Holding On
by weheh

Comment by FrankRobinson:
Hi Richard, of all the critique zones, in all the websites on the interweb, and you had to walk into mine? How can I critique this??!

I'd be interested to hear about the lighting that you used for this - the shot itself is beautifully structured and technically unimpeachable, but it is the lighting which adds a fair amount of the magic.

I'm also interested because this shot has inspired me to go and shoot my father's bees (he has three hives, but doesn't think he has seen this behaviour there before - I shall find out!) and I am not sure how to light it without distressing the bees.

Sorry it is a slightly shorter and weaker critique than I would normally give, but there just isn't anything to say, apart from "well done!"

Happy hunting,

Frank

Holding On
by weheh

Comment by fisheye:
Very interesting behavior and an excellent shot! Congratulations on winning red!

Holding On
by weheh

Comment by njsabs:
Brilliant image...a huge congrats to you!!!

Holding On
by weheh

Comment by snaffles:
Great shot Richard, good work! Congrats too on the red of course :-)

Holding On
by weheh

Comment by MargaretNet:
I am a bit slow with the Honey but this is an amazing photo. Congrats, Richard! Truly amazing!

Holding On
by weheh

Comment by weheh:
Thanks for all the kind comments, questions and votes. Here is a more in-depth explanation of festooning by Joe Zgurzynski of Country Barn Farm.

[Festooning is] an activity used for multiple tasks. Wax secretion, bridging gaps,
communication, measurement, comb construction. The bee space of one quarter
of an inch to three eighths of and inch is the thing to keep in mind. A
space larger than 3/8 of an inch is filled with comb, less than 1/4 of and
inch is filled with comb. The bee space in the hive is essentially a
communication space. When a gap occurs that is not filled with comb, the
bees close the space with their bodies to maintain hive organization until
the space is filled with comb.

Thanks again, Joe! I have many photos documenting the day and will try to upload them when I have the time.

Holding On
by weheh

Comment by mariuca:
Extraordinary picture well worth the effort. The tonality is splendid also.
I was one of your 35 10s.
Thank you for the blurb. Amazing!

Holding On
by weheh

Comment by grahamgator:
Congrats on your ribbon; this was one of my favorites.

Holding On
by weheh

Comment by Lydia:
Cool! Congrats on your first ribbon, Richard!

I, too, want to know why bees do this odd behavior. Why not just fly there?

Holding On
by weheh

Comment by curtpetguy:
Well done, Richard and congrats