I can add a few images to this theme as well 
Cool temps and partly cloudy weather create the perfect conditions for shooting small solitary bees like this Dandelion pollen covered male Blue Mason Bee. Although most people treat Dandelions like they're weeds they're actually an important pollen and nectar source for spring pollinators.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (2x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT with a Kaiser adjustable flash shoe on the "A" head (the key), E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Denoise AI and Clarity in that order.
View attachment 15517Pollen Covered Blue Mason Bee by John Kimbler, on Flickr
I was doing some work on my solitary bee houses and this male Blue Mason Bee emerged from a cocoon.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/100, ISO 200) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (over 2x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT with a Kaiser adjustable flash shoe on the "A" head (the key), E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Denoise AI and Clarity in that order. Shutter and ISO set to expose the sky in the background.
View attachment 15518Emerging Blue Mason Bee by John Kimbler, on Flickr
Cool, partly cloudy weather makes the perfect conditions to photograph small solitary bees. I found this female Mining Bee foraging for pollen in a Dandelion. She would occasionally "wake up" and move around the flower and when she paused I'd take a portrait.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/125, ISO 200) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (over 3x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT with a Kaiser adjustable flash shoe on the "A" head (the key), E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Denoise AI and Clarity in that order. Shutter and ISO set to expose the sky in the background.
View attachment 15519Foraging Mining Bee II by John Kimbler, on Flickr
I got lucky and found a pair of snoozing Long Horned Bees -named after their long antenna. Not uncommon for them to sleep together, and I wonder if it helps them to keep warm or possibly to warm up and get active faster.
Tetralonia malvae, males.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F14, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (over 1x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT with a Kaiser adjustable flash shoe on the "A" head (the key), E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Denoise AI and Clarity in that order. I used an artificial flower to keep the background from being black.
View attachment 15520Snoozing Long Horned Bees by John Kimbler, on Flickr
I found a snoozing Resin Bee. This is a new solitary bee for me as I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've photographed one. They look very similar to European Wool Carder Bees but the face is white instead of yellow.
Trachusa interrupta, male.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F14, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (2x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT with a Kaiser adjustable flash shoe on the "A" head (the key), E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Denoise AI and Clarity in that order. I held the grass stalk close to a wall to keep the background from being black.
View attachment 15521Snoozing Resin Bee by John Kimbler, on Flickr
Cool temps and partly cloudy weather create the perfect conditions for shooting small solitary bees like this Dandelion pollen covered male Blue Mason Bee. Although most people treat Dandelions like they're weeds they're actually an important pollen and nectar source for spring pollinators.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (2x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT with a Kaiser adjustable flash shoe on the "A" head (the key), E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Denoise AI and Clarity in that order.
View attachment 15517Pollen Covered Blue Mason Bee by John Kimbler, on Flickr
I was doing some work on my solitary bee houses and this male Blue Mason Bee emerged from a cocoon.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/100, ISO 200) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (over 2x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT with a Kaiser adjustable flash shoe on the "A" head (the key), E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Denoise AI and Clarity in that order. Shutter and ISO set to expose the sky in the background.
View attachment 15518Emerging Blue Mason Bee by John Kimbler, on Flickr
Cool, partly cloudy weather makes the perfect conditions to photograph small solitary bees. I found this female Mining Bee foraging for pollen in a Dandelion. She would occasionally "wake up" and move around the flower and when she paused I'd take a portrait.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/125, ISO 200) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (over 3x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT with a Kaiser adjustable flash shoe on the "A" head (the key), E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Denoise AI and Clarity in that order. Shutter and ISO set to expose the sky in the background.
View attachment 15519Foraging Mining Bee II by John Kimbler, on Flickr
I got lucky and found a pair of snoozing Long Horned Bees -named after their long antenna. Not uncommon for them to sleep together, and I wonder if it helps them to keep warm or possibly to warm up and get active faster.
Tetralonia malvae, males.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F14, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (over 1x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT with a Kaiser adjustable flash shoe on the "A" head (the key), E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Denoise AI and Clarity in that order. I used an artificial flower to keep the background from being black.
View attachment 15520Snoozing Long Horned Bees by John Kimbler, on Flickr
I found a snoozing Resin Bee. This is a new solitary bee for me as I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've photographed one. They look very similar to European Wool Carder Bees but the face is white instead of yellow.
Trachusa interrupta, male.
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F14, 1/250, ISO 100) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (2x) + a diffused MT-26EX-RT with a Kaiser adjustable flash shoe on the "A" head (the key), E-TTL metering, -1/3 FEC). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held. In post I used Topaz Denoise AI and Clarity in that order. I held the grass stalk close to a wall to keep the background from being black.
View attachment 15521Snoozing Resin Bee by John Kimbler, on Flickr
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