Have you Ever Chased a Bee with a Camera?
@bagarad (14283)
Paso Robles, California
January 13, 2018 1:55am CST
As I was taking photographs at City Park on a photo walk yesterday, I stopped at a hedge of rosemary. At first I had planned to get a macro of a rosemary flower, but then I saw the bee.
It never fails. When I see a bee foraging in the herbs, something makes me try to photograph it. The only problem is that when I finally get in focus, it moves to another flower. I am never sure whether it will fly to the next flower before or after I click. This is my twelfth shot of this bee.
Do you try to photograph insects that like to move frequently? What has your experience with them been?
18 people like this
20 responses
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
22 Jan 18
@bagarad bees clearly specialize. A bee drawn to tulips will ignore roses etc
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
18 Jan 18
impresive - I don't do macro-photography myself - but this is very good
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
20 Jan 18
@arthurchappell It comes from lots of experience in the same places.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
19 Jan 18
@bagarad great that you know the best places to look
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
14 Jan 18
They certainly do flap -- just as I get them in focus.
@silvermist (19702)
• India
13 Jan 18
Never have photographed bees.But then I have not tried.
1 person likes this
You can't run very fast while chasing them or you will be ahead of them.@silvermist (19702)
• India
17 Jan 18
@bagarad I think I should try it.At least it would be a good exercise,even if I end up not succeeding.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
14 Jan 18
I love to take pictures but have not taken pictures of insects. I guess it would be quite difficult.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
15 Jan 18
@bagarad I may try taking some pictures of insects in the summer and see how it goes.
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
14 Jan 18
It all depends. The larger insects often stay still longer. I got some good photos of a mantis on my mullein plant. The insects that crawl or walk instead of primarily flying are easier. It's the little flying insects that are always moving.
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
16 Jan 18
@1hopefulman I wish you luck. It's not too hard to capture them.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
13 Jan 18
Not a bee but a bumblebee Chasing a bee must have been a time consuming process.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
14 Jan 18
@bagarad You can use the zoom feature for such captures. I do that.
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
14 Jan 18
@allknowing I think I have done that on occasion.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
14 Jan 18
I am guilty of chasing bees. I wanted a photo too!
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
14 Jan 18
Looks to me like you succeeded pretty well, though I can see it wasn't completely still when you shot it. Heck! I have that problem with leaves and flowers. As soon as I'm ready to shoot the wind blows and the shot is ruined. All I have to do to create a breeze is get my camera aimed at a plant part for a macro.
1 person likes this
@cttolledo (5460)
• Legaspi, Philippines
13 Jan 18
I haven't tried that but for sure it's kinda hard
1 person likes this
@cmoneyspinner (9221)
• Austin, Texas
14 Jan 18
LOL. I don't chase bees. I let them fly as far away from me as they can. 
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
14 Jan 18
Honey bees usually aren't interested in stinging you unless you are getting close to their hive. They die when they sting you. It's the bumblebees and wasps I'm afraid of.
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
14 Jan 18
I think it was a happy accident. I just kept shooting and hoped something would still be there or just have landed where I snapped.
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
13 Jan 18
The only " bugs" I deliberately photograph are butterflies, a huge moth and a couple of years ago a praying mantis. My camera is just a point and shoot....no bells and whistles.
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
14 Jan 18
My camera is also a point and shoot. I can't afford a better one right now. I misplaced my favorite camera that I knew how to use well, also a point and shoot, but it wasn't as complicated for me to learn as the Canon Powershot I'm using now.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
13 Jan 18
No, it's hard enough to get a cat to sit still sometimes.
1 person likes this
