Spring is here

[marlunn]

One of my favourite insects at this time - Bombylius major, the Bee Fly, tanking up on spring nectar from Forget-me-nots

[DanK]

nice capture. I'm envious; we are weeks away from bugs yet.

[Mike Buckley]

Wonderful combination of detail in the body and motion in the wings!

[Geoff F]

This has nicely captured those fast quivering wings as it hovers as well as having legs touching those small delicate petals.

I'm seeing a few of them now but so far I have only managed to photograph them sitting on leaves or stems.

[ST1]

Well captured Mark, plenty of detail and a great composition. Those Bee flies are too quick for me to make an image of, I have trouble with moving subjects

[Shadowman]

Nice shot.

[All3n]

what a busy bee working and hanging out- nicely done

[JohnRostron]

Wonderful shot. I particularly like the way that the lighting illuminates the hairs on the fly's body, giving a silhouette of the actual body below.

John

[marlunn]

Thanks Dan, its always a bit exciting when they first show in numbers, a confirmation its spring for real

Thank you Mike, I was lucky the light let me have the DoF and shutter speed needed

Cheers Geoff, yep - I took a few with the intent of getting the feeding shot - was please with this one, as you say the hover and the contact feeding aspect it good to capture

Thanks Peter, at the moment they are busy feeding up so tend to hang about a bit - I spotted it and watched it moved from stem to stem on the plant so sat and focused on the next logical flower stem and allowed it to move into the shot - minor focus adjustment was all that was needed- lazy mans macro

Cheers John, appreciated

Thanks Jeffrey, appreciated

Thank you John R, yep for once it came together with the light in the right place, they really are furballs aren't they. It was part of what I wanted to show, so I was pleased it came out so well.

[bje07]

Wonderful combination of detail in the body and motion in the wings!

+1

[JohnRostron]

I saw my first Beefly today and, as ever, I am amazed as to how anyone can get a photo of these insects. They never seem to stay in the same place for more than a second or two. Well, done Mark!

John

[Rainforest]

So glad I got to see your shot and hear the discussion. I have what I think just may be a Bombylius Major photo and have always wondered what it was. I'll post it :-)

[Dave Humphries]

Good shot Mark,

Thanks Peter, at the moment they are busy feeding up so tend to hang about a bit - I spotted it and watched it moved from stem to stem on the plant so sat and focused on the next logical flower stem and allowed it to move into the shot - minor focus adjustment was all that was needed- lazy man's macro

Yes, that's how I had best success shooting bees (etc.) last summer.

I even set up a flash or two on light stands.

[marlunn]

Thanks Jean,

Cheers John, they do like to move about !

Thanks Susan, commmented on

Thank you Dave, trying to avoid flash wherever possible, i really do need to get my head around it at some point but - I am lazy

[Dave Humphries]

Thank you Dave, trying to avoid flash wherever possible, i really do need to get my head around it at some point but - I am lazy

I know what you mean, I used off camera flash a lot in my film days, but it took me years before I 'dipped my toe' to learn it all again with a digital camera.

Come on in, the water's lovely

[Think]

good

[IzzieK]

I had two of those beautiful bee fly last Sunday and was really proud of it when I was editing my shot, but now I saw your shot here, I wouldn't even dare upload the damn thing! Your shot is so perfect while mine is fuggedtaboutit!!! Oh well...maybe next time...