ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Saturday 11 April 2015

BEES AGAIN. (11/04/15)

I have definitely got a bee in my bonnet when it comes to macro at the moment. I wish I could find some interesting beetles but there are non around that I can see.

This bee was in the greenhouse this morning. 

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_V0G7929     I have been reading about bees and will identify this as an Early bumblebee; Bombus pratorum. It’s a worker as it has a shiny back leg where it puts the pollen. This one hasn’t found any as it is very cold here and keeps raining and sleeting.

All the images will enlarge with a click and I think they are better for not being shot on a mirror. It’s certainly a lot less work though I have had to re-do the scale to black as white on white wasn’t very clear.

That’s all for today.

23 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. R.Mac, I like all insects. they are amazing creatures.

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  2. I remember when I was in First Grade we had this huge poster on the wall of our classroom of a fly with its eyes magnified. It fascinated me then and macro still fascinates me now ~ probably because my eyesight is so poor.

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    1. Carol, I am hoping to get some good ones for print this year.

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  3. The world needs more bumble bees and fewer politicians. Great macros, Adrian,

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    1. Bill, I couldn't agree more. I will have to try and get rid of the shadow.

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  4. You certainly can handle the macro, beautiful images of the Bee.

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  5. These are seriously cool images, enlarged the detail is fantastic I saw a weird been today it looked like one of them whales, narwahl whale, it had what looked like a massive stinger sticking out of it's head.

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    1. Douglas, it sounds like a Bee fly.

      Bombylius major

      I haven't seen one this year.

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    2. Just Google'd it, it was. I had never seen one. Weird insect

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    3. Douglas, they only seem to be about in spring. They make quite a racket when they are flying.

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  6. Wonderful images Adrian... I had one in the garden this morning with a red tail.

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    1. Andrew, there are lots of different ones. The red tailed ones are about here but I haven't managed a photograph yet.

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  7. That sure looks scarey when its enlarged. Beautiful though. And its nice to see such detail. Thank you.

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    1. Pauline, they are even tempered bees. If they do sting it is not particularly unpleasant nothing like a wasp or honey bee not are they as aggressive.

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  8. These are some amazing shots. Shiny spots for pollen? How cool is that to see?

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    1. Red, it was too cold to fly but soon warmed up in the van. I started reading about them as only females sting and I thought it prudent to be able to tell males and females apart.

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  9. Excellent macros Adrian, and great detail.
    Never realised they had shiny back legs.

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    1. Keith, only females do it's for sticking pollen to.

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  10. Wow!...a cracking set of images Adrian, fantastic detail and perfect exposure.
    I agree, much better without the mirror. I notice from the catch lights that you seem to be using only one side of the ring flash? (I'm still getting to grips with my new toy!!)
    More images like these please...it gives me incentive to try harder!...[;o)

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    1. Trevor, they have such big shiny eyes that it was annoying getting two catch lights.
      The mirror was a novelty but I like it for snails and I think a frog would suit it.
      These were shot with the 100mm lens with 36mm extension. ISO 320, F22 at 1/200s. I then pulled the paper back to white using the eyedropper in levels.
      I will try some better sharpening using a mask, I tink the High Pass filter may give me a start.

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    2. PS. and manual focus. I rarely use auto focus on this lens.

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