One more Blue Banded Bee shot

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Archive 2010 · One more Blue Banded Bee shot

melkor
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p.1 #1 · One more Blue Banded Bee shot

This one is around 2:1 by my maths (the others were probably closer to 1.6 to 1). 12 and 36mm Kenko tube, 50mm f1.8 and 2x TC. Still not entirely happy with the lighting on these higher mag shots, had to push this by half a stop in DPP. Was worried noise would be really bad and ruin the image, but it seems OK to my eyes. Light is a bit harsh on the tail section and it's not quite sharp across the body either, didn't quite get it parallel. I guess there's always next time.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

She seems to habitually sleep on the same stem nearly every night. Same spot 2 nights in a row, and she was going to go there the first night I saw her. Whilst I'm keen to get as many shots of her as possible and make the most of this rare opportunity, I'm only taking a few shots here and there so as to not upset her. The last thing I want to do is to spook her.

Anyways, I'm off to bed, it's 2am. Thanks for looking.

Dave

Feb 05, 2010 at 04:06 PM

JohnCogan
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p.1 #2 · One more Blue Banded Bee shot

If I could get a bee shot half as good I'd be happy, my bee shots never come out, hence why I've never posted any on sites

This is superb, great background, your lighting looks good to me, what is your diffusion system?

Feb 05, 2010 at 04:12 PM

melkor
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p.1 #3 · One more Blue Banded Bee shot

LordV Coca Cola diffuser, 430ex flash, mounted on hotshoe. This was at +1 FEC. Oh, and I had a torch locked to the "on" position pointing upwards from directly below the Bee (about 6" below it). There's a brick wall around 1.5 feet behind the where the Bee is roosting, it's just close enough to give a nice bokeh background.

I forgot to mention in my original post, this has been rotated. The original was 90º counter clockwise to this. The image probably works just as well in either direction I suspect.

Dave

PS I usually suck at Bee shots to be entirely honest.

Feb 05, 2010 at 04:16 PM

Gary Thompson
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p.1 #4 · One more Blue Banded Bee shot

a great shot Dave. Lighting is real nice.

Feb 05, 2010 at 05:08 PM

JohnCogan
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p.1 #5 · One more Blue Banded Bee shot

And there I always thought bees go back to the hive to roost

Feb 05, 2010 at 05:19 PM

melkor
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p.1 #6 · One more Blue Banded Bee shot

Thanks Gary. Lighting would have been better if I didn't have to push it half a stop in DPP in PP. Oh so much to learn...

John - not always. Typically female Blue Banded Bees will roost in holes in the ground, whereas males perch on stems. I'm a bit surprised to see her roosting on a stem, but grateful nevertheless. These are solitary Bees - they do not use a hive at all. Females tend to live by themselves, males will sometimes perch together on the same stem. Blue Banded Bees have a special technique for gathering pollen, which they use to nourish themselves or feed their young.

Dave

Feb 06, 2010 at 12:43 AM

LordV
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p.1 #7 · One more Blue Banded Bee shot

Wonderful capture !
Brian v.

Feb 06, 2010 at 07:20 AM

Bandi
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p.1 #8 · One more Blue Banded Bee shot

You're getting some great shots of this girl now Dave. She certainly is a looker!

Feb 07, 2010 at 04:09 AM

melkor
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p.1 #9 · One more Blue Banded Bee shot

Thanks Brian & Anthony.

Dave

Feb 07, 2010 at 09:45 AM

Goldenorfe
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p.1 #10 · One more Blue Banded Bee shot

beautifull bee, very nice lighting
phil

Feb 07, 2010 at 04:46 PM

rxoyhyyynywx
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p.1 #11 · One more Blue Banded Bee shot

I have a crush on these bees. And you aren't helping. Great work.

Feb 07, 2010 at 09:35 PM


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