Flight of the Bumble Bee

Bumble Bee in Flight

As I have previously stated, taking good photos of bees is more difficult than you would think and has become a bit of a mission for me this summer. However, taking a picture of a bee in flight is an entirely different level of difficult and remains an ambition not yet fulfilled.

This is my best effort to date. I was hand-holding with my 100mm macro lens early-ish in the morning, ISO 200, f/9.0, 1/640 secs. I would like to get it to look as though the wings were still, but I need a faster shutter speed, and that would have involved either less depth of field or a higher ISO rating.

I prefer, if possible not to go above ISO 200, I know that with my EOS 400D that ISO 400 should be OK, but I have tried and not really been happy with the results for macro work. I also prefer to be at a minimum of f/8.0 with my macro lens when taking photos of insects as it is difficult enough to get them in focus and to stay there. Finding that the shallow depth of field has rendered half of the insect out of focus in an otherwise great shot can be heartbreaking.