Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum
Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register
Check out Underwater Photography Forum section of our forum.
True Macro-Photography Forum
Leaf Cutter Bee in flight
Page 1 of 2 next>
Jul 24, 2015 07:45:18   #
Crazytooth Loc: Suffolk, UK
 
Leaf cutter bee stocking a nest in fence post bolt hole. Tripod mounted and manually pre-focused. Several shots until one was in focus!
Canon EOS 6D with Canon 100mm Macro lens, hotshoe-mounted Canon 430EX II speedlight set to High speed sync, ISO 800, 1/4000-sec at ƒ/8.0


(Download)

Reply
Jul 24, 2015 10:38:54   #
pfrancke Loc: cold Maine
 
:thumbup: :thumbup: Love this shot.

Reply
Jul 24, 2015 11:30:43   #
Crazytooth Loc: Suffolk, UK
 
Thanks

Reply
Check out Infrared Photography section of our forum.
Jul 24, 2015 11:39:52   #
tinusbum Loc: east texas
 
these were building a nest in a wind chime last year,nice shot!

Reply
Jul 24, 2015 13:21:07   #
Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA
 
Excellent example of pre-planning and patience. Well done! :thumbup:

For anyone interested in this technique, here is a primer:
FAQ: High-Speed Synch (HSS aka Auto FP) Speedlight Photography
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-74372-1.html

Reply
Jul 24, 2015 13:40:59   #
infestation Loc: Brampton, Cumbria, UK
 
Very nice, worth the wait

Reply
Jul 24, 2015 14:08:06   #
Crazytooth Loc: Suffolk, UK
 
Thanks for looking and your comments

Reply
Check out Close Up Photography section of our forum.
Jul 24, 2015 14:23:58   #
pfrancke Loc: cold Maine
 
Did you attempt these shots at a lower shutter speed? Can you describe your flash (was it diffused?, etc). What were the light conditions?

I have never attempted HSS and am curious about what you think about that technique and what it offers. Knowing an insects projected path and pre-planning the shot is a wonderful idea! I assume you used a remote shutter?

Reply
Jul 24, 2015 15:06:12   #
Crazytooth Loc: Suffolk, UK
 
This was my first day of ever using HSS. What I initially was trying to do was freeze the wings.
I tried longer shutter durations, but I got too much movement from the whole insect.
For macro work with this lens, I am stuck with f/8 if I want to maintain image quality.
It was bright sunny day, but with f/8 at 1/4000-sec, it makes very little difference.
I had a cheap eBay diffuser cap on the flash, which was mounted on the camera hot shoe (I need to get a lead so I can HSS off camera). I then tried some hand held shots. If I can nail the focus, then HSS eliminates camera shake!
I will post an example with same settings but no tripod.


(Download)

Reply
Jul 24, 2015 15:36:23   #
pfrancke Loc: cold Maine
 
Thank you Douglass for the link, and thank you Crazytooth for this information. Yeah at 1/4000-sec and small aperture, I imagine things get dark. So upping the ISO on a camera with nice low-light characteristics becomes an option up to a point. And I am guessing that the more/better the light is diffused, well that might make for a nicer image in one sense, stealing further light would be a cost.

I was thinking about the remote shutter more from a comfort and staying away from flying bees/hornets thing. I imagine the pre-focus is pretty much a requirement as by the time the camera achieved focus, the bee is probably long gone.. So then it becomes a game of guessing when to pull the trigger for a burst of shots (I'm guessing AI-servo). I guess a motion detector might serve as a trigger for a pre-focused shot also.

Anyway, I guess if a bee is hovering, auto-focus might work, but if the bee is taking a bee-line, then manual might be all you've got. (just thinking out-loud, but not necessarily clearly)

Reply
Jul 25, 2015 22:36:31   #
bigwolf40 Loc: Effort, Pa.
 
That is a great shot.

Reply
 
 
Jul 25, 2015 23:42:41   #
LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field
 
Impressive.

Reply
Jul 26, 2015 00:29:25   #
thephotoman Loc: Rochester, NY
 
Thank you everyone for the info and links.

Reply
Jul 26, 2015 23:56:48   #
Macronaut Loc: Redondo Beach,Ca.
 
:thumbup:

Reply
Jul 27, 2015 14:14:58   #
randave2001 Loc: Richmond
 
This is about as sharp as it gets. Well done! :thumbup:

Reply
Page 1 of 2 next>
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
Check out Panorama section of our forum.
True Macro-Photography Forum
UglyHedgehog.com - Forum
Copyright 2011-2024 Ugly Hedgehog, Inc.