Bee at work

Inspired by the fantasic images I see posted on this forum I have been trying ramp up my macro shots. I'm also trying to implement the advice which has been forthcoming flight shots are failing and I'm a bit hit and miss with the ring flash.

1D3 Canon 180mm ISO 400 f/6.7 1/750sec hand held RAW lightroom then resized to post.

Critique, Advice and Comments most welcome

Thanks for looking.

Hi Barry a very nice image.

Phil.

Agreed, Barry yur sure getting there. Don't know the species though?

Never done any macro Barry but I really like this.


Calum

Great capture, I'd be pleased with this. Melissodes bimaculata by any chance? Was it auto or manual focus? Practice certainly makes perfect.

David

Manual focus from the historical advice manual seems the way to go although I'm not always fast enough but then again neither is auto.

I must admit I've been getting excited with the results too some of the earlier frustration is subsiding.

Thanks for all the pushes in the right direction Guy's.

Hi Barry, nice shot certainly getting there, sharpness looks good, however I am not sure about the lighting, it is a bit harsh, I have been playing about with flash for macro the last couple of weeks and have come to the conclusion that soft natural light is best, however that does not help when photographing insects in flight! I haven't solved this bit yet, but I am trying various ways of softening flash ( Andy Astbury gave me some good tips) trouble is the more you soften it the more exposure you loose! But if you could soften light on these shots a bit you would be onto a winner, one final thing I would maybe have cropped out a bit of the rhs of flowers, however this is an excellent shot, well done

Great shot Barry. you are getting there
Bronia

I reckon this is one of the better" bee to flower "shots on here of late. The subject stands out so well. I like it.
No dis- respect to any others
JR

Big,big improvement all round Barry - exposure, comp and processing look pretty much spot on to me - NICE JOB