Time for a macro shoot, when we were walking the dogs down along the stream near the campsite, there were loads of miner bees and a few Beeflys all along the sandy bank along the edge of the field.
Unfortunately I have only brought the 5dsr with the mpe-65 macro lens, which only shoots between x1 and x5 life size magnification. This means a maximum focal distance of 4 inch at x1 .
So walking along the edge of the field I have found a few subjects on the dry stone wall that is in full sun. A Cluster fly first.
Another fly , single frame
Now I have walked to the stream and where the sun is hitting the sandy bank there are Nomada Bees flying all over the place , I have spotted 3 species of Miner bees coming in and out of holes in the sand all along a 20 ft section . They are all extremely active and it is going to be very difficult to shoot anything!
After about half an hour I finally shoot this one as it came out of its burrow, 2 frames focus stacked.
A nice fly portrait , 3 frames focus stacked is the best I have managed, they are just too active
There are a few large black and white miner bees, Andrena Cineraria , a beautiful quite large species I have only ever seen a handful of times previously. After waiting ages , at numerous different burrows I have finally managed this image as it popped its head out of the burrow entrance. this is about 4x life size
And another one, covered in debris , 4 frames focus stacked
This is the best I could manage showing the Bee.
While shooting the Bees I had noticed a few Bee Flys hovering , these are a challenge to shoot with a normal macro lens but with the mpe-65 at its maximum focal distance of 4 inch and with 36 mm filling the frame, these Beeflys which will only just fit are going to near impossible to shoot in flight!
But it will be fun trying , anyhow after an hour or so I managed to get these three images.
all full frame as shot.
Quite a successful macro shoot in all :)
