Collecting Pollen

[ST1]

One image from a trip around my garden, I would welcome your thoughts on this image please?

[Rufus]

I like the overall composition and the angle from which the bee is observed.

However, for me, the focussing is problematic. The softness of the petals is lovely, but there appears to be very little of the bee in sharp focus.

[DanK]

I tend to agree.

Shooting large bugs perpendicular to the sensor is tough because of the narrow DOF.

I don't see EXIF. What was your aperture? I usually shoot bugs around f/13, nominal. However, that would bring more of the flower into focus, which you may not want.

[Wavelength]

Nice image

[ST1]

I tend to agree.

Shooting large bugs perpendicular to the sensor is tough because of the narrow DOF.

I don't see EXIF. What was your aperture? I usually shoot bugs around f/13, nominal. However, that would bring more of the flower into focus, which you may not want.

Hi Dan, the exif was ISO100, f2.8 1/750 second, hence the shallow DOF. Don't ask me why I used those settings, though I'll put it down to my brain being in self isolation mode

[xpatUSA]

Originally Posted by DanK What was your aperture? I usually shoot bugs around f/13, nominal. However, that would bring more of the flower into focus, which you may not want.

Hi Dan, the exif was ISO100, f2.8 1/750 second, hence the shallow DOF. Don't ask me why I used those settings, though I'll put it down to my brain being in self isolation mode

Peter, I'll guess at a deliberate selection of 1/750 second to reduce motion blur ... Ring any bells?

[DanK]

The need for more DOF while freezing motion is why I almost always use a highly diffused flash for bug macros. it does make things heavy and off-balance, however.

[Geoff F]

I suspect that cropping the bottom to produce a 3 x 2 ratio will give you a stronger image.