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The Bees and the Hibiscus

Using my new close up lens (Canon EF 50mm f-1.8 STM), the hibiscus have been producing pollen at a fantastic rate and the bees are back having a ball....
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Using my new close up lens (Canon EF 50mm f-1.8 STM), the hibiscus have been producing pollen at a fantastic rate and the bees are back having a ball.
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Jul, 2016

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Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken in my garden during the summer.

Time

July 20, 2016 @11:06am

Lighting

The weather was pretty hot and there was a bright midday sun.

Equipment

This was shot with a Canon EOS Rebel T5 using a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens, handheld with no flash firing. Camera settings: 1/1000sec f/5.6 iso400 focal length 50mm.

Inspiration

I created a pretty extensive garden with tons of perennials so that I would not have to plant annuals. I have been pretty sick with CRPS (RSD) for the past few months and unable to do very much. When these pictures were taken, I was partially immobile and had just taken up photography as a hobby. I discovered that I was a natural with the equipment and thought it would be fantastic to capture the garden as it was at it's peak. There are many hibiscus along the driveway and these were in full bloom, some flowers being up to 14" in diameter. The bees were all over these flowers, they were everywhere but they were friendly to me, I thought it was time to capture as many of them doing their thing as I could. I was able to get pretty close to them and using the 50mm was like using a macro lens, it was amazing, you could see the pollen dust all over the bees bodies as they go from flower to flower.

Editing

I used LightRoom for auto toning as well as contrast, blacks, and vignette to make the flower outstanding. I also used the cropping to enlarge the bees at work. I have had this picture enlarged to 16" x 20" and infused on metal (aluminum). I have it sitting on my studio wall.

In my camera bag

Since I am fairly new to photography, I have only my Canon T5, 3 Canon lens (50mm, Zoom 75-300mm, EFS 18-55mm, TAMRON 90mm macro (recent)). I have extra batteries, lens cleaner and I carry a monopod (Koolehaoda) with a Zomei Z818 rotating ball head. A set of filters and extra memory cards.

Feedback

To capture this kind of action requires a bit of patience and a very steady hand if you don't have a tripod or monopod. Now that I have a monopod, it is a lot easier to capture these shots, however I have learnt that you need to use very fast speed (at least 1/1000 sec), and the use of a macro lens or 50mm f/2.8 can do the trick. I have been keeping the iso down to 100 on most of my shots since I have this desire to blow these pics as big as possible without noise. This pic was iso400 f/5.6 to control the light. Photographing bees require a bit of guts since there will be many of them flying from flower to flower and they need to know that you are not scared and you are not interfering with their work.

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edstines

edstines

The Bees and the Hibiscus

Using my new close up lens (Canon EF 50mm f-1.8 STM), the hibiscus have been producing pollen at a fantastic rate and the bees are back having a ball.... Read more

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow edstines

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Using my new close up lens (Canon EF 50mm f-1.8 STM), the hibiscus have been producing pollen at a fantastic rate and the bees are back having a ball....
Read more

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Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.