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

I am not sure what damaged this Sweat Bee's eye, but it is not unusual to see that kind of damage. The bee was acting normally, and flew off after it got tired of me sticking the camera into its face. Sweat Bees (Halictidae) are known to bed down together in groups, and there are over a dozen that are using one of my Geranium flowers as a hostel.

Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F14, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to over 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 Sharpen AI and Clarity in that order.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mdS​aJV

Dalantech wrote in post #19265429
I am not sure what damaged this Sweat Bee's eye, but it is not unusual to see that kind of damage. The bee was acting normally, and flew off after it got tired of me sticking the camera into its face. Sweat Bees (Halictidae) are known to bed down together in groups, and there are over a dozen that are using one of my Geranium flowers as a hostel.

Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F14, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to over 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 Sharpen AI and Clarity in that order.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mdS​aJV Dented Sweat Bee by John Kimbler, on Flickr

Good to see you're posting again, love your images, very even light. Got your diffusors perfected?
I've also seen some with damaged eyes, this one was a bit wobbly but after a short wile it flew also away.

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pcs wrote in post #19265781
Good to see you're posting again, love your images, very even light. Got your diffusors perfected?

I would like to use a diffuser twice the size of the ones that I have now, but I think I would lose the control I have over the highlights and shadows. I plan to build a new set this fall, but I am happy with the light quality I am getting now (odd for me to be satisfied with my light).

pcs wrote in post #19265781
I've also seen some with damaged eyes, this one was a bit wobbly but after a short wile it flew also away.

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forum: Macro

Wow, another serious dent! Nice one!

pcs wrote in post #19265780

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I love this image!

Got a bonus in this one.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mec​kvt

Bees find Bluebeards in my garden simply irresistible......

Interesting little bee, but I had no success identifying it. Bugs are a lot harder than birds.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mdv​vin

It is pretty common for solitary bees, like this Sweat Bee, to feel the heat coming off of my skin and climb onto my hand to get warm. A split second after I took that shot the critter got airborne.

Possibly Halictus sexcinctus.

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, -2/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Sharpen AI and Clarity in that order. When photographing subjects with black glossy eyes it is best to under expose the scene by 2/3 to a full stop. Those eyes are like firing a flash into a piece of curved glazed tile, and although the histogram might look good it is easy to overexpose those peepers.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2meN​kMe

Nice shot, and great explanation. That's a neat little critter.

ndcisiv wrote in post #19267278
Nice shot, and great explanation. That's a neat little critter.

Thanks!

They have been a lot of fun to photograph.

Couple of tireless bees today:

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. This one has latched onto a Lavender flower.

Bombus hortorum

Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F14, 1/160, 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/2mfa​fwK

kd_reno wrote in post #19267020
Interesting little bee, but I had no success identifying it. Bugs are a lot harder than birds.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mdv​vin Bee by Ken Drozd, on Flickr

It looks like one of the European Wool Carder bees, but not sure which one. There are two species that I shoot here in southern Italy. Resin Bees also look similar, but they have a white face. Judging by the eye color it looks very similar to Anthidium florentinum but I do not know if that species is in your area.