If I had to single out one experience so far in Boston where I simply stood in awe for several minutes before getting onto photographic work, it would the Butterfly Garden. The Garden isn’t a separate site by itself: it’s a special exhibit housed inside the Museum of Science.
The Garden is currently housed on the second level of the museum, and I was initially leery of going inside, as an additional admission charge was required on top of the Museum ticket itself. But what I saw inside was well worth the price of admission.
The Garden itself isn’t very big. It’s perhaps just about twice the size of our living room. But the temperature and humidity-controlled oasis is filled with hundreds of these free-flying butterflies, and best of all – all seemed very used to the presence of humans among them. How many times have we approached a butterfly to only have it flutter away before we even get near?
In this Garden, the butterflies are near enough to touch. In fact, upon entering the Garden, there was one that was on the ledge absolutely still I initially thought it was a mocked-up model – until a few minutes later, it fluttered away to seek a flower.:)
And these pictures were taken on the Sigma 18-250mm lens. No macro, no f2.8. All handheld shots! An in several instances, the minimum focusing distance of the lens was a hindrance – the lens front element was practically just inches away away from the butterflies.:)
Many more pictures in the Flickr album. I took about 257 exposures in the Garden alone – all within the span of 45 minutes. I took videos inside the Garden, but have to wait for the (free) Vimeo account to refresh before I can upload.
Wah, the photos turned out very nice! Good composition too. Pity that the butterfly in the first photo here has a damaged wing. Still, a good shot :)
Yeah; several of the butterflies’ wings were a little damaged. Not sure why.:(