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adamreid
August 08, 2017
This is a beautiful capture! I'm curious as to what lens you used. I can never seem to get zoomed in enough to fill so much of the image and retain such focus as my lens(es?) only have a certain focus distance. thank you for sharing such an amazing image!
MylesNewberryPhotography
August 15, 2017
Its a Tokina AF 100mm f/2.8 Pro D Macro Lens. Its regarded by many as the best macro lens made! Its also surprisingly affordable as far as lens go. I have been really pleased with the results I have got with the lens. there is a companion shot that is part of my banner that was shot on the same day, if you look at the shot of the bee, in the thistles you can see another insect. The shot I have on my banner is of the same tiny insect I was trying to get the bee, but the little one just stood out, that is with the same Lens. One of the things I have discovered with macro that there is such a fine line between having all the the subject in focus, and back ground stuff you don't. Just like anything with photography there is a little luck involved sometimes. But when you have the right gear, and you shoot a lot, it amazing how much more you get lucky.
keepclicking
January 21, 2019
Stunning image. Agree with your comments but along with luck and the right kit you obviously have the talent and skill to take such a beautiful shot.
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Behind The Lens
Location
It was shot at the Nachusa Grasslands in Illinois. I went out to see what the Bison were doing, and it wasn't much. So I switched a macro lens and started shooting the busy bee'sTime
It was mid-day. What was interesting was it was really windy so it was hard to focus on things because everything was moving all around. There really no great technique or tip for dealing with a small subject that is moving other than keep with it and keep shooting.Lighting
It was mid-day so it wasn't the golden hour. But I think that helped with the subject and the flower it kept the shadows small because the flower had so many parts I think long shadows would have changed the dynamic of the shot.Equipment
I was shooting with a Nikon D7200 and a Tokina 100mm f/2.8 macro. I really like this lens. It has really opened up a cool new world to shoot.Inspiration
I think oppurtunity more than inspiration really. macro photography is the gift that keeps on giving. It makes you look at everything more closely. I shoot for the Boy Scouts and I have a walk that takes me past the same things every day. One starts to see everything as just the same thing. With macro photography you walk slower, look closer and find all kind of things that you may of just walked passed.Editing
Nothing special really. I have kind of a process for editing raw images in photoshop. I use Lightroom for file management, I know it does more but I guess I am a creature of habit and use photoshop because its what I am used too. I usually will shadows and highlights and sharpness and noise. This one I didn't have to play with much.In my camera bag
I like to carry a lot of gear, but I am coming to grips with that and getting older just makes it hard to carry so much around. I have 2 Nikon D7200 Bodies. I really think that the D7200 may be one of the best camera Nikon ever made. One of the things I try to tell new photographers that equipment doesn't make the photographer. The D7200 has function and is affordable. I also use lens from several manufactures and have actually replace some of my Nikon lens with Tamron's. I have in my bag Tamron SP AF10-24mm f/3.5 -4.5 Di II, Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 DI VC, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD, Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC, Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G, Nikkor 180mm 2.8, Tokina 100mm f/2.8 macro. I also use a ring light sometimes for macro lens, and I also care a lot of 100x150mm ND filters. I keep everything in Lowepro camera tactical camera backpacks. The big lens I only carry with me when I think I am going to be using it or I am working out of the car.Feedback
Composition is just as important in the small world as the big world. So try to keep that in mind! Also walk slowly and look at everything. It will start to condition you to look at details. Macro photography is about capturing things that most people just over look. The biggest tip I could give anyone is pre-visualize, and shoot, shoot, shoot. Also only be happy with the home run, and remember feed back is a gift, the more critical feed back you can get the more you learn. Never be satisfied with your photography, alway reach for more!