Hi Winston,
Just remember you asked for it. <friendly smile about your signature>
What I like:
- The DoF is pretty deep which is the one lovely aspect of smaller format sensors. This creates lots of nice details to tickle the eyes.
- The exposure is clean with good details in many of the darkest areas (in direct light).
- The right outer (or is it front?) wing has spectacular detail with clearly presented details of wing venation.
- The detail on the right front leg is decent but a touch soft. The detail on the right middle leg is very good. I especially like the details of the climbing gear it has in place of feet/hands.
- The detail on the right antenna is decent with good detail on the joint closest to the eyes.
Questions:
- Is this full frame or close to it? Would you care to share the full frame if it is a crop?
- Did you get any clear shots of its backside(thorax)? This is very helpful in identifying bumble bee species from the keys I have seen.
- How many other shots of this specimen did you get?
- What is your lens system's maximum magnification? 1:1? 1:2?
- Do you shoot RAW?
Anyway, this is a starting place if you are interested in discussion of this type of image. I have been stalking bees for years and delight in shooting them and wasps. They have such a surreal alien beauty to them. Their world is so alien. I find it an immense rush to get in close*** as have honey bees or bumble bees crawling over me**** and just treating my like part of the terrain is a serious trust boundary issue.
So please let me know if you are interested in discussion of shooting bees and wasps as it is one of my favorite subject areas. You have the warm up, but not the criticism part as I do not know where to start.
Merry Christmas,
Sean
* Just a wild guess based on the statistical bias** I have read is prevalent in most species.
** Male bees of some species are often not particularly useful beyond reproduction. With other species the males may take on a parental role. But the bias says they are likely to be female by my reading.
***But not while close to their homes if they are territorial species. Research of potentially dangerous animals before approaching them is something I must stress is important for all animals including insects. Allergies to bee and wasp stings are potentially fatal for some people.
**** I have only done this a couple times and have more to learn about what is safe and what is not safe.