The Lovely Monarch and Painted Lady [Explore #37]

How many of you have wanted to take pictures of butterflies but you've never gotten the chance? Butterflies are usually very skittish and getting pictures can be a lot about luck. It's hard to get close enough before they fly away, but once in a while they hold still long enough that you may be able to take a picture!

However, did you know that there are butterfly farms and houses, as well as special gardens open to the public that are specialized to attract butterflies?! In the United States, there are special butterfly establishments listed in most statws, and many are listed in other countries in the world as well.

In these places, visitors often get to walk into the butterfly exhibit and spend a specified amount of time there. It's a perfect opportunity for photographers to take lots of images of species they have may never seen before, and perhaps their very first butterfly pictures! I was so excited when I found out about this butterfly exhibit at the Jackson County Fair, and I had a fantastic time!

A word of advice if you want to visit one of these places: be sure to bring your flash or at least your tripod! I didn't bring either and was horrified when I discovered how dark it was inside the exhibit. The only reason my pictures turned out at all is because my Canon 5D Mk II features ISO up to 6400, and I have an Photoshop filter called Topaz DeNoise which does an excellent job. Otherwise I would have been out of luck!

If you would like to find out if there's a butterfly establishment where you live, here are some links for you!

The Butterfly Website: Butterfly Gardens and Exhibits
The Butterfly Site: Butterfly Houses, Farms and Gardens

Explored on August 15, 2012. Highest placement at #38.