For what it's worth, in my opinion:-

#1 - leave it alone, lovely as it stands;
#2 - There's too much negative space at the bottom, so crop up to just below where the walker's shadow ends - say about where the damper sand cuts the left hand edge of the frame;
#3 - make it into a square by cropping from the left to put the man on the third. (i.e. I'd crop between the 5th & 6th trees from the left edge.)

Good luck
Phil

Ian

It would be helpful to get a feel for your budget, but a HD DA 55-300 would be a worthwhile improvement on the Tamron 70 - 300. I have both, and the image quality of the 55-300 is a definite improvement, even though it doesn't focus as close.

Phil

Thanks for the help and advice from forum members. I've now identified them all!

1) Tiger Longwing
2) Brown Clipper
3) and 4) Cattleheart species, most like the Iphidamas Cattleheart
5) African swallowtail (Female)
6) Arched winged Cattleheart

Phil

Hello and welcome - I started with an ME (which I still have) and now shoot a K-5iis, and I still use a couple of the lenses that I got to use on the ME - they're still going strong!

Phil

Stu

John was asking me about using the DA* 300 F4 or or the 50-135 with a tele-converter, and I suggested that a 300mm prime would be too long most of the time. Like you, many of mine were taken with the (excellent) HD DA 55-300, but rarely at full zoom. Only No. 1 above was take at 300, the rest were at 90mm (with a Tamron SP 90 Macro). Most of the shots I took last week were in the range of 90 to 230.

If I was only going to take one lens with me, it would definitely be the 55-300. However, I'd like to give a good 70-200 f2.8 a try, but I don't have one!

Phil

John

I use a wheat bag - something like this - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Unscented-Microwave-wheat-bag-Scented-Colours/dp/B004E85...

re lenses - the 300 will be too long most of the time; so either of the other two - depends on which gives you the best image quality and how the closest focus compares. I've never used the 50-135 so can't comment on either aspect.

Phil

John - here's the advice I gave to a friend, I hope that it helps you:-

Go during the week and AVOID school holidays (if that’s possible for you).
Put a heat bag (or similar) in your camera bag on the way there to minimise the likelihood of your lens/camera misting up - it can take over 20 minutes or more for the temperature of the lens to stabilise.
I tend to use one of 2 lenses – either 90mm Macro or 55-300 zoom (on a 1.5x crop sensor) – a fast 70-200 would be good. The ability for the lens to Close focus is useful as space is at a premium.
Use a tripod or monopod – the latter are better if it’s busy
Use some additional lighting – ring flash is good, Speedlite with a clip-on diffuser is a good alternative – especially if you can use it ‘off camera’ ; Macro Flash would be ideal.
You need to ‘get your eye in’ as even though the butterflies are large and bright there is a lot of undergrowth which can hide them.
Look up! – they’re often above your head
Don’t wear to many clothes, or else you will cook! It’s pretty hot and very humid in there.

Phil

Can anyone identify any of the following butterflies? These were all taken at RHS Wisley on Monday, and while I've been able to identify most of the butterflies I got, these ones remain a mystery to me.

1)



2) This one has been inverted to make it easier for someone to identify (hopefully)



3)



4)



5)



6)



Thanks in advance.

If you live anywhere near to Wisley (a few of miles northwest of Guildford, Nr J10 of M25) it's well worth visiting while the butterfly display is on. It finishes on 6th March. Avoid weekends and half-term as it gets VERY busy then.

Phil

Great job - really captured the essence of the event.

Phil

I have used Ffordes Photographic in the past and found them to be reliable. They're based up in the north of Scotland, so I've only ever dealt with them by phone and e-mail - no problems and goods exactly as described.

I would use them again.

Phil