Insects

Matt Doogue

Matt Doogue is a macro photographer, conservationist, outreach teacher and speaker on mental health. He has collaborated with BBC Earth, National Geographic and Canon and his images have been featured in many of the UK’s top photography magazines. To see more visit www.mattsmacro.co.uk or follow him on Instagram @matt85

Observe behaviour

Spiders can be skittish, especially non-web-building spiders, so it’s key to know how and when to approach them. As with most insects and arachnids, early mornings and late evenings are the perfect times. Spiders are best approached from ground level and very slowly. Any shadows cast over them or fast movements will scare them away, so take your time, watch and study them to understand their behaviour.

Check the forecast

Butterflies are cold-blooded insects and generally won’t fly on cold, overcast days. But in full sun you should see them making the most of the warmth. While they tend to be more approachable in the early mornings when it’s cold, as they need to spend time warming up, images like this one are still possible in the heat of the day if you are patient and wait for them to pause.

Matt’s new book, Close-up: The Complete Guide to Macro Photography, (published by Ilex) is packed with tips, personal experiences and beautiful imagery. To find out more, visit www.ilexinstant.com

Switch to manual focus

Many insects blend in so well with their environment that the autofocus system on your camera can’t tell the difference between the subject and its surroundings. This is why most macro photographers use manual focus. Switching to MF puts the control back in your hands. By moving your camera’s focus ring, you can select exactly where the focus lands. It takes practice, but time and