Straffan Butterfly Farm

YogiBear

www.straffanbutterflyfarm.com

I want to go here to take some photos.. next weekend or weekend after.
I'll be driving up so have room in car for 3 more if anyone wants to go.. or if more than 3 want to go maybe someone else would have transport too...

Dee

AlanMooneyPhoto

Hey Dee,
Straffan Steam Musem might also be worth a visit while you're there.
http://www.steam-museum.com/
Enjoy,
Alan

ike

Was going to post a thread on this at some stage...I was curious to know if the location was good for taking photos, i am assuming it is...indoors, no breezes etc...Been dying to get a good outing with my macro lens.

VERYinterested

Yes it is brilliant for close ups, the butterflies will even land on your hand if you let them. I was there a few years back, it's so hot in there that you'll need to leave your camera to acclimitise for about ten minutes or the lens will steam up.

YogiBear

Are you in Carlow Ike?
Thanks for info on the steam museum Alan & steamy lens info VERYinterested! Nice one!

MartMax

Hi YogiBear

I'd be interested to jump in if there's a free slot. Don't have a macro lens but 50mm will do just fine! Time to play around with it again.

Also if we have an exact date that would be great too so I can confirm. This coming Saturday, I already have plans and the weekend after is Street Performers Championship.

Let me know soon! Thanks!

YogiBear

I don't really mind. If people can't make it the next two weekends and would prefer the following weekend, I'm pretty flexible. It's open Sundays too, I think..
Ike?

ike

I'm in Carlow alright Yogi so would be coming from the opposite direction to yourself - not that it matters. Time is always a bit of an issue for me but i would definately love to make a trip up there. I'm generally only available every 2nd weekend starting this weekend. So I'll let you know asap

Would be good to meet up with a few from here and also nice to have a bit of a captive audiance!

Dara Robinson

This one sounds amazing, I'd love to go. This half of this month is terrible for me but I'd still love to go.

From the weekend of the 21st-22nd onward I'd be able to go. I did not see a date set so I am hoping to suggest one

The weekend of the 21st-22nd? Would one of those days be ok?

YogiBear

21/22 is ok for me... either of these days suit anyone else?

Cool Ike!

Fajitas!

Wouldn't mind a lift down at all!

MartMax

21 or 22 sounds perfectly fine to me!

ike

Tis looking good for me too - if there' nothing else on I'll do my best to be there.

YogiBear

I'll give them a bell then & I'll look up the steam museum too if we have time to pop in there too!

whyulittle

www.straffanbutterflyfarm.com wrote:

In the tropical butterfly house, relax among colourful blooms and exotic planrs while butterflies fly and feed around you.

:eek:

I'm probably alone in this, but God I hate butterflies! The above sounds like hell. Loads of butterflies flying around and landing on you.

Do have fun though!

YogiBear

whyulittle wrote: »

:eek:

I'm probably alone in this, but God I hate butterflies! The above sounds like hell. Loads of butterflies flying around and landing on you.

Do have fun though!

No no, lovely pretty flutterbyes!! Now if they were daddy
long legs... THAT would be hell!! :eek:

Dara Robinson

YogiBear, any room left in that car of yours?

YogiBear

Think so, who's definitely going so? 4? & Ike is getting himself there
What time we leaving at? 7am ok with everyone yeah?

Dara Robinson

I'm a definite

Seems everything is open on Sat and Sun. I'm easy which day we go. As for time... Seems nothing opens before 12 noon except the Straffan Butterfly Farm has some kind of group thing from 09:30. We could go down for earlier than 12 if there are other things to see or do down there. Any ideas?

ike

I'm an early riser Yogi

I can't confirm for definate until closer to the day, but its definately on my to do list. As Dara said it dosen't seem to open before 12 but 9:30 for groups, not sure if 4-5 counts as a group.

YogiBear

No point heading down too early so. Either Saturday or Sunday suits me.

City-Exile

I'd be interested in this.
Depends on work though.

440Hz

whyulittle wrote: »

:eek:

I'm probably alone in this, but God I hate butterflies! The above sounds like hell. Loads of butterflies flying around and landing on you.

Oh im SO happy to read this. Everyone always looks at me like im mad when I say I hate butterflies, but I really do. They are insects with pretty colours, but they are still manky insects. WIth dangly horrible insecty bits. If slugs were pink and yellow and green would we embroider images of them on to clothes, bag, cards etc? NO.

Cringe! Run away from the butterflies, run away!!

MartMax

so, can we do a list of who are on the going list

YogiBear

City-Exile wrote: »

I'd be interested in this.
Depends on work though.

Cool City, take a weekend off for heaven's sake! :rolleyes:

whyulittle

440Hz wrote: »

They are insects with pretty colours, but they are still manky insects. WIth dangly horrible insecty bits. If slugs were pink and yellow and green would be embroider images of them on to clothes, bag, cards etc? NO.

Exactly, big colourful moths!

YogiBear

Preference for Saturday or Sunday?

