Bee in air by flower

[kirbinster]

Fullsize image

I wish the bee were sharper, its tough to catch them in mid air. But, if I closed down the lens to get better depth of field then the background would be sharper too - which I did not want. Any recommendations?


Exposure time: 0.0012 s (1/800)
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO equiv.: 200
Exposure bias: -0.67
Focal length: 200.0mm
File date: 2007:07:23 10:57:19
Camera model: NIKON D40

[thekevinmonster]

I think the bee's not so much unsharp as it is much dimmer than the flower. Perhaps a little fill flash would have helped? (I just got an external dedicated flash so everything i look at, my brain is going, 'I would use fill flash there!'...)

That would brighten up the bee, which would possibly help with it looking sharper, but it wouldn't affect anything about the background.

[hora]

i love the composition of this shot. the bee doesn't seem like its out of focus to me. i'd say the bee is just flying at an awkward angle and it's a little hard to make out its shape.

[clockdoc]

I think you did a great job with what you have posted! I would guess that it is a matter of shooting many, many exposures to get the one that will be "just right." I agree with 'thekevinmonster' regarding a little flash fill if possible. Many of us only have the onboard flash with low, mid and hi ranges but some have more advanced flashes with power as low as 1/16.

[phlyersphan]

The bee doesn't seem out of focus to me. In the larger pic, you can still see his furry back and those wings a-flapping! Great catch

[miles]

I like it also, I wish the color was a bit brighter on the bee, in comparision to the very bright flower.

[ToddC]

Great composition. Good DOF which provides a very nice background. I use the same lens and it is very tricky getting this type of shot. The AF can be a little slow at times. (I'm assuming you used AF. )

[Overexposed !]

Hey Kirbinster, I think your capture is is perfect. So what if the flower is brighter (they usually are). I have never even come close to capturing a super shot like this, probably never will! - jimmy

[Todd]

Hey I tried to make it sharper? I am a novice when it comes to the post process. I hope you dont mind me expierementing on your bee.

[kirbinster]

Originally Posted by Todd

Hey I tried to make it sharper? I am a novice when it comes to the post process. I hope you dont mind me expierementing on your bee.

Thanks, but in the small size (even the larger one) I could not tell very well. Could you either tell me what you did or point me to a place to see a larger size of what you did. Thanks.