Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
The Swarm
‹ PreviousMacro & Close-up GalleryNext ›

The Swarm

by Jim Zablotny

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted January 12, 2014165 views7 comments
One of my honeybee colonies decided to swarm in mid-August and this is a portion of the swarm which was about 8 pounds of bees. The bees were situated on the front portion of the new hive and were all piling in to their new nest location. This particular swarm was very placid and I was not wearing any protective gear. K5IIs 300mm Da* f4 f6.3, 32mm extension f6.3, fill flash. Topaz Detail, Levels............Jim

Comments

7 comments
Comment posted by Carolyn Derstine on January 12, 2014 at 3:51 PM
Well, this picture sure illustrates "busyness". :smile: I like your top-down and frame-filling view of this bee swarm. Most of us don't get to witness in real life, such a close-up view of a bee swarm (or desire to be this close! :rolleyes: ) Wow, 8 lbs. of bees and no protective gear! It's good they felt placid that day. . . :wink:
Registered on February 16, 2011, 610 Posts, 3684 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Fach on January 12, 2014 at 6:10 PM
Jim: How cool is this?! Frame filling fantastic and a marvelous look at a behavior I'm unfamiliar with. 2 thumbs up! >=))>
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments
Comment posted by scott lanz on January 12, 2014 at 8:25 PM
Great up close capture of the bee activity, Jim. I love the way the bees are every which way. This would make a great jig saw puzzle for masochists. Excellent detail. Not sure I would be this brave to get so close. No, I actually am sure that I would not be so brave.
Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments
Comment posted by Roberto Facchini on January 13, 2014 at 9:33 AM
Well done. The image makes the continued work of the bees. Good detail.
Registered on November 15, 2012, 35 Posts, 202 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 16, 2014 at 4:26 PM
Cool, and filled to the brim with life :cool:
Great macro image Jim :toast:
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on January 23, 2014 at 12:24 PM
Thank you for checking out these honeybees. They are fantastic and often misunderstood creatures. I usually run into several swarms every year and most are quite approachable. This swarm originated from a hive that was over 6 feet tall including all the honey supers. Unfortunately, they chose to swarm in August and most late season swarms fail to survive. The parent hive died out in November and this swarm colony was still buzzing the last time that I checked all the beehives. Scott--I may have to print this out for a jigsaw puzzle. It would be a challenge...................Jim :wavey:
Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 30, 2014 at 11:52 AM
Really like this - a perspective that few of us will ever have -
congrats on the WP~
Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments