Arizona Bee -- First Attempt at Macro

My first attempt at macro work outside of boring product photography. The boss rented the lens
for a few close up shots we needed but I decided to have some fun with it when work was done.

Let me just say, I had immense amounts of respect for you macro guys...this is TOUGH.
The wind blows, the bugs move, and the DOF is insane. And THEN you focus stack!
Much respect!

This was handheld, outside, and windy. There was no way a focus stack was gonna happen,
but this little guy and I both paused for a moment in the heat and he let me snap a few.
Any ideas on the species?
Natural light...I suddenly appreciate ring-flashes like crazy...


100mm f/2.8L
1/160
f/5
ISO 640
Rebel T3i / MagicLantern

Lovely NL Shot!

Not bad for a first attempt. Now get the boss to get a permanent macro lens and become a fanatic! I can't help on the ID.

Lovely capture - possibly a wool carder bee
http://bugguide.net/no​de/view/79032/bgimage

Brian V.

nice shot.
sure looks like a wool carder bee,to me also.

Great first macro shot!

Definitely get yourself a macro lens

Pretty good. The wind has sucked for the afternoons and into the evening here in AZ, huh? I've only been going out in the mornings before the wind picks up these past few days.

hey guys!

thanks for the comments! Yeah the wind was being a total pain...somehow he held on, the wind died for a moment and then there it was.
I definitely NEED this lens ( ) but I know I can't talk them into it...our website needs *at least* $1200 in work--more than I need a $1200 lens.

Gotta save my pennies. Still, I'm having a blast with it, and you guys are mega talented with your stacks in here...my gosh!

I would recommend a cheap set of automatic extension tubes (I got some recently for under 50$) + a 50mm or the 18-55 kit lens as a very cheap alternative.

Very nice first attempt! Macro photography is fun!

For central Arizona, it is either a Western honey bee or an Africanized honey bee. However, it's impossible to tell without dissection.