And now for something completely different. Since we are continuing to keep the world at arm's length, I decided to try my hand at macro photography - something I can do without traveling too far from home. I bought a full frame 100mm f/2.8 Minolta macro lens on e-bay ($200, Sony sells the same lens for $900 new, identical optics but a plastic vs. metal body), and tried my luck in our yard. This image is one of the first I shot, a bee on a yellow prickly pear flower. Image stacking was not an option - the bee would not keep still. I had to hand hold to keep the bee centered in the frame. I learned that bees eat nectar - not pollen. In the process, they get covered with pollen which they then carry to the next flower. Sony A77ii, 100mm, f/13, 1/400, iso 400. Post in Lightroom.
This round’s discussion is now closed! 7 comments posted
Very challenging subject caught as well as likely could be. It is a busy busy scene with lots of elements that are almost impossible to consolidate. But it does give the sense of a busy bee. (And I don't want to be a buzz kill). Posted: 06/06/2020 19:43:31
Joe Kennedy
(Group 28)
I, too, have been out and about with my macro lens in hopes of finding some hidden treasures - nothing of note yet.
I did find the overall image almost a monochrome with just a hint of black. The yellow in the bee competes with the yellow in the flower and the yellow/green in the petals (?). There was not enough separation in the tones for my liking. Maybe a tighter crop would enhance the story? Posted: 06/09/2020 13:49:33
Sheldon Wecker
Did some more macro attempts - learned that you can't have a strong cup of coffee in the morning and then try and shoot macro hand held. Posted: 06/09/2020 18:43:20
Peter Elliston
Really good effort for an early macro image. I like the explosion of nectar as this conveys the activity of the bee. Was interested to see you shot this at 1/400 and just wondered if a higher shutter speed might have frozen even more of the bee. Posted: 06/10/2020 03:27:00
Sheldon Wecker
It likely would have. Still figuring it out. Posted: 06/10/2020 08:24:19
John Hackett
I find this picture fascinating. The closeness takes one into a surreal looking world and I like it. A crop from the bottom to a square format might be a help, in my humble opinion. Posted: 06/13/2020 08:48:56
Glenn Rudd
A very well-done "macro" overcoming a lot of technical challenges, especially depth-of- field. The important parts of the image are in sharp focus. I like John's idea of a crop and square format. Posted: 06/13/2020 09:23:15
