First Bee Of The Year!

[AlP]

We still have lots of snow on the ground but I found this little gaffer sunning itself on the south side of the house. I brought it into the house for some hand focus stacking practice and my new lighting setup. An active specimen made for brutal lighting. I didn't bother retouching any images. Side view, 1x made with 16 hand stacked images. Canon 1Dx and Canon 100mm macro.

Bee, three quarter view, 1x and 14 hand stacked images. Canon 1Dx and Canon 100mm macro.

Before setting it free I thought I'd better give the pollinator a wee bit of honey for its time. It was interesting to watch it make little "spit balls". Single image at 3x with Canon 1Dx and MPE-65mm.

[Beatsy]

Smashing images and great technique with the handheld stacking. Love the "light airy" look of the first two, but the feeding shot is my fave. Top notch. Ta.

[MarkSturtevant]

Agreed. This is well done.