano.

Part of the angellightphoto, butterflies of Fivizzano album, this ever changing gallery covers all the species of the brown butterfly family, Nymphidae, that I have found and photographed in and around our garden here in Fivizzano. 

A FEW WORDS ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHING BUTTERFLIES …

Shooting good images of butterflies is not quite as straightforward as it might seem, mostly because they are almost constantly on the move. This is where having a good food plant to encourage them to settle helps, which, in our garden, takes the shape of an enormous English lavender hedge.

Apart from all the usual technical requirements, my definition of a good image is one where the butterfly is in an interesting position, on an interesting flower, with interesting light against a background that is not distracting. It is the combination of all, or any, of these elements that determines whether the image is simply acceptable or something to be proud of.

Amongst these ever changing galleries, you will, hopefully, find a few outstanding photographs. My goal is make that true for all of them. That said, I neither wish nor expect to reach such a lofty destination. I don’t wish it because I love the thrill of finding, chasing and photographing butterflies far too much to ever want to stop; and I don’t expect it because perfection is an illusion — we can always aim higher and strive further.


While you’re here, why not visit another gallery?

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Butterfly Galleries

Beautiful images of butterflies.

Spread your wings

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