Macro Australian Native Blue Banded Bee

**Digitalis** · 01-12-2016, 04:11 AM - **5 Likes**

I also used a Godox AD180 @ 1/4th power with the gridded snoot to create this image.

FreeSpirit9 · 01-12-2016, 05:05 AM

The only thing that comes to mind regarding critique is, if you would have taken the photo from a higher angle so that all of the bees on the stick would have been in focus and not affected by dof. Of course, coordinating with the bee in flight might pose a problem....

I hope that I explained myself correctly. Other than that, a really great shot. Wish I had native bees in my yard!

**Jacquot** · 01-12-2016, 05:12 AM

Nice photograph of a new insect for me. Is the swarming typical behavior? Very unlike what our bees do. I like the color and lighting a lot.

**Digitalis** · 01-12-2016, 06:06 AM

Originally posted by FreeSpirit9

if you would have taken the photo from a higher angle so that all of the bees on the stick would have been in focus and not affected by dof.

They were on a low branch and I was practically on top of them. I specifically wanted a Bee in flight in the image.

Originally posted by Jacquot

Nice photograph of a new insect for me. Is the swarming typical behavior?

I'm no expert on native bees, but far as I know these typically make underground nesting sites and it has been very warm here in Adelaide, too warm to stay underground. I suspect they are bundling together outside to keep cool.

Last edited by Digitalis; 01-22-2016 at 10:30 AM.

**JensE** · 01-26-2016, 09:45 AM

One of the best BiF (Bee in Flight) pictures I've seen, great timing and lightning - no disturbing reflections.I actually like the slight blur of the bees further back, could even have been slightly more pronounced for a smooth transition to the branch.

One thing that I would change about the picture is to crop it to "portrait" dimensions, maybe 4:3 or 5:4. With a lot of mostly empty space left and right, the bees and branch appear barely squeezed into the frame, whereas cropped they look intentionally tightly framed.

**TER-OR** · 02-10-2016, 02:29 PM

Very cool. They look like leafcutter bees.

These may be males, who don't get to go into the nest holes. I don't know anything about these, but males will have larger eyes than females, extra antenna segments and slightly different "hind ends." These eyes look really big.

Remember, it's just the honeybee which has thousands in a colony with just a few males now and then. You'll see males of all other bees very often sleeping halfway through the day, waiting for their chance for new females to emerge and mate. Males also get eaten more frequently, for just these reasons.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amegilla_cingulata

fg-one · 02-13-2016, 01:27 AM

Nice one, but how about framing like this?

Attached Images

01-12-2016, 04:11 AM - 5 Likes	#1
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Australian Native Blue Banded Bee Lens: Sigma 180mm f/3.5 APO EX Camera: Pentax K5IIs Photo Location: My back yard ISO: 1600 Shutter Speed: 1/180s Aperture: F8 I also used a Godox AD180 @ 1/4th power with the gridded snoot to create this image.

01-12-2016, 05:05 AM	#2
FreeSpirit9 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Queensland, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 557	The only thing that comes to mind regarding critique is, if you would have taken the photo from a higher angle so that all of the bees on the stick would have been in focus and not affected by dof. Of course, coordinating with the bee in flight might pose a problem.... I hope that I explained myself correctly. Other than that, a really great shot. Wish I had native bees in my yard! Last edited by FreeSpirit9; 01-12-2016 at 05:19 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Macro Flying Native blue Banded Bee	eaglem	Post Your Photos!	18	01-04-2014 08:11 PM
Macro Banded Native Bee	eaglem	Post Your Photos!	4	12-27-2012 07:53 PM
Macro Australian Native Bee	eaglem	Post Your Photos!	5	11-10-2012 11:42 PM
Macro Australian Native Bee	eaglem	Post Your Photos!	3	02-10-2011 07:52 AM
Macro Australian Native Black Bee	eaglem	Post Your Photos!	2	05-03-2010 10:59 PM

01-12-2016, 05:12 AM	#3
Jacquot Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sun City Center, FL Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,544	Nice photograph of a new insect for me. Is the swarming typical behavior? Very unlike what our bees do. I like the color and lighting a lot.

01-12-2016, 06:06 AM	#4
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694 Original Poster	Originally posted by FreeSpirit9 if you would have taken the photo from a higher angle so that all of the bees on the stick would have been in focus and not affected by dof. They were on a low branch and I was practically on top of them. I specifically wanted a Bee in flight in the image. Originally posted by Jacquot Nice photograph of a new insect for me. Is the swarming typical behavior? I'm no expert on native bees, but far as I know these typically make underground nesting sites and it has been very warm here in Adelaide, too warm to stay underground. I suspect they are bundling together outside to keep cool. Last edited by Digitalis; 01-22-2016 at 10:30 AM.

01-26-2016, 09:45 AM	#5
JensE Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Leipzig Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,966	One of the best BiF (Bee in Flight) pictures I've seen, great timing and lightning - no disturbing reflections.I actually like the slight blur of the bees further back, could even have been slightly more pronounced for a smooth transition to the branch. One thing that I would change about the picture is to crop it to "portrait" dimensions, maybe 4:3 or 5:4. With a lot of mostly empty space left and right, the bees and branch appear barely squeezed into the frame, whereas cropped they look intentionally tightly framed.

02-10-2016, 02:29 PM	#6
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	Very cool. They look like leafcutter bees. These may be males, who don't get to go into the nest holes. I don't know anything about these, but males will have larger eyes than females, extra antenna segments and slightly different "hind ends." These eyes look really big. Remember, it's just the honeybee which has thousands in a colony with just a few males now and then. You'll see males of all other bees very often sleeping halfway through the day, waiting for their chance for new females to emerge and mate. Males also get eaten more frequently, for just these reasons. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amegilla_cingulata

02-13-2016, 01:27 AM	#7
fg-one Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 293	Nice one, but how about framing like this? Attached Images

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search