POST YOUR BEE SHOTS (any non-butterfly all pollinators are welcome - wasps, etc.)

Dalantech wrote in post #19336298
This European Blue Mason Bee is emerging from its cocoon. The female creates cells (usually in reeds or other hollow cavities), makes a pollen ball inside of a cell, and lays an egg on it and then closes that cell before making another one. When the egg hatches the larvae eats the pollen and spins a cocoon in about ten days, becomes a fully formed adult near the end of summer, "hibernates" through the winter and waits for the spring to emerge. The yellow bits stuck to its fur are left over pollen that it did not eat when it was a larvae.

Osmia Caerulescens, male.

Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to about 2x) + a diffused MT-26EX RT (E-TTL metering with -1/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Sharpen AI and Clarity in that order.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mZe​zZy Emerging European Blue Mason Bee II by John Kimbler, on Flickr

[QUOTE=Pigpen101;19336​395]Crazy good shot, love the eye![/QUOTE

Yep, that’s a beauty!

Thanks!

After making some modifications to the diffusers that I built for the MT-26EX RT macro twin flash I decided to make a brand new set from scratch. The diffusion is so good that the specular highlights are merging at life size magnification and it looks like I am shooting with a single light source. This will be my light quality for 2022.

Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/125, ISO 200) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to 1x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT, E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC. This is a single, slightly cropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Sharpen AI but did not use Clarity. Shutter and ISO set to expose for the natural light in the background.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2n12​zzb

A Hairy Footed Bee was a rare visitor to my yard when I lived in Bacoli, Italy and I have yet to see them in Lago Patria. Image taken in March of 2020.

Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to over 2x) + a diffused MT-26EX RT (E-TTL metering with -1/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Sharpen AI, Clarity, and Denoise AI in that order.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2n1p​Kwa

Found a little Scissor Bee (Chelostoma florisomne, male) semi active in a Buttercup flower and when he would pause I'd look for a new composition.

Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (4x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT, E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC. This is a single, cropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Sharpen AI, Clarity, and Denoise AI in that order.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2n1x​jEz

Dalantech wrote in post #19337965
After making some modifications to the diffusers that I built for the MT-26EX RT macro twin flash I decided to make a brand new set from scratch. The diffusion is so good that the specular highlights are merging at life size magnification and it looks like I am shooting with a single light source. This will be my light quality for 2022.

Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/125, ISO 200) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to 1x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT, E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC. This is a single, slightly cropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Sharpen AI but did not use Clarity. Shutter and ISO set to expose for the natural light in the background.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2n12​zzb Foraging Honeybee III by John Kimbler, on Flickr

That is looking really great diffusion. I am looking forward to the details of the new set

PSteven wrote in post #19339383
That is looking really great diffusion. I am looking forward to the details of the new set

Thanks! I posted a shot of them in the macro talk section (Page 3 of this post). Also picked up a Canon 90D.

Interesting. I've read the 90D is awesome for macro. The sensor is supposedly a big jump from the 80D. Images are looking awesome!

Pigpen101 wrote in post #19339436
Interesting. I've read the 90D is awesome for macro. The sensor is supposedly a big jump from the 80D. Images are looking awesome!

Big improvements in the light meter, and for natural light closeups better subject tracking.

I must have caught this female Sweat Bee right as she started foraging for Sourgrass pollen because she does not have any on her abdomen. Image taken in Bacoli, Italy in April of 2020.

Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to about 2x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT, E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC. This is a single, slightly cropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Sharpen AI, Clarity, and Denoise AI in that order.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2n1C​aLm

Nomada fucata

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2kTM​UcS

Dalantech wrote in post #19339396
Thanks! I posted a shot of them in the macro talk section (Page 3 of this post). Also picked up a Canon 90D.

Oh great- thank you. I hadn't checked in here for a few days so just seen your message. A quiet time of year for macro for me but sounds like I need to have a play with my diffusers.

PSteven wrote in post #19341603
Oh great- thank you. I hadn't checked in here for a few days so just seen your message. A quiet time of year for macro for me but sounds like I need to have a play with my diffusers.

Hit me up if you have any questions. I might start a thread on light quality and how to diffuse a flash for macro in a small space in the Macro Talk section.

I noticed this Mining Bee cleaning out debris from her nest and camped at the entrance to see if I could get a few photos. Once she decided to come out we played "BeeKaBoo" cause I accidentally scared her back down into the tunnel a few times. Image taken in Bacoli, Italy in May of 2020.

Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to almost 2x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT , E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC. This is a single, slightly cropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Sharpen AI, Clarity, and Denoise AI in that order.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2n2r​P9v