putting insects to sleep - DPChallenge Forums

05/11/2005 01:58:46 PM · #1

Quick question -- what is the best way to make a bug "go to sleep" without killing it?

I have captured a wonderful bumblebee speciman, and want ot take a picture of him, but really don't want him able to come after me (he is madder than a wet hen right now).

While I have no personal objections to killing him, it just doesn't seem nice to kill him just for a picture.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

05/11/2005 02:01:00 PM · #2

Put him in the freezer for about 20 min. I did that years ago when I was doing an insect colloection in high school & I *thought* he was dead. Apparently he didn't agree, b/c when I stuck the pin through him for mounting, he started buzzing & trying to get away. Scared me to DEATH!! I felt horrible afterwards.... And I stabbed myslef with the pin!
Sara
:)

cghubbell

Nikon D300

05/11/2005 02:02:38 PM · #3

In most circles, the practice of chilling insects to aid with photography is considered unethical and somewhat cruel. To compound the peer pressure, there is apparently a way that insect experts can detect a chilled bug (according to John Shaw's book, Closeups in Nature) in a photograph.

I would either shoot something that's already dead (we always seem to have a dead bee in a window sill around here) or use a macro lens with greater working distance (ie, 150+ mm). You coud also use a long zoom (200-300mm) with extension or closeup diopters to give you working distance.

I've always believed that especially in nature photography it is important to respect the rights and comfort of your models, whether they be landscapes, or more mobile creatures.

Rankles

Canon EOS-600D/T3i Rebel

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

05/11/2005 02:02:41 PM · #4

Originally posted by saracat:

haha yes, you sicko. Anyhoo yes cold puts them to sleep, dry ice would be best. If that is even gettable.

nards656

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Tamron SP AF 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical IF for Canon

05/11/2005 02:04:24 PM · #5

Normally she would only attempt this if her husband (me) were at home to take care of the bee. Amazing things happen when she is at work where, well, she has to take care of herself

LoudDog

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

05/11/2005 02:05:30 PM · #6

Based on the weight of an average bumble bee, a drop of rum should do the trick.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

05/11/2005 02:06:16 PM · #7

Put the jar in front of a TV tuned to C-Span. That channel could put a rock to sleep.

nards656

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Tamron SP AF 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical IF for Canon

05/11/2005 02:09:12 PM · #8

Originally posted by cghubbell:

I would either shoot something that's already dead (we always seem to have a dead bee in a window sill around here) or use a macro lens with greater working distance (ie, 150+ mm). You coud also use a long zoom (200-300mm) with extension or closeup diopters to give you working distance.

Ummm, have you ever stopped to think that maybe EVERYONE doesn't have a DSLR????

Let the darn thing go, babe, before the animal rights activists take us to court.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

05/11/2005 02:14:53 PM · #9

maybe this is a good excuse to buy me one!! yea, nards, lets go get me a dslr and some macro lenses tonight. whooho.

just kidding.

seriously. I think I actually saved his life, because he was hanging out in a window sill. Maybe in his gratitude he'll pose for me. :)

AS far as detecting frozen bugs, I don't think any of those that can tell will be seeing my picture, so that doesn't really matter. Unless I can get him on an apple or something .. . . . .:)

cghubbell

Nikon D300

05/11/2005 02:17:16 PM · #10

Originally posted by nards656:

Ummm, have you ever stopped to think that maybe EVERYONE doesn't have a DSLR????

Let the darn thing go, babe, before the animal rights activists take us to court.

Fair enough. For a fraction of the cost of an SLR macro lens, most point and shoots today offer adapters for close up diopters and teleconverters. I had that set for my old Kodak dc4800 before I went to an SLR.

In fact, to take it a step farther, yesterday I was shooting rhododendrums from about 1' away. Most point and shoots can do that with their built-in lens, and that's plenty for a nice bubmlebee shot without any capture and freeze.

I respect that my opinion may be controversial because its inconvenient, and they are "just bugs". But to me, a photo of an insect engaged in a natural activity is far more valuable and enjoyable than a posed shot. Take a great shot with any technique you are comfortable with, and enjoy it. Ther eis no universal definition for cheating, so find one that fits your own ethics.

05/11/2005 02:18:22 PM · #11

I really want him flying/buzzing, so if I can just get him groggy, I would be happiest

05/11/2005 02:18:26 PM · #12

Originally posted by louddog:

Based on the weight of an average bumble bee, a drop of rum should do the trick.

Originally posted by karmat:

AS far as detecting frozen bugs, I don't think any of those that can tell will be seeing my picture, so that doesn't really matter. Unless I can get him on an apple or something....

Hey, drunk bugs will do just about anything... y'know this might work for the apple challenge, but I'd use a drop of AppleJack (sp?) rather then rum...
;)
Sara

Message edited by author 2005-05-11 14:18:41.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

05/11/2005 02:20:49 PM · #13

gotta go teach algebra and grammar, among other thngs. back in a few.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

05/11/2005 02:22:49 PM · #14

Chilling the bee isn't all that unethical IMO. Happens to them all the time in the wild, they go dormant below a certain temperature, wake up with no ill effects.

Robt.

sofapez

Canon EOS-10D

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Canon

05/11/2005 02:27:38 PM · #15

You don't have to freeze the bee, just make him chilly_it slows them down, but doesn't hurt them. Test it out take the guy in the jar(or whatever) and put him in the fridge for a few minutes. He will get rather lethargic, take him out and warm him up and..... Then figure out how to keep him chilly long enough to get the shot.

eqsite

Nikon D7100

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

05/11/2005 02:32:08 PM · #16

Don't bee-keepers use smoke to mildly sedate the bees while they are working with them? Maybe a little second-hand smoke would do the trick (although maybe the cancer threat is more unethical than freezing :-p )

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Canon

05/11/2005 02:36:34 PM · #17

Originally posted by eqsite:

Actually, from what I understood from the beekeeper where we took a tour, the smoke isn't what makes 'em drowsy. Apparently what the smoke does is make them gorge on the honey in the hive (to preserve as much of their stash from fire as possible), and, like any puppy with a full belly, they get a little drowsy.
Sara

*edit - spelling and grammar

Message edited by author 2005-05-11 14:37:20.

sofapez

Canon EOS-10D

05/11/2005 02:37:46 PM · #18

Originally posted by eqsite:

They do use smoke, but it would mess up the scene_maybe_and it has no lasticity and really PISSES THEM OFF. I will glad to be (no pun intended) a long ways away from this shoot.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

05/11/2005 02:45:24 PM · #19

Originally posted by saracat:

Don't bee-keepers use smoke to mildly sedate the bees while they are working with them?

Yeah, but lighting all the little cigarettes is more trouble than it's worth. Just chill the little buzzer and be done with it. Like Bear said, it's no more cruel than an Autumn breeze.

Message edited by author 2005-05-11 14:45:35.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

05/11/2005 02:47:17 PM · #20

Jacko may have a few secrets.

Message edited by author 2005-05-11 14:47:38.

peecee

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

05/11/2005 02:47:29 PM · #21

Or get out and capture it in it's natural environment,thats the real way to capture bugs.