Metallic Bee photo Essay...

[brewmaster15]

Hi all,
Not discus here, but since its my homestead...thought I'd post a short photo essay on a diminutive little critter I have always liked... Metallic bees.. These pollinators are only about 3/8 " long and are just absolutely beautiful to watch...They aren't aggressive at all either.

I took these photos with a digital camera, pentax Slr k20D, and a 50mm macro lens......I'm pretty pleased with the results given no flash and a windy day.

Photos were cropped and resized using "gimp" but not editted in any other way.

hope you like them...

-al

[brewmaster15]

more...

[brewmaster15]

more.

[brewmaster15]

I took some decent shots of an assassin bug with prey as well...but need to go thru those.


-al

[Jennie]

they almost look like large horseflies. I've never heard of/seen that type of bee.

[William Palumbo]

For sure great pics Al. I really like that last pic in the first post. Being a painter, I really like the composition of the photo, the colors, and the blurred, Pastel/Airbrushed look of the background. Cool looking Bee as well. Never seen anything like that before. Not in the Windy City anyways...Bill

[brewmaster15]

Thanks!:)

Bill,
I didn't know you were a painter. What do you paint?

-al

[Jennie]

I've seen allot of strange things in chi town Bill. PEAKOCKS??! Who'd of thunk it??


For sure great pics Al. I really like that last pic in the first post. Being a painter, I really like the composition of the photo, the colors, and the blurred, Pastel/Airbrushed look of the background. Cool looking Bee as well. Never seen anything like that before. Not in the Windy City anyways...Bill

[brewmaster15]

Here you go Bill....

I'm not a painter..but I really enjoy playing with various Image edit filters...

hows this...

-al

[William Palumbo]

Hi AL...Like you, I spread myself WAY to thin with my hobbies, and my artwork is no exception! I mostly paint landscapes, mostly now with Acrylics. I worked with oils and watercolors extensively as well. I like working with Pastels(chalk),such vibrant, pure colors. I also I do a bit of clay sculpting, and I do reproduction fish taxidermy, when I have time! I need to get a camera like your...a REAL one!.... Discuslover...I had a Rooster in my front yard 2 weeks ago...tho In my neighborhood, that was just someones dinner that escaped!...Bill

[William Palumbo]

That looks COOL!...That's the problem now adays...SOOO much can be done with cameras and photo editing software..."artists" are being left behind....There is even 3-D sculpting software!...Bill

[Jennie]

LMAO. or rooster fighting?? We get it all here, raccoons, fox, deer, coyotes, mt. lions and bear. sometimes moose up at the reservoir.but no peacocks.



Hi AL...Like you, I spread myself WAY to thin with my hobbies, and my artwork is no exception! I mostly paint landscapes, mostly now with Acrylics. I worked with oils and watercolors extensively as well. I like working with Pastels(chalk),such vibrant, pure colors. I also I do a bit of clay sculpting, and I do reproduction fish taxidermy, when I have time! I need to get a camera like your...a REAL one!.... Discuslover...I had a Rooster in my front yard 2 weeks ago...tho In my neighborhood, that was just someones dinner that escaped!...Bill

[brewmaster15]

Hi AL...Like you, I spread myself WAY to thin with my hobbies, and my artwork is no exception! I mostly paint landscapes, mostly now with Acrylics. I worked with oils and watercolors extensively as well. I like working with Pastels(chalk),such vibrant, pure colors. I also I do a bit of clay sculpting, and I do reproduction fish taxidermy, when I have time! I need to get a camera like your...a REAL one!.... Discuslover...I had a Rooster in my front yard 2 weeks ago...tho In my neighborhood, that was just someones dinner that escaped!...Bill

Bill thats great! I tried my hand at painting awhile back, but never was very good at it...have you ever tried painting discus?

-al

[Discus-n00b]

Very nice pictures Al, thats a really cool bee too! Colors are great on it.

[William Palumbo]

Al, I never really gave it a good try. I have done rough sketches and drafts, but nothing real serious yet. I did do some small-scale sculpts of Discus. More like a 2-dimensional sculpts on small pieces of wood panels or stained glass pieces. My buddy liked them and bought them from me. he wanted some more, but have just not had time. But I am getting the creative itch again, which usually hits very hard in the Fall and winter months...Bill

[calihawker]

That's a cool looking critter Al. I don't think we have them out this way, if we do I've never seen one. Very cool!

[brewmaster15]

Thanks Steve-O!:)

Not Surprised you haven't seen them, as far as I know their range is from Canada to Mexico but east of the Rockies... I see them alot here in CT.

take care!

-al

[vera]

Nice shots Al ! yr other hobby?
TC

[brewmaster15]

Nice shots Al ! yr other hobby?
TC

Thanks Vera, :)

My other hobby...yep...one of them LOL:D....I enjoy photography and studying just about anything living.

All the best!

-al

[obsessed]

Nice photos Al,

The bee is a Halictid or sweat bee. I have seen these in many colors.... bright blue ones are great too, but the solid coppers are my favorite, which of course, i have only seen once.... did i mention my education was in Entomology?
Paul