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Taking Off
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Taking Off

by Shirley Freeman

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted February 25, 20183,430 views3 comments
I took this shot a few days ago.  The wind has been too strong the last couple of days, and now we ar due to get rain, so didn't get to shoot many bee and bug shots on our blooming pear tree this year.  Again, we have been in the 80's a few days here in February, as we were last year, and so concerned that we are going to get another hard freeze on everything like we did last March.  Hopefully not.  I handheld my Canon 7D Mark II, with Canon 100 mm lens, KX-800 twin flash and DIY diffuser.  Settings were f19, 1/125, ISO 100.  Cropped to 65% of original.  Comments and suggestions welcome.

Comments

3 comments
Comment posted by John Tobias on February 26, 2018 at 5:20 PM
I am a bit puzzled given the F-19 and flash why this image is soft.  Maybe because of the larger crop?  I think hand holding you need to use a higher shutter speed.  If you do not want to use a tripod I would suggest a good monopod.  I use a single flash with the Canon 100mm macro and a monopod which helps to support everthing.  You have nice composition and have tackled a challenging subject. TFS
Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on February 27, 2018 at 6:40 PM
Shirley, a fine catch of a bee in flight, which is quite a challenge.  The bee's eye looks nicely sharp to me, the rest of the softness look like the standard limited dof problem that in fundamental in macro/cu photography.  You've got enough clarity in the background to make the setting clear, which adds some fine context.  Hard to believe this is a Feb. photo.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Barb Pflaum on March 1, 2018 at 8:57 PM
Great look at this bee buzzing around the flowers!  Your focus was perfect to get the eye sharp.  
Registered on January 14, 2009, 316 Posts, 2724 Comments