dalantech

I really like photographing these little female sweat bees as they forage for pollen in Sour Grass flowers because it's really difficult. When it's windy they can't tell the difference between the breeze and me grabbing onto the flower to keep it still. But today there was almost no wind. Lots of deleted frames.

Pretty much perfect conditions to find a lethargic solitary bee. It was sunny in the early afternoon, but the temperature dropped and it rained. So this little guy's metabolism tanked and I was able to get some photos.

Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 200 due to Highlight Tone Priority) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (4x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT with a Keiser adjustable flash shoe on the "A" head (the key), E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC, second curtain sync). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held.

Pretty much perfect conditions to find a lethargic solitary bee. It was sunny in the early afternoon, but the temperature dropped and it rained. So this little guy's metabolism tanked and I was able to get some photos.

Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 200 due to Highlight Tone Priority) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (over 2x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT with a Keiser adjustable flash shoe on the "A" head (the key), E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC, second curtain sync). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held.

Technique: It was warm enough earlier today for the solitary bees to get active but a storm front came through, temperatures dropped, and it rained. So the critters got active and their metabolism tanked when they got cold and wet.

What you're seeing in the photo (other than a picnic table that desperately needs cleaned -bad weather and cats) is a male Red Mason bee on a flower. I cut the flower's stem and put it in a wood clamp (I carry several in my camera bag). Behind it are three flowers that I bought at Ikea and twisted together. I can change the color of the background simply by rotating it.

I've got my left hand on the table balled into a fist, and I'm resting the lens on that same hand.  With everything on the same platform (the table) it's relatively easy to keep everything steady. I manually focus the scene by moving my hand and/or the lens. Sometimes I'll use a similar technique but instead of using a clamp I'll just hold onto the stem of the flower with my left hand and rest the lens on that same hand. Works pretty much the same.

Cool temperatures slowed this little guy down enough so I could get a few photos. I dragged the shutter to expose for the natural light in the background.

Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/60, ISO 200 due to Highlight Tone Priority) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (about 4x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT, E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC, second curtain sync). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held.