To BEE or not to BEE

Dave Bartlett and I intended to shoot wild sunflowers in the fading light yesterday only to be largely foiled by the wind. We spotted some very pretty white flowers (I.D. help please?) with bees working in them. The bees were not particularly cooperative as they would light, stuff their heads deep into the flower and wiggle until coated with pollen. This is one shot that worked reasonably well, though some of my harshest critics thought the bee did not look all that great.

Okay, you harsh critics, here is one of those flowers without a bee. I thought of titling this one, "KABOOM!" as it reminds me of fireworks.

The harsh critics think this macro is too close. I like it though so here it is. I found it necessary to rapid fire to get a shot that was 1) nearly still and 2) in focus. Macro is a challenge.

Now I am afraid to say anything in fear of being labled a "harsh critic"
I like the comp on the second shot and your selection for POF was perfect for my taste on that one. I would prefer to see the Bee's eyes and head though (guess I will get that label now)

The bee looks like he's napping, or passed out from an overdose of pollen. These are all great, and I love that soft light in all of them. As well as your pof and dof choices.

As a harsh critic, I hate all of them! But as a photographer I quite like the 2nd one!

I think your flower is Mentzelia nuda or Mentzelia decapetala, but more likely the first (M. nuda), especially if you were out on the eastern Plains. Common name is Bractless Blazingstar.

I have a collection of photos to help with plant identification at www.easterncoloradowildflowers.com/_c_3frame.htm

The web site isn't searchable yet, but I'm working on it...

I like the bee, though I admit that it would have been obliging of it to strike a different pose. I like KABOOM too, though my inner critic points out that the lower parts of the flower are a bit lost against the OOF white. But nits aside, three nice shots that I'd be happy to have.

Man, you've got some tough critics!! I like each and every one of these images!
There's enough of that bee to know what it is and what it's doing. Do they want a pose, or what?
The composition of #2 is great.Just the right DOF, IMO.
Again, I like the limited DOF in #3.

Great stuff, especially 2 and 3!!!

Very nice Rod! I'm quite fond of #3.

Really nice colors in the first two. I think the bee one is to bee.

Very vibrant and sharp images, nicely done.