Insect shots made easier

You can even out the odds in your favor when shooting insects.

Photographing insects whose bodies are colored to blend in with their habitat may result in a picture in which the insect is barely discernible. For the naturalist photographer, showing the animal's camouflage ability is often the effect that is wanted. But, if you are cataloguing insects and require a clear image of the creature's form and shape, you may need to replace its natural setting with an artificial backdrop.

One simple means of doing this with crawling insects is to place a flat, white or colored piece of poster board in the insect's path, and wait until the creature crawls onto it.

Once the insect has crawled a sufficient distance that it is fully-surrounded by the artificial backdrop, be sure to take your picture quickly. Many insects seem to recognize that the new surface is abnormal, and will either scurry away or quickly open their wings and take flight. We got only one shot of the insect at right before it did exactly that, and was gone.

SUBDUING AN ACTIVE INSECT

Many insect photographers prefer to ensure that their small subject stays around longer, and will subdue it with a few whiffs of carbon tetrachloride* fumes. (See IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE below regarding carbon tetrachloride.) The insect becomes inactive for a number of minutes, providing plenty of time to choose a good camera angle and get very close. They place the insect in a sealed jar containing carbon tetrachloride fumes so that it is rapidly subdued (preventing it from damaging its delicate wings by beating them and moving about), and then remove it using tweezers when the insect has stopped moving, but before death, to get a realistic picture. A dead insect looks dead, but an insect that is subdued in this manner and is still alive can be posed for the camera on a plant or rock and provide very life-like pictures. It will move slowly as the fresh air begins to revive it, providing plenty of time for several exposures.

THE INSECT "KILLING JAR"

Such a container is known as an "insect killing jar" or just a "killing jar," and is easily made. An empty mayonnaise jar or quart Mason jar will do the job for a wide range of insect sizes. Place an inch of well-packed absorbent cotton in the bottom. Pour a small amount of carbon tetrachloride over it. Place a cut-out cardboard disc that is slightly smaller than the jar's diameter on top. Add another layer of cotton and then another disc. The extra layers ensure that the insect doesn't actually touch the carbon tetrachloride, which might discolor it. Keep the jar tightly sealed to prevent the fumes from evaporating.

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE: *Carbon tetrachloride is a dangerous chemical, and PhotographyTips.com does not advocate its use. It may be fatal if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through skin. It causes irritation to skin, eyes and respiratory tract. It is a suspected cancer hazard. It may cause cancer. Risk of cancer depends on level and duration of exposure. Carbon tetrachloride affects the central nervous system, lungs, liver and kidneys. Protective equipment that should always be used when handling or around carbon tetrachloride includes goggles & shield, lab coat & apron, vent hood and proper gloves. See Carbon tetrachloride material safety data sheet for further information.

FLYING INSECTS

Many crawling insects, such as caterpillars and beetles, can usually be easily captured and subdued, but flying insects such as butterflies and dragonflies are another matter. You don't just reach out and grab them - well, at least not with your bare hands. You use an insect collector's net.

You can often find a good collector's net, strange to say, in toy stores where entomology kits are sold for children to help them to capture and study insects. You can also make your own using cheesecloth or mosquito-netting attached to a widened coat hanger that in turn is attached to a dowel or broom handle. Be sure the material is cone-shaped.

Sweep an area of tall grass with a collector's net, and you will probably be amazed at the number and variety of insect specimens you capture. Toss it over a butterfly that has landed on a flower to gently capture it, or swoop in on a dragonfly hovering over a pond.

NATURAL FLYING INSECT PHOTOGRAPHY

When photographing bees as they go about their business, and other insects that are attracted to flowers, your best strategy often involves selecting a likely flower, positioning your camera to take its picture, and then patience. Bees won't pay you much attention at all. They'll zip into view to visit the flower, and may or may not stay, depending on what they find. Shoot as soon as the insect is in the viewframe, near the blossom, and then quickly prepare to expose another frame in case it decides to remain a while. Fast-moving insects are unpredictable. You can't really wait for the best shot, because the instant you see it, the insect will often buzz away before you can trip the shutter.

This is a "hit-or-miss" method that often results in lovely flower shots with no insects visible at all, but it can also produce some very good insect pictures when the law of averages comes into play.

One or more of your exposures are bound to show the insect in just the right position for an interesting and attractive photograph.

The key is to stick with it and not become discouraged. You must also be prepared to use up film or space on your digital camera's memory card, since most of your exposures will not be keepers. Perseverance, however, will pay off, and the odds are that at least one or two of your pictures will be excellent insect shots that you'll be proud to display.