Almost all photographers start on the journey of The Art on the same footing - we like to shoot pretty things. Sunsets, flowers, models are on almost everyone’s list and we strive to justify these photogenic subjects with our meagre skills. Being a photographer in KL, I tend to visit these locations when I tire of trying to come up with something ‘new and exciting’. Drop by the Butterfly Park in the Lake Gardens and I think you’ll have to agree that shooting butterflies can be pure simple fun. Just have lots of patience and a quick steady hand. Butterflies are skittish creatures and when shooting them with a macro lens, using a deep depth of field can be quite a challenge.
Be prepared to sweat a bit. If you approach a bunch of butterflies crowding around a flower, they will flutter away but just wait for a while and they should return to the same flower. I also noticed that when you approach them from underneath, they tend not to notice me. Take your time and make sure you pre-focus. You may want to turn on the multi-frame capture mode on your camera as fire away (then you can choose the best shot from the frames you took). Keep an eye on focusing though - butterflies tend to fly in and out of focus in a split second.
The park management has also placed ripe fruit stations where butterflies can congregate. At these stations, you will find some lethargic or old butterflies. Here you will find them easier to shoot as they seldom fly away when you approach.
It’s not only about the butterflies though. The park is also home to other creepy crawlies, wonderful flora and some other interesting macro and close up opportunities. Take a cool Sunday morning off and give it a try!
