The trouble with bees.

[Dave Watkins]

They never stop moving!  When you have to chase the bees around and roll the dice on composition how do you make these shots better? Is it just spray and pray or do I need more patience and set up the shot and wait for the bee to follow the rule of thirds? 🙂

Pentax K-1 II. Pentax D FA 28-105mm 3.5-5.6. @ 88mm.

1/1250, f/9, 1000 ISO.

[Tom M]

Insects are tough to photo. I’ve been amazed of some photos,especially dragonflies that have posted here recently…

 

[Dave Watkins]

I agree Tom.

[Kent DuFault]

That’s a dang nice bee shot if you ask me. From a composition point of view… I would probably crop some unnecessary image area off of the left and right. Turn the image into a vertical. This would help reinforce the the flowers as a composition ‘frame’ to the bee.

I would also use some localized editing (the adjustment brush in the Photoshop or Lightroom) to reduce the exposure on the flowers a bit.

This does several things. It removes the bright highlights that want to drag the eyes away from the bee. It also deepens the color saturation adding some beauty to the shot while also strengthening the frame.

Finally, and this is completely optional. I added a very light vignette. I did this to reinforce the eyes to move inward.

I did not see the Rule of Thirds as being applicable here. I chose to crop the image in a way that placed the bee dead center, and then the composition becomes one of symmetry.

[Dave Watkins]

Thanks for the feedback Kent. I did a little of most of what you suggested. I just didn’t go far enough. I like your edit better. I seem to have developed a bad habit of reaching a point where I say to myself that’s good enough instead of continuing to explore more avenues of post processing an image. Thanks again.

 

[beth]

this crop works great, it frames the bee perfectly while still giving it enough background context.

[Dave Watkins]

I agree. I like it a lot better than mine.

[Erik Fransman]

Good changes Kent. Nice shot Dave. Nothing to add after Kent.

[Dave Watkins]

Thanks Erik.

[Robert Apple]

Kent pretty well covered it.

[Dave Watkins]

Yes he did. I really appreciated his comments.

[Federico Alegria]

Kent’s suggestion is the final period about this shot Dave. Congrats on capturing those tiny unstoppable wings!

[Dave Watkins]

Thanks for the comment Federico. Was lucky to have the sun in the right spot to reflect off the wings.

[beth]

great bee in flight image.  actually, you’ve been posting a lot of great bee shots lately.  love the bright purples in the flowers.  i commented above on kent’s crop, to me that is the perfect framing for what must have been a fun focusing exercise.

when the insects are stationary (or at least not flying around) you can take the time to compose a little better.  when they’re flying just do what you need to do to get a shot.  you can crop off one side later to make a better comp.

[Dave Watkins]

Thanks Beth. It was fun. Their flight path changes so rapidly I knew I needed plenty of DOF to keep them in focus and a fast shutter speed to stop the motion. Even on a bright, sunny afternoon with the sun directly overhead it took an ISO of 1000 to get the job done. Cropping as much as I did I thought noise might become a problem but I think it looks alright. I appreciate your feedback.

[Tobie]

A little but of luck and a lot of patience! 🙂

[Dave Watkins]

I won’t disagree Tobie. 🙂

[Mistyisle]

Before I saw the comments, I thought a bit of cropping was needed, Dave.  My thinking was at the left and from the bottom, however I have not actually tried it, whereas Kent has.

VG capture!

[Dave Watkins]

Thank you Mistyisle. Yep. I thought Kent did a mighty fine job.

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