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

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mdf​LDJ Yellow-faced Bumble Bee by Ken Drozd, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mdE​q4z Sweat Bee by Ken Drozd, on Flickr

Long time no post, and I have a few bee photos to share

The natural light looked decent so I decided to break out the long glass and take a scenic shot. So many Sweat Bees foraging in my Sunflower that it looks like an airport.

Tech Specs: Canon 80D (aperture priority F8, 1/800, ISO 800) + a Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II with IS on. E-TTL metering, (-2/3 EV). 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/2mdf​dfw Sweat Bees in a Sunflower by John Kimbler, on Flickr

This Sweat Bee is on approach to land on a Sunflower, and has started to drop his landing gear. One of the few times that day when the Sunflower was empty.

Tech Specs: Canon 80D (aperture priority F8, 1/800, ISO 800) + a Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II with IS on. E-TTL metering, (-2/3 EV). 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/2mdo​QqV Sweat Bee Approaching a Sunflower by John Kimbler, on Flickr

I spotted this Sweat Bee bedding down in a Geranium flower and I tried twice, early in the morning before work, to get a shot. But it's been so hot lately, 24C (75F) at 6AM, that I could not get close. I guess the third time is a charm because I managed to get the shot that was stuck in my head into the camera.

Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F14, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to 2x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT with a Kaiser adjustable flash shoe on the "A" head (the key), E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Denoise AI and Clarity in that order. I used my hand to keep the background from being black.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mcZ​1Vt Sweat Bee in a Geranium Flower by John Kimbler, on Flickr

I had another early morning session with a European Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium florentinum) that was snoozing in my Lavender. This one has a lot of scratches on its eyes, and that happens when they clean them due to the barbs that they have on their legs. For this shot I focused on the leading edge of the bee's mandibles and then twisted my wrist to push the top of the frame deeper into the scene. The result is a "magic angle" that creates the illusion that there is a lot of depth.

Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F14, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to under 2x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT with a Kaiser adjustable flash shoe on the "A" head (the key), E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Denoise AI and Clarity in that order. I used an artificial flower to keep the background from being black.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mcN​dph European Wool Carder Bee by John Kimbler, on Flickr

I went out to my sister in law's place in the mountains above Itri, Italy at 5:30AM to photograph the Bumblebees in her Lavender. There were several that were already awake and foraging in the 17C (62F) temperature.

Bombus hortorum

Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F14, 1/200, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to about 2x) + a diffused MT26EX-RT with a Kaiser adjustable flash shoe on the "A" head (the key), E-TTL metering, -1 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Sharpen AI and Clarity in that order. I used an artificial flower to keep the background from being black.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mcv​Xt8 Bumblebee on Lavender by John Kimbler, on Flickr

There were a lot of flower bits in the foreground so I cranked up the magnification to frame them out.

Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F14, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to over 3x) + a diffused MT26EX-RT with a Kaiser adjustable flash shoe on the "A" head (the key), E-TTL metering, -1 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Sharpen AI and Clarity in that order. I used an artificial flower to keep the background from being black.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mbW​tKT Bumblebee Portrait II by John Kimbler, on Flickr

The temperature (around 17C / 62F) slowed this Crabronidae Wasp down enough for me to get close.

Sphex funerarius

Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F14, 1/160, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to about 3x) + a diffused MT26EX-RT with a Kaiser adjustable flash shoe on the "A" head (the key), E-TTL metering, -1 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Sharpen AI and Clarity in that order. I used an artificial flower to keep the background from being black.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mbD​Kw3 Crabronidae Wasp Portrait by John Kimbler, on Flickr