Bee

Fatal Attraction

Published September 6, 2011 | By Bill

I discovered yellow spiders hiding among the the thistles. I assumed they were waiting for unsuspecting prey. I took some photos, downloaded them to my computer and posted them to this blog under the title Dangerously Alluring Beauty.

Several hours later, I went back to check on them. I was right! This is the same thistle and spider from the previous post.

As you can see, a small bee, buzzing from flower to flower, attracted by the thistle, received an instant invitation to lunch.

The image on the right is the same scene from a different angle.

I wish I had hung around long enough to catch the action live. However, it just so happens, when I finished photographing this carnage, I noticed a similar yellow spider, poised with arms open wide, waiting for a its meal on a yellow flower. Then a bug came along. I started snapping pictures. The bug walked around the flower until it finally came face to face with the spider…and then…

You’ll have to watch for those images in a future post to see how it turned out.

To view larger versions of either of these photos, just click on them.

Posted in Bugs, Pops Photos | Tagged Bee, Bill Pevlor, Crab Spider, Flowers, Missouri, Pops Digital, Sony SLT-A55V, Spider, Thistle

Messy Hands

Published August 4, 2011 | By Bill

This is an image that dates back to 2006. This photo was the initial inspiration for my experimentation and reasonable success with macro photography.

My old camera, a Kodak Easyshare DX7590, did an exceptional job with macro shots. When I saw what was possible – after taking this image – I started to major on the minors. I can spend hours crouched down by a flower bed, moving slowly, trying to be unnoticed while I position my camera as close as possible to any tiny creatures I can find. I was just a few inches from this bee when I snapped this photo.

I love seeing the normally, unseen details of God’s creation. For instance, in this image, I am fascinated by the bee’s wings, the pollen on the flower and bee’s legs, that little dongle thing protruding from the bee’s head, it’s eyes and the orange tipped spears of the cone flower.

If you find this image appealing, please feel free to share it with friends. (If you’re on Facebook, simply click one of the Facebook links below this story.)

To see a larger version and even more detail, click the photo.

All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.

Posted in Bugs, Flowers, Pops Photos | Tagged Bee, Bill Pevlor, Cone Flower, Favorite, Flowers, Kodak Easyshare DX7590, Pollen, Pops Digital

The Bee – Close Up and Personal

Published July 11, 2011 | By Bill

I don’t have a lot of time to travel to scenic places around the world – or even in my own area – so a lot of my photos are taken around my rural Kewaunee County, WI home. I often take a walk around my yard and photograph whatever catches my eye. Here’s what caught my eye recently.

I enjoy experimenting with macro photography. Getting a close up view of small things and capturing detail that is not apparent to the casual observer gives me a kick. Like in this image – that little thing that sticks out of the bee’s head and the cellophane look of the wings interests me. I think the eyes look more like a pair of over-sized sunglasses, too.

This photo was taken at one of my wife’s flowerbeds on the side of our house. There were a number of bees working over these little yellow flowers.

Thankfully, no bees or humans were harmed in the process of getting this image.

(To see a larger version, just click on the image.)

Posted in Bugs, Pops Photos | Tagged Bee, Bill Pevlor, Flowers, Macro, Pops Digital, Sony SLT-A55V