Just Beeing
Capturing bees in flight is my passion, and this capture was particularly special as I managed to capture him in flight and laden with pollen...
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Capturing bees in flight is my passion, and this capture was particularly special as I managed to capture him in flight and laden with pollen
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Aug, 2016Views
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Awards
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Magnificent Capture
Absolute Masterpiece
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Behind The Lens
Location
On a wonderful road trip through the Western Cape in South Africa, we stayed on a friends wine farm called South Hill Vineyards, in the Elgin Valley, and the Aloes were in full bloom, hence the colour of the pollen.Time
The sun comes up really late in the valley so the bees are only collecting from about 11am. It is a wonderful feeding frenzy to observe.Lighting
I was in awe of the natural lighting in the valley. There is minimal pollution, so everything is crisp and clear. I took incredible images around the farm that needed very little editing, the lighting there is magical.Equipment
This photo was taken on my iPhone6S+ using the camera+ app, with macro and burst mode features.Inspiration
I love taking photos of bees, and I share my photos of bees, in strong support of the many #savethebees initiatives. No bees, no food, no life...a frightening observation. I also really, really wanted to produce a shot showcasing wings in motion. I'm still in awe that I managed to capture this image on a phone, with no tripod, or macro lenses. I do so love the world of technology that we are so privileged to be a part of.Editing
This image came up pretty perfect on the phone, it didn't require a lot of editing. I did minimal edits in the Snapseed app on my iPhone. I used the detail feature for structure and sharpening, and vignette for a slight tweak of outer and inner brightness. I am in awe of the quality of photos produced by a phone, and some amazing apps.In my camera bag
An iPhone6S+...only, and loads of wonderful apps. All my photographs that I post to Viewbug are taken with, and edited in, my phone. I'm not a fan of lugging equipment, and I love the fact that I can see a photo opportunity, stop my car, grab my phone, and capture a moment that would have been totally lost, if I had to do a whole setup.Feedback
To capture something as difficult as tiny bee wings in motion, you need to have a burst mode setting. I took at least 30 shots of this bee coming into land on a flower, and only 3 of them were acceptable to use. Capturing a subject as tiny as a bee needs a lot of patience, and a steady hand. Using a tripod is an option, but I like being able to move around freely, using my phone. I do think that capturing wings in motion is all about timing. I have taken hundreds of photos of bees coming in to land, and very few are worthy of sharing. There is an advantage when they are laden with pollen, like this little guy, because they are a bit slower, so they are easier to capture.
