I was on my way back to the car after a long shoot and a long walk along the coast. I saw a few carpenter bees buzzing around some plants as I was going up the stairs. I was to tired to take them seriously until I saw this yellow one pop out from nowhere. I had on my 55mm and was toying with the idea of changing lenses but that meant I would have to clean the sensor as soon as I got back back home, so that was a no go. I only found out these weren’t bumble bees when I did a search on the net. This is the first and only time I’ve come across a yellow version. Apparently this is a male one, and they tend to be couch potatoes.
So gloriously fuzzy that I want to pet him. I do pet bumblers from time to time, but only when they’re busy nectaring. This one in flight is positively great! Fabulous detail and light - that little rimlight is nice to give more separation and distinction to the bee. Thanks for pausing long enough to get this and then to share.
It’s so good, Andre; I want to see more macros from you! By the way, do you use those special swabs for cleaning your sensor? I once went into a shop in Seoul and asked them to clean my sensor. The guy came back out at the end with my camera in one hand and a bit of old toothbrush in the other!
@Mike_Friel Thanks for the comment. Yes, I use the swabs. I have to order them from amazon though, and they take about 6 weeks before I get them. I think I’ll wait it out and take a pass on the toothbrush technique I haven’t taken much shots in the last couple of months but I’m hoping to get out more next month. Hopefully I’ll find some interesting macro subjects,
This is an exceptional bee macro, Andre! I wish you had a little more shutter speed to stop the wings but that’s a minor thing because of all that amazing detail you got on it’s body! Well done!
OK Andre, time for you to do a tutorial: Insects in flight. I have chased a lot of dragonflies around and nailed a few, but they’re not as sharp as this gem. So wonderful to get the yellow species. I assume autofocus and a lot of frames?
Thanks for the comments James.
My insect shooting skills are super basic. I haven’t clocked in any real time in the insect world.
After looking back at my catalog, looks like I shot this 7 years ago, didn’t use burst mode (probably scared to play with the settings and miss the shot) and used autofocus. Probably continuous autofocus.
I remember liking what the light was doing but also trying to minimalise the hot spots on the leaves in the background.
I shot this with an a6000 for about 10mins before I got this shot. The bee was buzzing around the area and eventually it hovered in one place for a moment and I pushed the button. I took 62 frames in total with just a few keepers. Honestly, I think it’s mostly luck and my waiting around that allowed me to get the shot.
I haven’t taken much shots in the last couple of months but I’m hoping to get out more next month. Hopefully I’ll find some interesting macro subjects,