MartMax

I can only do Sunday this weekend, so if Saturday is the day I'll have to pass.

lostexpectation

what do they do with these butterflys? i could see on the site

quilmore

very beautiful things can be seen in Straffan Butterfly farm
but I could photograph none
condensation is brutal and you end up with 2 options, keep your gear inside until temperature inside lenses and cameras is the same as outside or keep defoging your lens just before every shot, and even that will not be enough

if you ask nicely or wait a bit you can even get a picture of the reptiles from the door where the keeper feeds them

macro lens a must for some creepy crawlies

Dara Robinson

personally I have no preference which day we go. If this is the case for everyone else I think we should go on Sunday to accommodate mart_max

YogiBear

Either day suits me too!

Dara Robinson

I think its time we nailed some details down Seeing as it’s Friday and nearing lunch time

I'm thinking Sunday unless someone else has any objections. I was also thinking that we should organise to meet there at 12 noon (otherwise ppl will want to have lunch before or on the way down and the whole thing will get delayed)

Does anyone else have any thoughts?

Yogi, if there is still a place in your car I'd love it If so can you PM me and we can arrange where I am to meet you

Fajitas!

I'm out I'm afraid! Someday... someday...

MartMax

I'm still in if it's Sunday but don't let me hold you guys if anyone prefer Saturday. Watever the plan on that day, I suggest we get in as soon as we can with hope the weather will be fine all the way we are there.

Yogi, where are you driving from and if we all could go together and meet somewhere that'll be perfect.

YogiBear

I'm living in Rathfarnham.. going to have to look at a map tomorrow. Send me a PM & we can arrange somewhere to meet up then!

Fajitas - next time so!

MartMax

YogiBear wrote: »

I'm living in Rathfarnham.. going to have to look at a map tomorrow. Send me a PM & we can arrange somewhere to meet up then!

Fajitas - next time so!

Sending you a PM now.

Yeah, I was actually hoping to see the famous Fajitas too.

Fajitas!

mart_max wrote: »

Yeah, I was actually hoping to see the famous Fajitas too.

I won't inflict that on you just yet

oshead

I was down there today, Friday afternoon. Mostly to bring my daughter cos she's never seen a butterfly before. :eek: I brougth a camera and a few lenses just incase I wanted to shoot. I didn't take the camera out of the bag in the end. All my time was spent watching the little one. I'll probably go back another time. Though I can't this Sunday.

It's damn hot in there. 32 degrees and very very humid. The lady in charge said it's usually hotter. You would need at least 20 mins or so to acclimitize the camera for the humidity. Thats the main reason I didn't take the camera out. I didn't (couldn't) spend more than 5 mins at a time in there.

There are plenty of good photo opportunities. Unlike wild butterflys, they're not easily spooked. On bright sunny days they spend a lot of time flying about and are difficult to shoot. I suppose you could hope for a dark overcast day. Maybe they'll roost more. Flash is allowed. Just make sure you diffuse well. The wings can be quite reflective.

I think the trick is deciding what lense to use. Any medium to long macro lense would be ideal. I fancied using 70-200mm f/4 IS L with a 1.4 TC and/or 25mm extension tube. That would give very good closeup capebility and the IS would come in handy for natural light shots. As would a monopod, if you have one you should bring it. A tripod would be more trouble than it's worth. I use a bamboo pole held tight against the camera in my left hand for stability.

I hope it goes well for you lot. Can't wait to see the shots.

Dave OS

MartMax

Thanks Dave... i almost want to leave the telephoto lens at home but now u mentioned it, i definitely bring it with me...

oshead

mart_max wrote: »

Thanks Dave... i almost want to leave the telephoto lens at home but now u mentioned it, i definitely bring it with me...

I think i'd only use it with the extension tubes I mentioned and/or a TC. You could test it out before going to see if it suits I suppose.

Dave OS

YogiBear

What time are we leaving at so?

ike

Probably won't make this - if I'm there I'm there...Looking forward to hearing about it and more importantly seeing the photos!

YogiBear

Ah, that's a pity Ike.

ike

Ah sure hopefully I'll get up there sometime - if they opened earlier in the morning I probably would have made.

Pressure's on Yogi! I'm expecting shot of the day from yourself

YogiBear

ike wrote: »

Ah sure hopefully I'll get up there sometime - if they opened earlier in the morning I probably would have made.

Pressure's on Yogi! I'm expecting shot of the day from yourself

Oh great, well it's your fault now if I don't get any good shots, I can't work under pressure!!

MartMax

Yeah, the pressure is on Yogi

Is between 12.30 to 1.30 good time to be there?

And anyone else going then?

YogiBear

That should be fine. Chat in the a.m. so - don't forget to charge your batteries...
& look at the map (V) so I don't get the blame if we get lost!

MartMax

i don't hv good memory or printer.. :pac: but had been to Clane couple of times so hopefully it helps...

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=straffan+butterfly+farm&sll=53.369913,-6.531372&sspn=0.072207,0.21904&ie=UTF8&ll=53.328413,-6.569824&spn=0.144554,0.43808&z=12&iwloc=A

ike

Quick tip wear a black or dark top if you can

YogiBear

ike wrote: »

Quick tip wear a black or dark top if you can

Why so? Just looking at my foreign holiday tops now!