Andrena fulva - tawny mining bee

[AndyP]

Fresh out of the tunnel she was digging, not an easy capture but a new one for me :)

http://i53.tinypic.com/mjy1c1.jpg

[wanda]

WOW!!!!!! Andy this is amazing!

[mingkywingky]

Amazing shot Andy. Love the sharpness of the subject, very nice DoF. Well done.

[eyerkish]

Awesome capture, Andy. The detail is incredible and I like the DOF.

[AndyP]

Thanks for looking and your comment.

It had rained hard in the morning and sun with showers in the afternoon, I was soaked and covered in mud from being laid in the grass, but what fun it was; my poor wife just shook her head when I got home. ;)

Andy

[Kaye]

Andy, this is a great shot. Really good sharpness on the head and eye.
Isn't macro contagious! The superb nature we can view through a lens!

[AndyP]

Hi Kaye, thanks for the comments, macro is so contagious that once you start getting decent shots you strive for more; in the whole set on this one I took upwards of 50 and the result was one on the money. The light was very hard and I was laid in wet grass and shooting with tension, I have to relax otherwise the breathing is off and due to the shallow DOF it really throws everything out. It's a good job we can just hit delete, as with film yesterday would have bankrupted me :) To help me get better results, I have just purchased a quite expensive tripod and ball head, not sure if this will get used on Bee's as they flit around, but should help on the birds and flowers.

Looking at your shots, it looks like you are loving the Nikon :)

Thanks again

Andy

[mj702002]

Hi Andy, Very nice shot- love the clarity on the 'face'...What were your settings and what lens did you use?

[AndyP]

Hi MJ, settings as requested.

Nikon D5000
Micro Nikkor 105mm f2.6 (157mm with the crop)
ISO 400
1/320''
F4.5
Subject distance 320mm

Thanks for looking and asking

Andy

[Kaye]

Hi Kaye, thanks for the comments, macro is so contagious that once you start getting decent shots you strive for more; in the whole set on this one I took upwards of 50 and the result was one on the money. The light was very hard and I was laid in wet grass and shooting with tension, I have to relax otherwise the breathing is off and due to the shallow DOF it really throws everything out. It's a good job we can just hit delete, as with film yesterday would have bankrupted me :) To help me get better results, I have just purchased a quite expensive tripod and ball head, not sure if this will get used on Bee's as they flit around, but should help on the birds and flowers.

Looking at your shots, it looks like you are loving the Nikon :)

Thanks again

Andy

Hi Andy, I am also so glad we are not using film. It allows us to practice and delete as you said. I also would be broke if I had to use film!

I also thank your for posting your settings. I just really want that macro lens! (I sort of feel I am losing interest not being able to try successful macro. Guess I could still pull out my old camera, but as I am learning the D90, I try not to do this. Many thanks.

[AndyP]

Kaye, before I got the Nikon, I bought some close up lenses from fleebay (new) for about £10:00 + postage, they sure got me by until I could lash out the real money ;)

[Kaye]

Thank you Andy. I have never heard of fleebay, guess it is similar to ebay. I think I will look around for a second hand macro lens.

[AndyP]

Sorry Kaye people here call Ebay Fleeybay, there is a thing in the UK called a Flea Market where second hand goods are sold, the name caught on here with Ebay.

There will be a second hand one somewhere.

Sorry again for adding confusion.

Andy