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Getting a little bit too close to the bees?

Abstract

Abstract

macrumors Penryn
Original poster
Dec 27, 2002
24,889
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Just some photos I took today. Scary stuff. I absolutely HATE bees. I've never been stung, but I used to be so afraid of bees that I would run around if one was buzzing around behind me. :rolleyes:

Anyway, it was interesting to watch these little guys. I used the 18-55 mm kit lense from my D50 to take the photos, and since I only had a 55mm focal length and not a 200 mm or something, I had to put the camera very very close to the bees to get these photos. I'm talking about within 10 cm (3.5 inches) or so. Since he was inside a flower getting sugar, I'm guessing he would have been stinging my ass until tomorrow if I interrupted him too much.
 

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jsw

jsw

Moderator emeritus
Mar 16, 2004
22,910
44
Andover, MA
Beautiful shots!

Abstract said:
I'm guessing he would have been stinging my ass until tomorrow....
Click to expand...

You must have a novel way of holding the camera. If I took pics like this, I'd've been worried about my face or hands getting stung.
 
M

_Matt

macrumors 6502
Aug 24, 2005
440
0
beautiful pics!

don't be afraid of bees. i was absolutely terrified of them for my entire life and i used to jump right into the pool in the summer if one was chasing me around. then this summer i was at my friend's house playing baseball and i stepped on a yellow jacket nest. i got stung ten times. it doesn't hurt that much. but then again yellow jackets are in the wasp family which aren't bees so i have yet to be stung by a true bee. :(
 
Abstract

Abstract

macrumors Penryn
Original poster
Dec 27, 2002
24,889
921
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Here's another shot of the purple flower, except the bee is a little more out-of-focus, and the flower is more in focus. The rest of the shots I took were from a bit "further away" (I think he was getting a bit upset).

_Matt said:
don't be afraid of bees.......... i was at my friend's house playing baseball and i stepped on a yellow jacket nest. i got stung ten times.
Click to expand...
How does your story and "don't be afraid of bees" statement fit together? :p
 

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whocares

whocares

macrumors 65816
Oct 9, 2002
1,494
0
:noitаɔo˩
Don't be afraid of bees, there're pretty much inoffensive. That is, they are not agressive and won't attack you w/o a good reason.

It's the wasps and hornets you want to watch. ;)


Nice pics. :)
 
ITASOR

ITASOR

macrumors 601
Mar 20, 2005
4,398
3
Ahh, I hate bees. Just looking at those pictures, I feel them crawling all over me and buzzing at my head...seriously.
 
whocares

whocares

macrumors 65816
Oct 9, 2002
1,494
0
:noitаɔo˩
Looks like we're all getting close. :)
But my composition was a bit weak...
 

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Abstract

Abstract

macrumors Penryn
Original poster
Dec 27, 2002
24,889
921
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Is that bad? I think it would be better if the bee was higher up in the 2nd image (and I don't know much about photography, so it's really just a non-technical opinion), but the 1st image is fine.

You could have gotten a bit closer on the first one, though. ;)
 
whocares

whocares

macrumors 65816
Oct 9, 2002
1,494
0
:noitаɔo˩
Abstract said:
Is that bad? I think it would be better if the bee was higher up in the 2nd image (and I don't know much about photography, so it's really just a non-technical opinion), but the 1st image is fine.

You could have gotten a bit closer on the first one, though. ;)
Click to expand...

IIRC, I got as close as my non-macro 70-210 Tamron zoom would let me go: about 90cm. Was about 7 years ago...
 
sushi

sushi

Moderator emeritus
Jul 19, 2002
15,639
3
キャンプスワ&#
Abstract said:
Since he was inside a flower getting sugar, I'm guessing he would have been stinging my ass until tomorrow if I interrupted him too much.
Click to expand...
Actually, sting wise, worker bees can only sting you once because their stinger stays in you. Their stinger has barbs so once in you it comes out of the bee and they go off to die.

Wasps, Hornets, and the like can keep stinging you over and over since their stingers have no barbs and remain in the insect.

If you ever find yourself in a situation were these types of insects become agitated, try to remain calm. They can sense the fear and will attack. This technique has saved me on numerous occasions in the bush.

BTW, nice pics!
 
Applespider

Applespider

macrumors G4
Jan 20, 2004
10,939
1
looking through rose-tinted spectacles...
Abstract said:
Is that bad?
Click to expand...

Most photography books suggest that you follow the rule of thirds in the photography - split the picture into thirds horizontally and vertically and your points of interest should be at the intersections.

So a horizon would never be dead centre but in the top or lower third dependent on whether you've got a foreground. The Eiffel Tower would never be dead centre but off to one side or other.

It's one of those things where if you go back and look at some of your pictures that you really like, you might find that they do actually correspond to the thirds rule - the eye just seems to prefer it. And those which you weren't altogether happy with, just don't quite match it
 
JDar

JDar

macrumors 6502a
Dec 7, 2003
529
2
to bee or not, oh why not.

Honeybees are docile little critters unless you are near their hive which they will defend. When they are out working they could care less that you are among the plants with them. Forget docility with yellow jackets and wasps and Africanized bees which seem to want to go after you no matter what. From experience they don't take well to being sprayed with water.
 

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whocares

whocares

macrumors 65816
Oct 9, 2002
1,494
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:noitаɔo˩
sushi said:
Might find this site interesting:

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...s?q=giant+hornet&hl=en&lr=&oi=imagesr&start=3
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Ok, he wins. :eek: :eek:

But then again, I wouldn't want a giant hornet on my finger. ;)

JDar said:
Honeybees are docile little critters unless you are near their hive which they will defend. When they are out working they could care less that you are among the plants with them. Forget docility with yellow jackets and wasps and Africanized bees which seem to want to go after you no matter what. From experience they don't take well to being sprayed with water.
Click to expand...

How would you feel if some giant being drenched you with water while you were MYOB? ;)
Nice pic. :cool:
 
joepunk

joepunk

macrumors 68030
Aug 5, 2004
2,553
13
a profane existence
Bringing back memories of a time when I was young and a bee or such came right at my face. So, what did I do? I closed my eyes in fright and what do you think happens, the little critter's leg gets caught in my closed eyelid IIRC.

I have never swatted at a bee or hornet. I would just keep on walking.

Lovely shots everyone.
 
Marky_Mark

Marky_Mark

macrumors 6502a
Sep 30, 2005
810
0
UK
I love bees. Taken on my garden wall last summer - you can see the pollen grains on his lil' hairy body! I won a recent nature comp with this one.
 

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