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dalantech — Feeding Miner Bee
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#bee #eating #feeding #insect #macro #pollen #sunflower #miner_bee #macrophotography
Published: 2015-07-27 15:42:15 +0000 UTC; Views: 615; Favourites: 20; Downloads: 0
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Description
Tech Specs: Canon 70D (F16, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (2x) + a diffused MT-24EX. This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held.Technique: I injected 2:1 sugar syrup into a Sunflower so the critter would have a reason to let me get close. I shot from a low angle not just because it makes for a better mage but also to get the proboscis and the face of the bee in focus.
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Comments: 9
Amazing, this almost has a touch of not of this world ...macro world sure
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Thanks
Everything looks different, and some things definitely alien, when photographed above life size.
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Another great pic! The color and focus are perfect. The focus is so in line, in fact, that you can see reflections on the surface of the liquid (power lines?). There's a lot going on here.
Having said that the frame seems a bit off balance. There's room, even at this magnification, for more of the subject. I think rotating the flower clockwise a few degrees to get more of the subject in frame, even if any additional body shape is out of focus, would add to the depth of field. There isn't much in the way of background interest to justify the space consumed.
You also managed to capture the upper eyes on the back of it's head. I didn't know those existed! And that one lone pollen makes it look like an inverse pupil. It adds an almost inquisitive nature to the bee, like it's saying 'you're looking at me, I get to look at you'. Almost makes me question where its visual focus is.
Keep up the awesome work!
Gryyphyn
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I agree with your assessment, but not your solution. I wanted this angle so I could isolate the subject and get you to focus on just the head and the proboscis, and I needed them both in focus. Shooting more head on would de-emphasize the proboscis, and being able to see the rest of the bee would not have added much value. I only took two frames of this scene because I knew that there was too much dead space in front of the subject and wanted to take the magnification up to about 2.5x. But when I moved back to adjust the lens a honeybee hit this miner bee and forced it off of the flower. Sometimes the dragon wins
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Fair enough. If I wasn't clear I don't know what the best solution is. I'm still learning how to take my macro further and you're one of the photographers I look to for inspiration.
It would have been awesome if you could have shot the honeybee pushing the miner bee out of the way. Again, great shooting!
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It happened so fast that I doubt I could have nailed the shot even if I had been expecting it, but you're right it would have been awesome
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