The challenge with macro photography Sean is that you get very little depth of field as you move closer to the subject. I think that has been your problem here. Bumble bees are quite chunky creatures and especially with the viewpoint you have here. There is quite a distance from the front to the back. Also the flower you have chosen has quite a distance from the end of the petals to the centre. Added to which the bee may have been moving which may have contributed to the lack of focus. You could try using a smaller aperture to give you more depth of field but you would need to use a tripod to cope with the longer shutter speed. Another alternative is to use some kind of lighting system so you can decrease the shutter speed. You can get ring flashes which are designed for macro work. Another approach is to be selective about what you photograph. Choose flowers which are flattish such as a daisy. Or if you want to shoot insects choose ones where there is a flat plane. If you look at most macro butterfly shots they are taken either with the wings fully open or with the wings fully up, from the side. This maximises the depth of field as in both cases there is a flat plane. Macro work is challenging but it can be very rewarding as well, so I wish you good luck. Best wishes Catherine

The challenge with macro photography Sean is that you get very little depth of field as you move closer to the subject. I think that has been your problem here.

Bumble bees are quite chunky creatures and especially with the viewpoint you have here. There is quite a distance from the front to the back. Also the flower you have chosen has quite a distance from the end of the petals to the centre. Added to which the bee may have been moving which may have contributed to the lack of focus.

You could try using a smaller aperture to give you more depth of field but you would need to use a tripod to cope with the longer shutter speed. Another alternative is to use some kind of lighting system so you can decrease the shutter speed. You can get ring flashes which are designed for macro work.

Another approach is to be selective about what you photograph. Choose flowers which are flattish such as a daisy. Or if you want to shoot insects choose ones where there is a flat plane. If you look at most macro butterfly shots they are taken either with the wings fully open or with the wings fully up, from the side. This maximises the depth of field as in both cases there is a flat plane.

Macro work is challenging but it can be very rewarding as well, so I wish you good luck.

Best wishes

Catherine

Hello, Sean. Some excellent advice there from Catherine. I just wanted to suggest that, as well as remembering all the other things, you check out your background before shooting. In a case like this, I would check my background first, compose my shot and just wait for the bee to get into the best position. You have a very bright orange area to the right side which inevitably catches the eye and takes attention away from your subject. Pamela.

Hello, Sean. Some excellent advice there from Catherine. I just wanted to suggest that, as well as remembering all the other things, you check out your background before shooting. In a case like this, I would check my background first, compose my shot and just wait for the bee to get into the best position. You have a very bright orange area to the right side which inevitably catches the eye and takes attention away from your subject.
Pamela.

Hi Catherine & Pamela Many many thanks for you comments this all makes sense to me as a newcomer and i thankyou for your time and help. Catherine I use a tripod all the time as i have a form of Parkinsons and shake alot :) so a tripod is a must for me, yes the bee was very active and buried deeply into the flower, but i will definatley try the aperture and pick flatter flowers and see what transpires and will also look at ring lighting many thankyous for the directions you have given me..regards Pamela Yes Pamela i noticed this after uploading my pictures to my pc and yes it was a dreaded orange bucket that i didnt notice at the time , due to my shakes i use a remote and any length of time looking through the viewfinder gets hard , but with that said youd of thought id of noticed a bright orange bucket :) and yes it does pull the eyes from the intended subject..regards sean

Hi Catherine & Pamela

Many many thanks for you comments this all makes sense to me as a newcomer and i thankyou for your time and help.

Catherine

I use a tripod all the time as i have a form of Parkinsons and shake alot so a tripod is a must for me, yes the bee was very active and buried deeply into the flower, but i will definatley try the aperture and pick flatter flowers and see what transpires and will also look at ring lighting many thankyous for the directions you have given me..regards

Pamela

Yes Pamela i noticed this after uploading my pictures to my pc and yes it was a dreaded orange bucket that i didnt notice at the time , due to my shakes i use a remote and any length of time looking through the viewfinder gets hard , but with that said youd of thought id of noticed a bright orange bucket and yes it does pull the eyes from the intended subject..regards

sean