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

While trying to photograph this male Blue Mason on a Dandelion he crawled onto my finger. After working with a critter for a few minutes they acclimate to me and stop viewing me as a threat. Small solitary bees like this one can feel the heat coming off of my skin and will climb on to get warm.

Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/125, ISO 200) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to around 3x) + 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. Shutter and ISO set to expose the sky in the background.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2n2U​xK4

That is an outstanding shot!

Pigpen101 wrote in post #19344795
That is an outstanding shot!

Thanks!

I went looking for something to photograph in less than ideal conditions and managed to get a shot of a Honeybee foraging on a Dandelion.

Tech Specs: Canon 90D (F11, 1/125, ISO 200) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to 1x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT, E-TTL metering, -2/3 FEC. This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Clarity and Sharpen AI in that order. Shutter and ISO set to expose the background.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2n3M​sEW

A group of Sweat Bees set up camp in one of my Geranium flowers. They like to sleep under the leaves in groups, and under flower petals. Image taken in Lago Patria, Italy in August of 2021.

Possibly Halictus sexcinctus.

Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F14, 1/200, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to over 2x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT, E-TTL metering, -1 FEC. This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Denoise AI and Clarity in that order.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2n3Y​Gcm

Bumblebee

I found a Paper Wasp nest in our side garden, I was astonished that I had not seen it before given its size and the number of wasps.

Cheers

Dennis

Photo from nardes's gallery.
Image hosted by forum (1145668)

A Paper Wasp on its nest early in the morning. I've got my eyes on you...

I used the Touch AF on the rear LCD to take 5 shots with the AF point on different parts of the anatomy and then used PS CC to EDIT, Align then EDIT, Blend the Layers..

Cheers

Dennis

Photo from nardes's gallery.
Image hosted by forum (1145787)

This newly emerged female European Blue Mason Bee is one of my bees. I raise Red and European Blue Mason bees. She is called blue due to the blue coloration in her skin. The male of this species has no blue at all. She looks menacing, but they are really very chill and are excellent pollinators.

Tech Specs: Canon 90D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to 2x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT, E-TTL metering, -1 FEC. This is a single, slightly cropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Clarity and Denoise AI in that order.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2n4D​u84

Beautiful creature. I have a buddy that's been shooting for the AP for 30 years, about to retire and raise bees in fields of lavender to sell the honey.

When I retire I think that I will have a few honeybee hives out at our farm.

I dug my Helicon FB Tube out of its box and fitted it to the Canon 180mm F3.5L with Extender EF x1.4 Mk III and they played together quite nicely. I used a Canon Remote to fire and hold the shutter.

You need to calibrate the Helicon FB Tube step size related to the specific lens in use, via a Helicon Configuration App, and also set the camera to;

• AF = One Shot
  
• Drive Mode = Continuous
  

Photo from nardes's gallery.
Image hosted by forum (1145938)

Photo from nardes's gallery.
Image hosted by forum (1145937)

Great shots. Looks like he's giving a speech to his minions.

Lester Wareham wrote in post #19348864

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2muW​7XG insect hoverfly A02_15-09-21_001 by Lester W, on Flickr

A marmalade hover?

Paul.