Blue Banded Bees.

[hotspur]

Out in our garden today,and could not help but having a go at attempting to photograph these lovely blue banded bees,they are very fast!

The first two images show an older specimen,in image two we can see how he has used his probiscus to cut into the flower-note the cut mark near the bee's top left leg.

Image three is a freshly emerged specimen,his throax is a lovely bright orange.

Hope these are of interest,thanks for looking,Chris

[mangrovedutch]

Ease up Chris!! You'll have me running out of compliments very soon. Great series, again nice and crisp.

Dutch

[hotspur]

Thanks,Dutch-I must have been uploading these,as you left a comment on other insect thread.Yes-Its rather intoxicating this macro photography-really amazing what does live in our garden's.I am using a Canon 60 mm macro lens,a EX 430 flash and a Canon 50D,settings AV 14 speed 200,iso 125,and lots of patience.By watching and observing the bee,like most of nature-there sometimes is a pattern,you can use to your advantage-this bee kept coming back to same flower-please note there were many 'duds'-the third image,I nearly did not post,as its not quite the best-but someone asked about colours-so its basically a reference image.

Thanks-Chris

[DavidTrap]

Very sharp Chris.

DT

[rcheshire]

Great detail Chris. I might try your combination with my 100mm lens. I suspect that the image is slightly underexposed which isn't a problem. The slow shutter speeds I'm using just don't cut it hand held.

[Ric]

Great captures Chris.

The third one in flight is a real beauty.

[bloodhound31]

Absolute rippers Chris! I haven't seen one in my garden for months!

Baz.

[spearo]

Cool hadn't seen these before
frank