Butterflies at RHS Wisley

The annual tropical butterfly exhibition has started at RHS Wisley and runs until 5th March. If you are nearby it is well worth a visit. It's best to avoid weekends and school holidays if you can. If you are an RHS member then entry is free, otherwise it's £14 per adult. see https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley/whats-on/butterflies-in-the-glasshouse.

I intend to visit a few times, as there are always fresh species being released. Here's a few from my first visit - hopefully the identifications are correct!

All shot with my K-5iiS and a Tamron 70-200 F2.8

1) Asian Swallowtails mating




2) Great eggfly




3) Asian Swallowtail (also known as Great Yellow Mormon apparently!)




4) Malachite




5) Giant owl




Phil

No 5 is the one! A great blend of tones, clarity with the nice OOF background and a good composition that shows the subject close but with a nice environment around it. Great stuff

Excellent, Five stunning, such definition of both wings very skillful

Great photos.... I visited this annual event 2-or 3 years ago and found I had to allow my camera to acclimatise for quite a while as it was very hot and humid in there so initially every thing steamed up. How did you manage and how long was it before things stopped steaming up?

Stuart

Stuart

Good question!

I have two solutions - if I take a camera bag, I put a hot pack in the bag to allow the camera + lens(es) to warm up before I get there. Then you can take pictures straight away.

If I don't take a bag, and I didn't on Thursday, I just do a circuit of the glasshouse to allow everything to warm up. If it's a very cold day, it takes about 20 mins or so. The circuit does allow to have a check of what's around without having to think about getting the shot.

Phil

I had not thought of the first solution, however from where I live any hot pack will have cooled down by the time I get there so the second is my only solution.

Stuart

you can buy heat packs that heat up when you crack them a bit like glosticks which are good couple of them in your bag when you get there you just set them going and by the time you get to the glass house they should still be working and when you get home you just put them in a pan of boiling water and it reverses the process till you want them again

A very good set with fine detail and colours to match.

Best regards

Stunning pictures!