Now that the festivities have quietened down, I’ve had the chance to process some of the photos taken of blue-banded bees in our back garden. They were visiting a flowering sacred bamboo shrub and although I often had to wait 30 or so minutes before one arrived, the results were well worth it.
The turquoise blue bands looked more iridescent in real life than I have been able to portray in these images.
I particularly like the puff of pollen in the 7th photo.
It is always a pleasure to share views of these amazing insects with like-minded souls, so thank you for your nice comments.
Although I have been the (glad) recipient of a lot of luck with these particular bee shots, the slow, incremental steps I have taken over the years in tuning equipment, improving my technique and gaining skills in image processing have allowed me to grasp the opportunity of these fleeting moments.
@Andrew – no bees today, the shrub has spent all its pollen…
I've often wondered how macro photographers always manage to be in the right place at the right time - now I know the secret is endless patience!!
Incredible to see just how much pollen they're able to load up with - and in that seventh shot, I can almost hear the bee saying "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaah-TCHOOOO!!"
Awesome Dennis!
Could we have a bit of info on the technical side of those too please? Expect you were using some fairly high powered macro gear in addition to endless patience!?
Canon 7D with Canon 100mm F2.8 macro lens and Canon 580EXII flash. Not to mention the hours in the gym to build up my neck, arms and shoulders to carry the thing.
Manual mode, 1/250 sec, F11, ISO100, AI Servo, Centre point AF.
WOW ... spectacular captures Dennis. Your patience has well and truly paid off here!
Is the next BIMBO session at your place?
Either way, we really need to organise another BIMBO session sometime soon, I'm out of practise!
Beautiful shots Dennis, I particularly love no. 4, the motion in the wings and those stunning eyes, all very well captured! I think it's about time I get back out there and start doing some macro shooting again
Thank you to everyone for your nice words of encouragement. For all the blue-banded bee chasers out there, let me quickly add that this experience has been a totally unexpected aberration compared to my typical attempts, where the BBB flits (maddeningly) rapidly between flowers making it difficult and rare to get a good in-flight shot. It seems that the gods were smiling on me over the holidays!
I’m up for a BIMBO outing although maybe NYE of New Years Day might not be suitable with all the family festivities, etc?
Wow indeed! Another stunning set of shots Dennis. So much to take in with each individual shot, great how the blast of pollen has also been captured mid flight.
Canon 7D with Canon 100mm F2.8 macro lens and Canon 580EXII flash. Not to mention the hours in the gym to build up my neck, arms and shoulders to carry the thing.
Manual mode, 1/250 sec, F11, ISO100, AI Servo, Centre point AF.
Cheers
Dennis
Aha! Just as I suspected - that rig looks powerful enough to scan the bee and reproduce a much larger version for photography. Simple quantum physics.
I see what you mean about having to visit the gym too Dennis
Awesome setup.
Great photos Dennis .. apart from EVERYTHING these pictures detail about a bee so fabulously the composition is awesome .. I also am surprised that with all the pictures Ive seen of bees in my 53 years I hadnt realised until today that they have the equivalent of jag hooks for feet !!!
Once again .. awesome photos, up there with the best of the macro stuff we gat to look at here.
I got to see my first live one yesterday as well. He was quite happily buzzing around the lavender, they are a fantastic sight and the blue really stands out
Either way, we really need to organise another BIMBO session sometime soon, I'm out of practise!
