Mail: simon@natural-photographer.co.uk

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7 September 2024, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/200sec @ f/5.6, ISO 125.

Taken in Ulverston, Cumbria, near to the Hoad Monument. A nice bright day to really bring out the colours on the wings.

Butterflies

Another fantastic subject for photography, with its beautiful colours and patterns. Who doesn’t enjoy seeing a butterfly? It has the power to stop anyone, at any age, and watch this lovely insect flutter around. It is something you never tire of seeing.

From a photographic perspective, you will notice that all my photographs of butterflies are from 2024 onwards with the digital set up, rather than with film. The reason is really quite simple (actually, the more specific reasons require me to go into the technical intricacies of photography which is not really the scope of this website); and not because I wasn’t interested in photographing them during my ‘film years’. It is due to the fact that with a digital camera, it is possible to take photographs hand held, so much easier to get the shot. With film, to get a decent photograph of such a subject, it almost always would necessitate the use of a tripod, which requires the subject to stay perfectly still for a lengthy period of time; something that anyone will tell you, is not going to happen with butterflies! So in other words, my first photographs of butterflies were some 32 years after I started taking photographs. I think the wait was worth it!

7 September 2024, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/200sec @ f/11, ISO 250.

28 March 2024, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/200sec @ f/16, ISO 5000.

This is the first of a series of photographs taken in the Butterfly House in Williamson Park in Lancaster. I remember having to wait around ten minutes for the condensation to disappear from the lens; very warm!

28 March 2024, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/200sec @ f/8, ISO 5000.

Fascinating wing patterns.

28 March 2024, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/200sec @ f/6.8, ISO 200.

28 March 2024, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/200sec @ f/6.8, ISO 1600.

This photograph shows the wing pattern nicely. I remember this photo took quite a bit of time to frame up correctly, thankfully the butterfly was more concerned in having its lunch than being distracted by me!

28 March 2024, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/200sec @ f/14, ISO 1600.

28 March 2024, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/200sec @ f/8, ISO 2500.

28 March 2024, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/200sec @ f/6.8, ISO 800.

A leaf disguised as a butterfly or maybe the other way around!

28 March 2024, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/200sec @ f/5.6, ISO 2000.

Butterfly cocoons.

28 March 2024, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/200sec @ f/4.8, ISO 6400.

28 March 2024, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/200sec @ f/5.6, ISO 3200.

28 July 2024, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/800sec @ f/14, ISO 1000.

Capernwray Diving Centre, Carnforth.

12 April 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/250sec @ f/11, ISO 500.

Near Goathland. North Yorkshire.

3 September 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/160sec @ f/9.5, ISO 320.

Taken from a back garden; a very familiar sight; so nice to get in close, to reveal details you just don’t get to see normally.

5 September 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/160sec @ f/4.8, exposure compensation +0.6 stop, ISO 400.

Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Lancashire.

5 September 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/250sec @ f/4, exposure compensation +0.6 stop, ISO 100.


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