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Dusted Bee



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This bee was jsut having a good ol' time hanging out in this flower blossom. Shot with my 60mm macro on the 80D.

This bee was jsut having a good ol' time hanging out in this flower blossom. Shot with my 60mm macro on the 80D.
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People's Choice in Your favourite flower Photo Challenge
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World Photography Day Photo Contest 2018Top 10 rank week 1

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Behind The Lens

Location

Right outside in my own yard! Though the blossom is from a bush that belongs to my neighbor.

Time

This was in the mid-afternoon. I had just come home from work, and this bee was swarming the bushes. Ran inside and got the gear out!

Lighting

I used my special flower shooting technique. This involves strapping a flexible reflector to my speedlite, and then aiming the flash straight up and bending the light straight down. It kind of forms a bounce flash area that I can then place in front of the camera. Works pretty good for macro shots, and is great for flowers as it often gives them a nice glow. Only works with short barrels though, and pancakes are best, even if on a tube.

Equipment

Canon 80D, EF-S 60mm F2.8 Macro, Flashpoint Li-on Speedlight, Rogue photographic Flashbender, and me!

Inspiration

I wanted so bad to get a nice bee shot, but it was a slow year for bees. So when I saw this one coming along I about panicked that it might fly off before I could get it. I really only wish I had opened the DOF a bit more, as with macro it tends to be so thin.

Editing

I use Adobe Lightroom for post processing. Nothing extreme, just typical tweeks to exposure, white balance, and crop. I know some folks like to "keep it straight out of camera", but the thing is that no camera can make an image that looks as it did in real life. The camera is just not able to see the world the way our eyes do. So we have to take control and get it to look as real as it can. Of course, it's always a good idea to get as much right in the camera as you can first, since you can't take something bad and make it good. It has to be good from the start, I don't care how strong your post game is!

In my camera bag

Too much! Two Canon 80Ds, 17-55mm F2.8, 70-200mm IS II F2.8L, Sigma 50mm F1.4 (a lens without equal in it's class), Sigma 105mm F2.8 macro or Canon EF-S 60mm f2.8 (I interchange them based on where I will be, I don't have room for both), Canon EF-S 24mm F2.8 STM, Kenko extension tube set, 67mm and 77mm polarizers and ND filters, 2 Flashpoint flashes, spare batteries and mem cards, flashbender, spare strap, various tools and spare caps, trigger, snacks if I am going to be gone all day, cleaning kit, and a Vanguard tripod with pan head. All that fits into a Lowepro 450AW backpack (awesome), and sometimes also has a Canon 100-400mm IS II attached in a case on the outside! I know, it's insane how much gear I carry, but I'm a big guy and it doesn't bother me. Also, I am away from home a lot, and I never really know what I will be shooting most days. I just come ready for all, and let the adventure lead me where it will!

Feedback

For nature shots you have to be really patient. You have to keep your eyes open for the opportunity and be willing to wait for a long time for that one great shot. Most nature is very skittish, and will run as soon as they see you. Try to get as close as you can, even if you can zoom in being closer is a good idea. It can be very tedious, so learn to be patient if you are not. In the end when you are sorting the shots and you get that one that makes you stop dead in your tracks, then that means you did it right. Good luck, and have fun, or else why bother!

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