This article shares a small selection of in-camera focus stacked butterfly images captured handheld at the Niagara Butterfly Conservatory.
My wife and I had not been to the facility for quite a while. After buying our yearly memberships we decided to spend a few minutes composing some images.
NOTE: Click on images to enlarge
![](https://smallsensorphotography.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2210325hhfs1200-1024x768.jpg)
Since my wife wanted to use our M.Zuiko 60 mm f/2.8 macro lens I decided to shoot some handheld in-camera focus stacked butterfly images with our M.Zuiko PRO 40-150 mm f/2.8 zoom.
The butterfly above is likely an Owl Butterfly (Caligo sp.) which is found in Central and South America.
![](https://smallsensorphotography.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2210391hhfs1200-1024x768.jpg)
This photographic approach was a good choice for me as It became quickly obvious that I was in need of a skills tune-up when it came to using this zoom lens with handheld in-camera focus stacking.
The butterfly above is a Rice Paper (Idea leuconoe) which is found in Thailand to Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan.
![](https://smallsensorphotography.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2210671hhfs1200-1024x768.jpg)
I was unable to identify the species of the butterfly above as it did not appear to match any of the identification photographs displayed in the lobby of the Niagara Butterfly Conservatory.
![](https://smallsensorphotography.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2210402hhfs1200-1024x768.jpg)
The butterfly above is a Great Orange Tip (Hebomoia glaucippe) which is found in India to Malsyia, China and Japan.
![](https://smallsensorphotography.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2210606hhfs1200-1024x768.jpg)
I was very fortunate to be able to capture this Blue Morpho (Morpho granadensis) with its wings extended and displaying its bright blue colouring. This butterfly is found in Nicaragua to Ecuador.
![](https://smallsensorphotography.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2210499hhfs1200-1024x768.jpg)
The butterfly above is a Clipper (Parthenos sylvia) which is found in India and Sri Lanka through Malaysia to Papua New Guinea.
If you are in the area and are planning to visit the Niagara Butterfly Conservatory more than one time in a calendar year it makes sense to purchase an annual pass. A single admission is currently priced at $19 with an annual pass costing $34. Regardless of when an annual pass is purchased, its duration ends on December 31.
Technical Note
The focus stacked butterfly images featured in this article were captured handheld using camera gear noted in the EXIF data. Images were produced from out-of-camera jpegs. I used my standard in-camera focus stacking settings for these photographs: 10 images were combined using a focus differential of 4. A single, small auto-focus point was used. This is the 1,359 article published on this website since its original inception in 2015.
How you can help keep this site advertising free
My intent is to keep this photography blog advertising free. If you enjoyed this article and/or my website and would like to support my work, you can purchase an eBook, or make a donation through PayPal. Both are most appreciated.
Sometimes all we need as photographers is a bit of inspiration. We hope you can find some of that inside Finding Visual Expression II.
Finding Visual Expression II is available for download for an investment of $11.99 CDN. The best viewing experience of this eBook will be at 100% using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
You may be interested in all of the 30 concepts covered in both of these related eBooks. If so, you may want to also consider Finding Visual Expression.
Finding Visual Expression is available for download for an investment of $11.99 Cdn. The best viewing experience of this eBook will be at 100% using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Our other eBooks include Images of Ireland, New Zealand Tip-to-Tip, Nikon 1: The Little Camera That Could, Desert & Mountain Memories, Images of Greece, Nova Scotia Photography Tour, and a business leadership parable… Balancing Eggs.
If you click on the Donate button below you will find that there are three donation options: $7.50, $10.00 and $20.00. All are in Canadian funds. Plus, you can choose a different amount if you want. You can also increase your donation amount to help offset our costs associated with accepting your donation through PayPal. An ongoing, monthly contribution to support our work can also be done through the PayPal Donate button below.
You can make your donation through your PayPal account, or by using a number of credit card options.
Word of mouth is the best form of endorsement. If you like our website please let your friends and associates know about our work. Linking to this site or to specific articles is allowed with proper acknowledgement. Reproducing articles, or any of the images contained in them, on another website or in any social media posting is a Copyright infringement.
Article and images are Copyright 2024 Thomas Stirr. All rights reserved. No use, duplication or adaptation of any kind is allowed without written consent. If you see this article reproduced anywhere else it is an unauthorized and illegal use. Posting comments on offending websites and calling out individuals who steal intellectual property is always appreciated!
Some very nice images there Thomas. My wife and I were there a few weekends ago. She with her 60mm f2.8 macro and me with my 40-150mm f4 and EM1iii.
I must admit, I didn’t try focus stacking. I’ll have to give that a try next time. I was trying Pro Capture. It’s a challenging environment there as the light can be very flat and low on a cloudy day or it can be overly bright on a nice day. Add in a bunch of persons also to maneuver around, it makes for a fun but at times difficult environment to photograph in.
Hi Derek,
I agree with your assessment that the Niagara Butterfly Conservatory can be a challenging environment in which to photograph. I was toying with the idea of doing some Pro Capture images as you did, but decided that I needed some practice with in-camera focus stacking with my 40-150 instead.
We plan our visits during weekdays so we can avoid the crowds… a luxury afforded to old folks 🙂
Tom