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Busy as a bee
Busy as a bee
DrAchoo


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Macro VII (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM
Location: My Garden, Eugene, Oregon
Date: Oct 2, 2010
Galleries: Macro
Date Uploaded: Oct 2, 2010

 You will not understand how frustrating a shot like this is until you try it. I wanted the bee to be completely separated from the flower. No touching at all. The flowers are a bunch of bolted broccoli in my garden. I set my tripod up with my 180mm macro and started trying to follow the bees around (there were lots of them). AF is useless on a macro so it is all manual and trying to anticipate where the bee was going. That strategy didn't work. After a few hundred attempts I settled on picking a nice set of flowers and waiting for a bee to come to it. This worked much better (consider it a tip for those wanting to try). You had to be patient and it seemed the bees KNEW which flower you were looking at and wouldn't go there on purpose, but eventually one couldn't resist and you'd quickly take a burst and hope one had the right focal plane. The 5D2 is limited here because of its slow fps. You'd have a lot more luck if you could take 7 or 10 fps in getting the right frame as the bee flies into the scene.

POST: Three fourths in the last seven entries. Getting kinda old... :P

Statistics
Place: 4 out of 168
Avg (all users): 6.8790
Avg (commenters): 8.1538
Avg (participants): 6.7869
Avg (non-participants): 6.9683
Views since voting: 3214
Views during voting: 291
Votes: 124
Comments: 21
Favorites: 4 (view)

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AuthorThread
 10/15/2010 10:20:29 AM
Jason, I wanted to leave you a comment earlier but no time. Per your usual hallmark work in excellence, the striking impact of this image comes in the form of crisp detail and lighting across his body and the beautiful timing of his flight. Wow! The surrounding environment of the flower seems overly bright to me but that would be my only nattering naybob nitpick.

I promised myself I wouldn't tease about yet another 4th place as my sense of humor probably isn't appreciated as much as I think it is.

The "fun" factor of the skateboard and the metal nuthouse props may be lacking in this image, but personally I enjoy seeing your models portrayed in a more natural setting.

So, did you really need me to tell you "well done" yet again?! Probably not, but that's my two cents anyways...

-Mae
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/13/2010 04:50:51 PM
this is totally brilliant .. so difficult to get ..
bees .. they move so quick, they spend only seconds on a flower and i agree with you, they tease you .. catch me if you can .. !!
i was pretty excited to get beeline but yours is so much better ..
congrats on such a unique and amazing image and the hm .. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/11/2010 02:46:42 PM
Dang, You know how to work that 5D.

Message edited by author 2010-10-15 19:20:17.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/11/2010 08:54:51 AM
Terrific shot. I have taken many many shots like this using your strategy but none turned out as good as this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/11/2010 12:53:46 AM
Congrats, Doc! I wish I could complain about 4th place. :P
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/11/2010 12:36:38 AM
Beautiful! Love that smooth 5D background.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/11/2010 12:21:40 AM
Congratulations on HM! I do appreciate your efforts :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/11/2010 12:03:57 AM
Hey, you pulled it off! Congrats! Just shy of a ribbon, but who could resist a skateboarding snail?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
10/10/2010 11:39:09 PM
Congratulations on your win!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2010 04:28:33 PM
Wonderful! 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2010 01:16:41 PM
Sometimes bugs are overdone in macro challenges, and certainly I've seen enough praying mantis over the last couple of months to last me a lifetime. The beauty of this shot is that it's an action shot on a fast moving (small) subject, and you have the focusing absolutely perfect. Clearly there is nothing "staged" about this shot, and I bet you waited a long time to get one so sharp. The colour palette is great, and the border really add something too (normally I don't like borders much). Great lighting, and a nice overall balance. Top ten, possibly top 5, maybe even a ribbon. Good luck for a strong finish.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2010 03:45:35 AM
Superb!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2010 02:31:54 AM
Very well observed & timed shot ! Excellent shot 7 love the details. I may have preferred to crop from bottom side.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/09/2010 10:38:38 AM
Meets Challenge 8 Impact 7 Technicals 7 Processing 7 Creativity 6 Total (weighted) 7

well done a good image
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/08/2010 09:49:31 PM
Good capture of this flying bee.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/07/2010 12:27:23 PM
How do you do it? Fantastic shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/05/2010 04:49:34 PM
wonderful. One of my favorites in this challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/04/2010 02:12:35 PM
one of the better insect shots in my opinion... nice capture
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/04/2010 09:20:01 AM
Wow!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/04/2010 05:32:03 AM
wonderful colors, clarity and comp.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/04/2010 12:09:47 AM
great title and bee image...nice bg colour
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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