The 2026 Butterfly Experience (formerly Wings of Fancy) at Brookside Gardens.
Covid shut this wonderful display down for about 4 years.
I was a docent for many years when the "Wings of Fancy" was only during the summers. Saturday and Sunday mornings were devoted to 10 photographers and any/all eqpt they could bring.
Dan
All macro, various Canon dslr's and many Canon EF/EF-S macro lenses with ring flash or full flash
morris wrote:
The third is my pick Dan. They are a tricky subject
Morris
Thank you morris!
The key is that the "Photographer's Only shoot takes place at 0800. The conservatory is still very cool and the butterflies are very slow to move about.
Make for GREAT tripod or hand held compositions.
I use 1 or the other of the Canon ring flashes OR if I have my Canon APS-C body, I use the "fill flash"..
Dan
adventure_photo wrote:
Nice images Dan, I’m sure that was fun being a docent there! #’s 1 and 4 are my favorites!
Thanks Scott!
I voluntered to be a docent during Covid but the County would NOT allow it. The conservatory stayed closed for 4-5 years!
I will post more butterflies as time permits..
The last one the butterfly stayed on my shoulder for 2 hours.
Upon leaving, all photographers are required to be "searched" for "hitchhikers".
Also all camera bags had to be checked for "escapees".
Thanks Scott!
Dan
Karl Witt wrote:
Really hard to pick one, picking two wasn't any easier so quite simply I like them all
The first is the same as the last I presume? And I like what you did in that last image!
Karl
The same species but looks like he/she were in a battle in #2!
I have many from these shows! It was a great experience for photographers! Yes it had a fee but don't care. It went to the County Parks and you have 3 hrs with only 10 photographers, any/all eqpt you can bring and hundreds of butterflies at your opportunity.
The conservatory is "climate controlled" so the early morning was cool and the butterflies were very lathargic. That made "up close and personal" very doable!
Last year was the 1st year since Covid hit and they removed the "Photographers Only" morning shoot.
Thanks Karl!
Dan
