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Thistle Magnet

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted June 21, 2012173 views9 comments

The thistle's all spent now, but back in May it was widespread throughout Texas this year..
Here's another attempt at getting more of a head-on shot of this common honey bee.
F/11, 1/800th, ISO 640, 1D M3, Sigma 150mm f/2.8 + Kenko 1.4x ext.
Monopod for support with flash. Although I try to not use flash whenever possible, sometimes one has no choice in the matter.
Thanx for lookin'

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Rick Turner on June 21, 2012 at 9:24 AM

You are the thistle man Howard. Great action on the busy bee.

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Grabski on June 21, 2012 at 1:19 PM

Oh Howard, what a perfect capture. Beautiful shot of a very messy eater.

Registered on April 29, 2011, 122 Posts, 431 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on June 21, 2012 at 2:05 PM

Great capture, Howard. Perfect timing and perspective/angle. The fact that the bee is covered with pollen puts this over the top. The light looks very good with use of flash not really evident.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on June 21, 2012 at 6:18 PM

That bee needs to wash its face!

Wow, what a collection of pollen. Neat shot! Funny, it seems to be missing a wing.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on June 22, 2012 at 1:06 AM

WOW! You got a picture of a bee in flight...and it even has the pollen on it!!! That's talent right there

.

One question, though. Is one of its wings missing? If so that sure is a poor little fellow!

Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments

Comment posted by Roger Leekam on June 22, 2012 at 11:57 AM

Howard, excellent shot1 I love the pollen-covered bee & his full rear leg sacs. Goob you were able to take him at1/800. I've shot these at 1/1600.

Registered on May 28, 2009, 83 Posts, 646 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on June 22, 2012 at 6:59 PM

This is pretty incredible Howard, great freezing the action!

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on June 22, 2012 at 7:41 PM

To Mark & Jenaya. I have to tell ya, you both made me smile..
Just in case you really do need an explanation?
Normally you need to shoot this a bit faster with my setup, I got lucky at 1/800th. The flash did help to stop the action a bit though..BUT at this s-speed you often only see a slight wing blur or sometimes nothing at all.
Capiche?

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Toya Heatley on June 22, 2012 at 11:59 PM

I love this shot, the detail is stunning. I am a little distrubed by the missing wing but the rest of the image more than makes up for that.

Registered on June 13, 2012, 36 Posts, 98 Comments