Nature Bee in mid flight

Bee in mid flight · 04:48 AM

Been trying to get one of these shots for awhile. Taken with DAL 55-300mm.

Bee in lavender bush.

Edit: Updated to show larger picture.

Peter Zack · 04-08-2010, 05:30 AM

Looks pretty sharp although the shot is a bit small here. It's a tough one to get and looks very good.

shawnxji · 04-08-2010, 06:43 AM

This is very nice, I got a few of those bee-and-flowers shots but the bees weren't in-flight. My "tele" is only 70mm so that also makes it more challenging.

Shub · 04-08-2010, 09:50 AM

Looks really nice! That's definitely one of my 'to buy' lenses, how are you liking it?

And another thing, how close were you to this? My longest lens that I actually use goes to 135, I have no idea how far away this would be haha.

Nomad · 04-08-2010, 09:56 AM

That is a great shot for a non-macro lens! I have the DA version of the 55-300 and absolutely love it too

Tuner571 · 04-08-2010, 10:29 AM

Nice job on trying to get this capture, however, it looks like you missed focusing on the bee just slightly. But it is still a good capture none the less.

Nice job!

geezer52 · 04-08-2010, 10:41 AM

Nice composition, nice colors, a bit soft but still a good capture.

**ChipB** · 04-08-2010, 10:54 AM

Very difficult to catch those guys in mid-flight!! Nice job!

I too have the DA 55-300 lens - one of my favorites and most used!

eyew · 04-08-2010, 02:09 PM

Originally posted by Shub

Looks really nice! That's definitely one of my 'to buy' lenses, how are you liking it?

And another thing, how close were you to this? My longest lens that I actually use goes to 135, I have no idea how far away this would be haha.

Very happy with the lens. I actually already have one in this range (Sigma APO 70-300mm) but got this from the Marketplace anyway as it was cheap. Might sell the Sigma later as the DA L is lighter and wider at 55 even though it doesn't have macro.

Was roughly about a meter away. The bee focus is a bit soft but was pleasantly surprised with the result nevertheless.

Plankton · 04-08-2010, 02:26 PM

Great shot, I tried practically all summer last year and only got yellow blurs. Even though the bee isn't in perfect focus it is still a nice photo.

Cheers

PentX Girl · 04-08-2010, 03:31 PM

I guess this shot has created quite a buzz

patrickw · 04-08-2010, 04:35 PM

I did some bee photography with the DA 55-300 recently. The auto focus wasn't quick enough to catch 'em flying at and away from the lens, so I had to focus manually. (There were a lot of blurry shots in the roll, trust me.) I really enjoy shooting bees even if it can be frustrating trying to get that one perfect shot.

**rparmar** · 04-08-2010, 05:05 PM

I find a monopod is great for these shots. It supports a heavy lens but still lets you move around to get the shots (unlike a tripod).

Patience is also a virtue. Rather than chase the bees, wait until they come to you.

eyew · 04-08-2010, 06:05 PM

It was a bit of a lucky shot as well - didn't even see the bee initially when just shooting the lavender bush. And it was a pretty slow bee compared to others I've tried (and missed) shooting.

I normally run the other way rather than chase bees but feeling more brave with the 300mm :-)

Danny Delcambre · 04-08-2010, 07:16 PM

Very Perfect Cool.

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04-08-2010, 05:30 AM	#2
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	Looks pretty sharp although the shot is a bit small here. It's a tough one to get and looks very good.

04-08-2010, 06:43 AM	#3
shawnxji Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: DC Metro, USA Posts: 212	This is very nice, I got a few of those bee-and-flowers shots but the bees weren't in-flight. My "tele" is only 70mm so that also makes it more challenging.

04-08-2010, 09:50 AM	#4
Shub Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 163	Looks really nice! That's definitely one of my 'to buy' lenses, how are you liking it? And another thing, how close were you to this? My longest lens that I actually use goes to 135, I have no idea how far away this would be haha.

04-08-2010, 09:56 AM	#5
Nomad Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Maine Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 408	That is a great shot for a non-macro lens! I have the DA version of the 55-300 and absolutely love it too

04-08-2010, 10:29 AM	#6
Tuner571 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Ohio Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,549	Nice job on trying to get this capture, however, it looks like you missed focusing on the bee just slightly. But it is still a good capture none the less. Nice job!

04-08-2010, 10:41 AM	#7
geezer52 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: High Desert, California Photos: Gallery Posts: 231	Nice composition, nice colors, a bit soft but still a good capture.

04-08-2010, 10:54 AM	#8
ChipB Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Eau Claire, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,701	Very difficult to catch those guys in mid-flight!! Nice job! I too have the DA 55-300 lens - one of my favorites and most used!

04-08-2010, 02:09 PM	#9
eyew Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery Posts: 34 Original Poster	Originally posted by Shub Looks really nice! That's definitely one of my 'to buy' lenses, how are you liking it? And another thing, how close were you to this? My longest lens that I actually use goes to 135, I have no idea how far away this would be haha. Very happy with the lens. I actually already have one in this range (Sigma APO 70-300mm) but got this from the Marketplace anyway as it was cheap. Might sell the Sigma later as the DA L is lighter and wider at 55 even though it doesn't have macro. Was roughly about a meter away. The bee focus is a bit soft but was pleasantly surprised with the result nevertheless.

04-08-2010, 02:26 PM	#10
Plankton Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Shelburne, MA Posts: 131	Great shot, I tried practically all summer last year and only got yellow blurs. Even though the bee isn't in perfect focus it is still a nice photo. Cheers

04-08-2010, 03:31 PM	#11
PentX Girl Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,700	I guess this shot has created quite a buzz

04-08-2010, 04:35 PM	#12
patrickw Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: United States Photos: Gallery Posts: 104	I did some bee photography with the DA 55-300 recently. The auto focus wasn't quick enough to catch 'em flying at and away from the lens, so I had to focus manually. (There were a lot of blurry shots in the roll, trust me.) I really enjoy shooting bees even if it can be frustrating trying to get that one perfect shot.

04-08-2010, 05:05 PM	#13
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819	I find a monopod is great for these shots. It supports a heavy lens but still lets you move around to get the shots (unlike a tripod). Patience is also a virtue. Rather than chase the bees, wait until they come to you.

04-08-2010, 06:05 PM	#14
eyew Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery Posts: 34 Original Poster	It was a bit of a lucky shot as well - didn't even see the bee initially when just shooting the lavender bush. And it was a pretty slow bee compared to others I've tried (and missed) shooting. I normally run the other way rather than chase bees but feeling more brave with the 300mm :-)

04-08-2010, 07:16 PM	#15
Danny Delcambre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 550	Very Perfect Cool.