Humming Bird Hawk Moth

[Hacker]

I've only ever seen one of these and that was about 2-3 years ago, apparently they migrate from the South of France when the weather conditions are right but are not seen very often.

I have a large lavender bush outside the front of my house and I went out to capture some bees, after a couple of minutes I noticed the Moth hovering in front of the flowers and eating the nectar with it's long probiscus, looking just like a humming bird, hence the name. Game on! Trying to follow him around was challenging as he was so quick but I did not want to miss the opportunity as who knows when I'd see another. After about five minutes he was gone, although I stayed out there just in case he returned.

Here are some of the images I managed to get and there are a couple more in my gallery:

http://gallery.talkphotography.co.uk/data/500/Moth099.jpg

http://gallery.talkphotography.co.uk/data/500/Moth053.jpg

http://gallery.talkphotography.co.uk/data/500/Moth082.jpg

http://gallery.talkphotography.co.uk/data/500/Moth019.jpg

[RobertP]

Nice :)

So what are you doing settings wise when you are chasing and how far away are you? Far enough away for AF?

[Hacker]

With this subject I was about 2-3 feet away using manual focus on my Sigma 180mm macro, shutter priority at 1/600th or 1/840th which would give me around f/5.

[CT]

Excellent! Not easy to grab shots like those. :clap:

[rich846]

Great stuff! Those wings must have been going some speed to keep that monster up in the air :)

[GfK]

Excellent! Not easy to grab shots like those. :clap:
He cheated.

You can see the wire he attached it to the plant with :lol: :cuckoo: :D

[Janice]

WOW you lucky thing! First to be visited by this wonderful insect, and secondly that it stayed long enough for you to get your camera.
Great shots.

[Gary Bagshawe]

Wow, that 1st shot is fantastic

[Arkady]

Yeah 1st shot is the best of these. Good stuff - I'd never have the patience myself.

[noah]

another vote for the first, stunner!

[VJS Photography]

:thumbs: great shots

we have them in our garden here amd hopefully some lavender too if my seeds keep growing, got nice clumps in two pots so far :)

[Boon]

jesus hacker, was you in a helicopter at the side of it, amazing clarity, and excellent DOF.
Cant pick a winner thought..

[Venomator]

Very good shots Colin esp the first ... and I do know how hard this little bugger is to catch ... photographically ... :thumbs:

We have a fairly regular visitor and the best I've managed so far is here ... http://gallery.talkphotography.co.uk/showphoto.php?photo=3156&cat=628

My self imposed challenge is to get one I will be pleased with ... how long have I got ... :p

They are one of our few day flying moths so can be easily picked out ... but not so easily pic'd ... :shake:

[matty]

very nice! never seen one of those

[minimeeze]

Great shots there (even if it is a hideous moth). I saw one of these for the first time last year and spent ages looking on the net to see what the hell it was :lol: