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Leaf cutter bee approaching nest. (+another image)(+and another)

Discussion

13 replies
Posted by David Taylor on July 9, 2010 at 3:30 PM
Leaf cutter bee approaching nest. (+another image)(+and another)
Having been out all day with our conservation group, clearing Himalayan balsam at Dunham Massey, I managed to get in my garden for 5.30pm and watch a leaf cutter bee bringing leaves for its nest.

Sigma SD14 dslr
Sigma 50mm EX macro lens
Manual Exposure and focus Auto white balance
Sigma ring flash
ISO 100
F16
1/125s
Hand held
RAW processed in SPP4
Finished off in PictureWindowPro,and PS Elements
Framed in Xara Designer Pro 6

:toast: :toast: :jump:
Posted by Austin Thomas on July 9, 2010 at 3:51 PM
Great action David.

I don't know how often these bees brings leaves but I guess you will be keeping an eye on this over the weekend. Looking forward to seeing more.

Cheers

Austin
Posted by Robert Lawrence on July 9, 2010 at 3:57 PM
Brilliant bit of behaviour capture David but the overall aesthetics of the image are spoiled somewhat by the lighting.
Posted by Shaun Simpson on July 9, 2010 at 4:47 PM
Excellent capture but lighting is very harsh, good depth of field though and amazing behaviour :toast:
Posted by David Taylor on July 9, 2010 at 6:02 PM
Thanks for the comments gents. :wavey:

Austin. the bee came and went about every 7-8 minutes in the hour I stood and watched. It took me about half an hour to get my timing right as I had only one or two seconds to focus and frame each time I attempted a shot.

Robert, I disagree the lighting has spoiled the image, on the contrary the strength of the lighting (full sun) enabled me to use an aperture to produce the DOF I required. The flash has adequately replicated the conditions just as I saw them.

Above is another of the images I took.when the sun clouded over slightly.

:toast: :toast: :jump:
Posted by Chris O'Reilly on July 9, 2010 at 6:17 PM
Hi David

While I agree with Robert's comment about the light, the behaviour is very well observed and captured. Very interesting.

Cheers,
Chris
Posted by Craig Jones on July 9, 2010 at 6:35 PM
Brilliant behaviour captured David,love the composition and angle,second for me,wonderful moment caught :wink: :wink: :wavey:
Posted by Bertl Menegoni on July 10, 2010 at 1:39 AM
Good timing David, I like the first one better
its not so contrasty.
:wavey: Bertl
Posted by Karen Summers on July 10, 2010 at 6:18 AM
great interesting bit of behaviour, I like the comp of this to.
Posted by Phil Mclean on July 10, 2010 at 10:17 AM
I agree with Bertl regarding the first one.Good comp and well timed David.

Phil. :toast:
Posted by John Robinson on July 10, 2010 at 3:49 PM
Second for me .
Good natural history stuff ! :biggrin:
JohnR
Posted by Guy Rogers on July 11, 2010 at 4:19 AM
Hello David.

Excellent capture and agree with John very good natural history image.

:wavey: :wavey: :wavey:
Posted by Maggie Campbell on July 11, 2010 at 4:40 PM
Second one for me David, although I like the first too. Brilliantly captured behavour. Something I have never had the priviledge to watch. :smile: :wavey:
Posted by David Taylor on July 11, 2010 at 5:17 PM
Thanks for your comments, folks. :wavey: Unfortunately the next day there was a large spider's web constructed , intersecting the bee's main flight path. Probably this is the culprit which I had photographed the day before. I've not seen the bee again, but I have been working for the last two days. :rolleyes: The image depicts the spider as it was, on its side, in case anybody complains about the comp. :smile: :wink:

:toast: :toast: :jump: