Insect and Arthropod Photography
  
 
  One of the nice things about insect photography is you can find subjects everywhere. Flowers attract pollinators and predators. A close examination of flowers can sometimes reveal thrips, springtails, and tiny chalcid wasps. Most never see these insects because they are only about a millimeter in length. Flies and wasps are my favorite insect orders. I am constantly amazed by the diversity of these groups.
   
  I teach closeup and macro techniques for insect photography. Special macro lenses can be used for high magnification macrophotography but these require very good technique. Higher magnification work involves light loss, very minimal depth of field, and camera/subject movements. Ultimately one must work with flash for successful high magnification insect photography. Focusing technique is a learned art, tricky because it can involve finding focus on a subject less than 1mm in size.
   
 

Flying insects can be very active so patience and timing are keys to success. Cool mornings after night rains are usually productive because the cold blooded insects and arthropods can be approached more readily. For some insects, it becomes a matter of patience and perseverence, getting the image when the opportunity finally presents itself.

To View Some Larger Insect Photos--Go to the images viewing page.