Saving the small things that run the planetBugs are a great subject for you to photograph – there are so many species for you to capture images of. The best time to see them in the UK is between April and October, particularly on flowering plants. But do remember, bugs are everywhere! Check under stones and logs, in your pond or even in your bath.
Below are some tips to help you get started with bug photography.
You may think that good photos of bugs can only be taken on high specification DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) cameras and the like, and while they do offer high-quality resolution and focus, you can get started with just your phone. Try playing around with portrait mode on your camera settings. You could also invest in a clip-on macro lens for your phone camera to give you more detailed photographs.
If you do have access to equipment such as DSLRs, a macro lens will also come in handy. Make sure to browse which ones work best with your camera model for highly detailed images. Try to look for lenses that offer good magnification and focal lengths.
Some species of invertebrates are particularly active in the middle of the day when it is sunny, which can make them quite difficult to photograph. Going out early in the morning or evening may give you better results, as you can photograph invertebrates as they warm up for the day or settle in for the night. At these times, you can also get creative with using natural light in your photos.
Finding a good spot for taking photos of bugs requires some trial and error. A good starting point is to find a site that has different habitat types which can support a variety of bugs. Think bramble hedgerows, wildflower meadows and ancient woodlands. You might also like to find a site that has access to a stream or pond, where you could observe damselflies or dragonflies.
As a beginner, look for plants with flat tops and open flowers such as Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) and Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) as well as Cats Ear (Hypochaeris radicata) and Buttercups (Ranunculus spp.). The invertebrates that visit these plants tend to stay longer and are very visible for photographing on the flowers.
Understanding the positioning of the sun and how shadows are cast is also important when deciding where to take your photos. Try to naturally light your subject but also ensure you’re not casting a shadow over your subject – pollinators will often move away in this case. Move slowly and tactfully into place before going to take a photo.
Don’t forget to play around with the composition of your photos (like the rule of thirds), and remember, patience is key! Sometimes waiting a few minutes in a good spot will see you reaping the rewards of lots of bug photos!
If you’re using a phone camera, you will probably have access to basic editing features such as filters, cropping, and brightness. Playing around with those settings can improve your photos, especially if they were taken on a particularly dull or bright day. For more advanced editing, you could try Adobe Photoshop or a similar software.
If you plan on submitting your photo as a record through the iRecord app or a local recording group, it’s always good to leave a border around your subject and some of the background.
If you’re looking to identify an insect and then possibly record it, try out an app like ObsIdentify, which searches through a large database of images and gives a percentage likelihood of a match for your photo. The higher the percentage, the more likely you might (emphasis on might!) have a good match. It’s useful to have images from different angles of your subject to capture other features that can help with identification.
Other good sites to compare your photos with species include Nature Spot and specialist photographer collections, such as Steven Falk’s on Flickr. You could also find a local or online entomologist group or forum where people can help with invertebrate identification.
Some phones also have an ID option in the picture settings, which can help point you in the right direction for identification.
Additionally, you could use Buglife’s Identify A Bug questionnaire to narrow your search or visit our Bug Directory. Remember to tag us in your photos on social media!
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