Bee persistent
The other day I had to drive the truck to the southern-most part of our cattle property to pick up the boys (Mr Incredible, my dad and a young jackaroo called Lachy) as they walked a mob of young heifers to a fresh paddock. It’s always hard to know how long these cattle drives will take them, so I managed to arrive a good hour before they did.
Hmmmmm. What to do?
Heh.
I took a walk. I saw LOTS of things, but in this post I want to share a little series that illustrate a couple of very basic rule for capturing a decent photo of animals…
And it has to do with the P word…
Well TWO P words….
PERSISTENCE…
and…
PATIENCE…
Now I am not renown in general life for my patience. (Actually I suspect that very recently I have been particularly impatient with some poor souls who were trying to help me – if you are reading, dear nurses, I apologise!). But the payoff for taking a slow deep breath and just waiting when one is taking photos is pretty impressive.
Now I am not going to pretend these shots are great wildlife images compared to people like Dave Watts and Paul Burwell. (Some photographers take DAYS to set up a shot – I am not recommending that unless someone is paying you well to do it!). However I will be still and watch and see what presents itself. Sometimes a bee will buzz off. And sometimes it will ignore me and go about it’s pollen-collecting business… I love it when I get ignored like that! And when this particular bee buzzed around the other side of the scotch thistle flower, I simply got over top of the plant and shot straight down. A lot.
For my photo nerds, here is the EXIF info:
| Exposure/shutter speed | 0.001 sec (1/1600) |
|---|---|
| Aperture/f-stop | f/5.6 |
| Focal Length/lens | 200 mm |
| ISO Speed/film speed | 400 |
The bokeh (or blur of everything NOT in the shallow plane that is in focus) works well partly because the f-stop is reasonably low (5.6) but mostly because the zoom is right out at 200mm. And I cranked that shutter speed UP to try and freeze any sudden movements that insects like to throw in unannounced.
I might add one of these shots to the 2012 Calendar Possibles list… so let me know which one is your fave.
I know MY favourite but will share it when you have all had your say (let’s see if we agree?)
🙂
BB
9 Comments
Andrew
I like the fifth photo down. Is Scotch thistle a pest in QLD like it is in Victoria.
Andrew´s last blog post ..44 gallons
carol
…and I say the fourth down….”And whatever you do; do it with your might” or something like that. I love his gusto!
Colin (HB)
I think #2 photo – “Where the hell is that stuff?”
You are pretty game getting that close to a bee – I guess you haven’t as yet been stung? It bloody well hurts!!!
Colin (HB)
Leenie
Very, very nice bokeh. Patience and persistence are perfectly portrayed.
Patience is also necessary in the healing process. Don’t know why people in the hospital are called patients. Just about the time a nurse’s charge stops being crabby, they leave.
Leenie´s last blog post ..JACKSON SHOPPING
Bush Babe
LOL -I know I certainly wasn’t!!!! 🙂
Kelly
I like the very first photo because I like the bee in flight.
Kelly´s last blog post ..Random stuff
Lynda M O
My favorite is the one where bee does a headstand and is upside down in the pinkness. The fourth one down, yes.
Bush Babe
Lynda and Carol picked my fave – BOTTOMS UP!!!
😉
BB
PS This doesn’t mean it’s a definite inclusion in the calendar. Still deciding if I have the energy to do one for 2012…
Jennifer
Beautiful shots, love the 5th one!