photographing bees upclose and other insects?

[Christi V]

Has anyone that likes to do Macro shots of bees's etc tryed to freeze them first in the freezer...?? Wonder how long it would take them to thaw out?
I cant seem to get them out in the back yard as they are to fast... Anyways I am always afraid to get stung or have a spider jump on me!!

[Christi V]

wow 53 views and not one answer???? I have asked several questions on this forum and hardly get any replys, or compliments.. I know I am not a professional. just a beginner... I have felt not many have really helped soI will back off from this forum .. i always notice its 'who you are' and mostly people who have been doing photography for yrs.... Just remember you were a beginner once too..

thanks for all the shared advice!!

[Elmo]

There are many tricks currently being used for "bugs" chilling is one. Please do not freeze them that kills them. I will go further: never disturb nature

ok I am on a soapbox

[gturner]

Haven't tried it with bees but tried it with my neighbors kids. Wouldn't do it again at they took 3 days to thaw.


(Why would you kill anything to take a picture of it??? Rule of life, if you are prepared to kill it, you better be prepared to eat it. )

Why not lay out something sweet in a mini-macro studio in the yard

[macromike]

I believe Insects look better alive then dead when photographed. Sure you could put them in the frig to slow them down but that also make them look unnatural and if your not careful you will kill them! I'm no expert but this is how I do it. Use a telephoto lens that has macro capability to capture bees.Because bees are inevitably in sunny areas I usually am at f/8 or higher BUT, the trade off is that I almost always work at ISO 400 or higher to keep the shutter speed up. I also find that, as with many subjects, pictures get better if the subject comes to you rather than being perused. So I find that the trick with bees (even in motion) is to find where they are active, watch their patterns preferably one that seems to be returning to the area you’re watching, be patient and wait for them to come to you this usually means stretching out on the ground and investing at least 30 minutes in the effort. also bring a mat or tarp to lay on that way you wont get bit by a spider or get dirty.........

[i speak in math]

I haven't tried freezing them yet but thats not a bad idea (I wouldn't mind if a few bees died in the process, you stingy bastards)

This guy died when my gf trapped him under a cup


Otherwise, I have always shot bugs as I find them; without interfering.


I slipped some paper under this guy to clean up the ugly countertop he was on.

From Macros

[wildbird]

Wouldnt try freezing them either. I had some pics of dragonfiles in flight (laptop died, so cant post till I get pics off HDD), anyway, method was to have it on highest frame rate, and keep shooting, and also manual focus, moving focus in and out slightly. Mahine gun method, but a few frames worked out OK, but took a few hundred in a very short amount of time. Try and pre focus on a spot where you think a bee will be moving too, and wait. Obviously a good lens helps as well :-) Other thing is to have patience!

[Rehesan]

Originally Posted by Christi V

wow 53 views and not one answer???? I have asked several questions on this forum and hardly get any replys, or compliments.. I know I am not a professional. just a beginner... I have felt not many have really helped soI will back off from this forum .. i always notice its 'who you are' and mostly people who have been doing photography for yrs.... Just remember you were a beginner once too..

thanks for all the shared advice!!

Glad to see I am not the only one who noticed the lack of replies on many threads.

I did a similar comment yesterday and oh God! I received at least four replies strongly criticizing me, saying I was insulting the community, and me or anyone else should not judge DPS in that way, even somebody said how can I expected to have some replies when my english was so badly written.

Anyway, I see your point and I am totally agree.

Talking about your question, I have never tried to freeze a bug, honestly the idea never crossed my mind, the few bugs macro shots I´ve made, were scouting my backyard looking for some interesting bugs I even did a couple of shots in the wilderness on my photo walks, but I never placed any bug, spider, bee, etc., out of its environment, mainly because I do not like bugs, I have a kind of fobia for bugs, he he, so I can photograph them but without touch them.

Here are some shots I did on my house driveway, at the beach and one spider on the wilderness (San Bernardino Mountains), I know this are not 1:1 macro shots, but as per my fobia I also like to shot macros using my macro telezoom and be a little away from the bugs:

[Rehesan]

Originally Posted by i speak in math

I haven't tried freezing them yet but thats not a bad idea (I wouldn't mind if a few bees died in the process, you stingy bastards)

This guy died when my gf trapped him under a cup


Otherwise, I have always shot bugs as I find them; without interfering.


I slipped some paper under this guy to clean up the ugly countertop he was on.

Those are amazing photographys . I think the best is the first one, wow!! what a detail!

[macromike]

Originally Posted by Rehesan

Glad to see I am not the only one who noticed the lack of replies on many threads.

I did a similar comment yesterday and oh God! I received at least four replies strongly criticizing me, saying I was insulting the community, and me or anyone else should not judge DPS in that way, even somebody said how can I expected to have some replies when my english was so bad

I think your rude and somewhat condescending comment is what got people mad. apology aceppted tho...........