I have always wondered howcome I never see any insects covered with dew?
I see very eye-catching photographs of flies, damselfies, butterflies, etc. at different sites all the time but I never manage to find any in nature. I don't think it is because I'm not attentive enough because I do find a lot of other tiny critters at other times of the day that nobody else seems to notice. Maybe I need glasses...
I have only found one explanation and that would be that here in Sweden where I live, during the summer when insects are abundant, the sun rises sometime around 3 am which would give it plenty of time to evaporate the dewdrops from the insects before I have enough strength to get out myself. On the other hand, then the dew should have been evaporated also from the plants - which it isn't always when I get out - but no wet critters then either.
I'm have been a bit perplexed by this since a couple of years when I saw some stunning images of a blue-wing butterfly that appeared in Outdoor Photography as well as in The Nature Photographer and I have really wanted to try out that kind of macro photography since.
Anyone have the answer or maybe have the same experience as I have?
I thought people went out with a bottle of water and sprayed insects, then took a photograph adding dew to the title?
Also some keep the appropiate butterfly in the fridge and place it on a pretty flower and add dew to taste.
Maybe I'm wrong.
I know about the fridge trick - that would give dew all by itself without any spray flask, I'd think.
I've never heard of the spraying - is that really how they do it? That would be cheating IMHO unless the photographer states somewhere what they did. It wasn't mentioned in the magazines even though, in The Nature Photographer Magazine, there was a long reportage about the site that the photographer used to go to to find his subjects. I have never read anything elsewhere either but maybe I'm just the only one who doesn't know the secret
We do use to spray wasps when they get too irritating on the veranda but that just makes them leave - I think they think it's raining. I don't know where they go - maybe I should stalk them next summer...
In any case, I want to believe that the dew is true so that there are prospects for me to find some nice and immobile insects that will glitter in the low sun...
It's going to have to be an early morning start I'm afraid, it's the only time I've seen insects with dew, also much better than keeping the poor things in the fridge then blasting them with water
I think your explanation is the right one. That it has just evaporated from them.
Insects are going to want to be in a position to warm up as quickly as possible so they can be active again. If not necessarily to feed, to be able to escape predators.
The thought of having to get up for 3:00 am does not sound very appealing to me
Jens,
To save a little time in the morning and to hopefully gain an extra 10 minutes in bed you could venture out the previous evening at dusk in the hope of locating some suitable subjects which have chosen their roosting position for the night,the chances are they will still be in position the following morning,as long as you're early enough.
A good 20 minutes or so before sunrise is an ideal time,not only should your subjects be dew coated and located where you saw them the previous evening,but the air is often extremely still allowing for long shutter speeds if needed,and the soft pre-dawn light is gorgeous for insect and flower photography,IMHO.
I find camping works really well, as not only are you already on site,but you're often in a position to really explore your immediate surroundings for a day or two and get an idea of just what's likely to be around.Handy not having any travelling to do too,just put the stove on and start exploring while your waiting for the water to boil,by the time the cup of tea's been made you've already discovered a wealth of dew coated creepy crawlies.
Justin has it spot on, but I'm afraid it means very little sleep for you, scout the previous evening for suitable subjects, once they have settled down the evening they very rarely move, in fact if you are careful you can move them to a suitable location, although I would discourage that, remember a compass so that you can work out your lighting direction for the morning, to make it easier in the morning you can peg a small flag to make locating simple, (the state of my memory I forget what I was doing five minutes ago). you should then be able to head straight for your chosen specimen, set everything up and be ready to take the, image at the best moment while they warm up ready for a days activity..
Discussion
10 repliesI see very eye-catching photographs of flies, damselfies, butterflies, etc. at different sites all the time but I never manage to find any in nature. I don't think it is because I'm not attentive enough because I do find a lot of other tiny critters at other times of the day that nobody else seems to notice. Maybe I need glasses...
I have only found one explanation and that would be that here in Sweden where I live, during the summer when insects are abundant, the sun rises sometime around 3 am which would give it plenty of time to evaporate the dewdrops from the insects before I have enough strength to get out myself. On the other hand, then the dew should have been evaporated also from the plants - which it isn't always when I get out - but no wet critters then either.
I'm have been a bit perplexed by this since a couple of years when I saw some stunning images of a blue-wing butterfly that appeared in Outdoor Photography as well as in The Nature Photographer and I have really wanted to try out that kind of macro photography since.
Anyone have the answer or maybe have the same experience as I have?
I'd be curious to hear your experience.
Regards, Jens.
Also some keep the appropiate butterfly in the fridge and place it on a pretty flower and add dew to taste.
Maybe I'm wrong.
Tim
I know about the fridge trick - that would give dew all by itself without any spray flask, I'd think.
I've never heard of the spraying - is that really how they do it?
We do use to spray wasps when they get too irritating on the veranda but that just makes them leave - I think they think it's raining. I don't know where they go - maybe I should stalk them next summer...
In any case, I want to believe that the dew is true so that there are prospects for me to find some nice and immobile insects that will glitter in the low sun...
Cheers, Jens - "the Wasp Stalker"
It's going to have to be an early morning start I'm afraid, it's the only time I've seen insects with dew, also much better than keeping the poor things in the fridge then blasting them with water
Regards
Rob
I think your explanation is the right one. That it has just evaporated from them.
Insects are going to want to be in a position to warm up as quickly as possible so they can be active again. If not necessarily to feed, to be able to escape predators.
The thought of having to get up for 3:00 am does not sound very appealing to me
To save a little time in the morning and to hopefully gain an extra 10 minutes in bed you could venture out the previous evening at dusk in the hope of locating some suitable subjects which have chosen their roosting position for the night,the chances are they will still be in position the following morning,as long as you're early enough.
A good 20 minutes or so before sunrise is an ideal time,not only should your subjects be dew coated and located where you saw them the previous evening,but the air is often extremely still allowing for long shutter speeds if needed,and the soft pre-dawn light is gorgeous for insect and flower photography,IMHO.
I find camping works really well, as not only are you already on site,but you're often in a position to really explore your immediate surroundings for a day or two and get an idea of just what's likely to be around.Handy not having any travelling to do too,just put the stove on and start exploring while your waiting for the water to boil,by the time the cup of tea's been made you've already discovered a wealth of dew coated creepy crawlies.
Happy hunting.
I suppose I will have to do some camping this summer. (Suits me fine since I am saving up for a Galapagos trip. Anyone want to join?)
Cheers, Jens.
Charles
Justin has it spot on, but I'm afraid it means very little sleep for you, scout the previous evening for suitable subjects, once they have settled down the evening they very rarely move, in fact if you are careful you can move them to a suitable location, although I would discourage that, remember a compass so that you can work out your lighting direction for the morning, to make it easier in the morning you can peg a small flag to make locating simple, (the state of my memory I forget what I was doing five minutes ago). you should then be able to head straight for your chosen specimen, set everything up and be ready to take the, image at the best moment while they warm up ready for a days activity..
Good luck...
Phil
Indeed, it will mean very little sleep... sunset around 11 PM and sunrise around 3 AM at midsummer...
Cheers, Jens.