David Askham - Helping Nature - the Rewards
23rd August 2024
Analysis of the recent national butterfly count confirmed what many people had begun to realize, that winged pollinators, including butterflies, moths and bees, are in serious decline. The consequences are significant for humankind. Less pollination leads to less fruitfulness in the future. In the years ahead, food supplies will be adversely affected. Hence, my wife's excitement when she spotted a Comma butterfly gathering pollen on our lavender.
Once, they were very common sight in our garden, where they loved our wild Marjoram, deliberately encouraged to grow in a south-facing border. But for the last two or three years, they have been conspicuously absent. Perhaps you will understand our excitement.
I grabbed my ever-ready Leica V-Lux Typ.114 camera, and settled as close as I dare, relying on the camera’s wonderful zoom lens to capture a few shots. It was very challenging. A change to the zoom focal-length incurred a change to the minimum focusing distance. It required rocking gently, back and forth, to get a clearly focused image, while at the same time avoiding sudden changes which invariably meant a lost opportunity as the butterfly flew out of range.
Another challenge was presented by the tangled barrier of plant stems. The butterfly was frequently obscured by the lavender plant material. However, within ten minutes, I managed to make a few exposures which, on examination, gave me at least one reasonable shot. Even so, the butterfly was quite small in my frame. Serious cropping would be necessary. How would the V-LUX respond to such treatment?
Marketing of the newest Leica cameras extols the virtue of higher megapixel count. Indeed, the Leica SL3 possesses a 60 mp sensor, fully 3X that found in my Leica V-Lux camera, launched a few years ago. Here is the result of selective cropping.
There is no doubt that a suitable long focus macro lens would have yielded superior results. But in the circumstances, setting up such a system was not practical in the brief window of time that I had. Serious naturalists would, no doubt, have scheduled such a project early in the morning when butterflies are more lethargic. But, but, but, would you know where to find them? Answers please in the comments.
(If you have enjoyed this article, you might like to read another one on my website here: https://david2008.photium.com/helping-nature-by-david-askham which addresses Helping nature in our gardens).
Once, they were very common sight in our garden, where they loved our wild Marjoram, deliberately encouraged to grow in a south-facing border. But for the last two or three years, they have been conspicuously absent. Perhaps you will understand our excitement.
I grabbed my ever-ready Leica V-Lux Typ.114 camera, and settled as close as I dare, relying on the camera’s wonderful zoom lens to capture a few shots. It was very challenging. A change to the zoom focal-length incurred a change to the minimum focusing distance. It required rocking gently, back and forth, to get a clearly focused image, while at the same time avoiding sudden changes which invariably meant a lost opportunity as the butterfly flew out of range.
Another challenge was presented by the tangled barrier of plant stems. The butterfly was frequently obscured by the lavender plant material. However, within ten minutes, I managed to make a few exposures which, on examination, gave me at least one reasonable shot. Even so, the butterfly was quite small in my frame. Serious cropping would be necessary. How would the V-LUX respond to such treatment?
Marketing of the newest Leica cameras extols the virtue of higher megapixel count. Indeed, the Leica SL3 possesses a 60 mp sensor, fully 3X that found in my Leica V-Lux camera, launched a few years ago. Here is the result of selective cropping.
There is no doubt that a suitable long focus macro lens would have yielded superior results. But in the circumstances, setting up such a system was not practical in the brief window of time that I had. Serious naturalists would, no doubt, have scheduled such a project early in the morning when butterflies are more lethargic. But, but, but, would you know where to find them? Answers please in the comments.
(If you have enjoyed this article, you might like to read another one on my website here: https://david2008.photium.com/helping-nature-by-david-askham which addresses Helping nature in our gardens).
Comments
By Ken Davis: Well captured 'on the hoof' David. The decline in all insect life is silently terrifying. I remember 35 years ago dozens of moths banging on windows at night and bats around to catch them. Now all gone. By David Askham: Thanks Ken for supporting the message. I fear it is the wrong kind of news for many people. As photographers it is an obvious role we can all play, even city-dwellers. By Alan Humphries: Superb photos David, you were lucky to have a camera close to hand.
Like you I have been concerned by the lack of butterflies also bees which used to be so familiar. This
said during the last few days a few butterflies have visited my garden, sadly camera too far away. We can only hope... By David Askham: Thank you Alan for your concern and support. Sadly, butterflies do not allow smartphone cameras to approach very closely. Hence the value of a good zoom lens. Even flowers in a window box attract surviving pollinators and contribute to their survival. I would welcome a comment from city-dwellers, especially those who possess a balcony or small garden.