What’s Your Preference?

equilution · #1 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 05:22 PM

Yesterday I posted a picture in "Share Your Shots" of a bee that I took in our front garden. There was an unexpected great response. The underlying tone was that it was some miracle shot. That's far from the truth. Here's the pic, and "How I Took It." Enjoy!

Here was the simply recipe. I used a Nikon D3, a Nikkor 105mm Micro lens, and a Nikon SB-800. I set the camera to shutter priority for 1/8000th of a second, and then let the camera figure out the aperture, which ended up being f/3.5 at iso 800. EV was 0, and WB was set to Auto. Metering was set to Pattern. With a bit better timing than I had, you could probably get a similar result with 1/1000th of a second. That's all the easy part.

The hardest part of this project was getting the bee to cooperate and stay in the field of view. I played with a few different combinations of focusing: single and continuous, with AF set to Dynamic AF. I ended up using continuous with Dynamic AF (9-point). This allowed the camera to constantly change focus while tracking the bee. It took some doing, but after about 30 shots, I finally timed it right and the bee fell right where I wanted him. As a bonus, he happened to be at the same plane as the flower.

I may try to shoot it again at F/8 or so so I can increase the DOF a little bit. Give it a go, and post your results in this thread. I'd love to see your shots!

Seraphinus · #2 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 07:49 PM

I must say excellent shot. I am very impressed that you are able to get that close without being stung.

I will try this, when i find the right bug. Right now all the bees, in my area are dead.It got a little too cold for them. but i will find something

Sera

equilution · #3 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 10:13 PM

Hi, Sera. Welcome to DPS. These bees were pretty docile, and were very busy gathering nectar to worry about me! Good luck with your shots.

douglas · #4 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 10:14 PM

Great picture! You showed a lot of patience!!!

arlon · #5 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 03:49 AM

I used a Nikon D50 and an old manual sunpak 383 flash to freeze mine. The Electronic shutter on the D50 allows it to sync with a manual flash at any shutter speed. Much more flash power than you can get from FP mode with the other cameras and an SB-800. I used F22 for the DOF and an old manual focus 55mm f3.5 micro Nikkor lens.

LArger Version

equilution · #6 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arlon

I used a Nikon D50 and an old manual sunpak 383 flash to freeze mine. The Electronic shutter on the D50 allows it to sync with a manual flash at any shutter speed. Much more flash power than you can get from FP mode with the other cameras and an SB-800. I used F22 for the DOF and an old manual focus 55mm f3.5 micro Nikkor lens.

LArger Version

I remember that shot, Arlon. That's the one that got me trying to freeze the motion. My next step is getting deeper DOF. Thanks!

ckodonne · #7 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by equilution

I remember that shot, Arlon. That's the one that got me trying to freeze the motion. My next step is getting deeper DOF. Thanks!

I don't know...if it were me I wouldn't go too deep. You got fantastic bokeh in your shot. Maybe you could push it a little more so that the other wing comes into focus, but the plant/green bokeh makes a great background and helps isolate the bee and it's wings.

However, that is only how I would take it, the final shot is up to you.

equilution · #8 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckodonne

I don't know...if it were me I wouldn't go too deep. You got fantastic bokeh in your shot. Maybe you could push it a little more so that the other wing comes into focus, but the plant/green bokeh makes a great background and helps isolate the bee and it's wings.

However, that is only how I would take it, the final shot is up to you.

Excellent point, ckdonne. I've really been "focused" on bokeh lately. I think that's why this shot struck me the way it did. I thought the flower and the bee being on the same plane, plus the background really made this shot. Thanks for the observation!

Stella_Bella · #9 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 11:55 AM

I really like the shallow DOF on this one. I think adding too much background in would be distracting.

I tried photographing bees this summer but didn't have much luck. Now that I have a tripod, I'm eager to try again. (In, oh...about 6 or 7 months from now, since I'm in Minnesota, LOL)