Of Wasps and Bees

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

I found this little guy on my windowsill and transferred him to my white side table. A simple process you might think, but I refused to touch it and was too lazy to get up so I used my lens cap instead. Which wasn’t really appropriate but it worked eventually.

I thought it was a bee at first, but then he seemed too large and looked quite different to others so I called him a wasp. However, @heyjude told me that she thought it was a bee so I did some investigating and I think she’s right, so this paragraph is my edit to correct myself. Thanks Jude!

I don’t know what it is that he’s gripping at his head – I think it’s a tiny chip of paint. This little guy is a little under 2 centimetres long. I used my Olympus OMD EM5 with the macro lens – my favourite setup, and I used Lightroom as usual to edit the photos to bring out more detail. As usual, I have gone with fairly high contrast settings.

I’ll leave you with this close-up of his gossamer wing, which I find fascinating.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

I did photograph a bee last year and the photos are quite similar – you can see that post here.
For Lucile’s Photo101 Rehab Clinic.
x desleyjane


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36 responses to “Of Wasps and Bees”

  1. brittabottle Avatar

    Oh my goodness, I am in awe of the detailed beauty of these photos, Desley. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again–you’re macro photography is AMAZING. The way you find beauty in the smallest and most unexpected places…I love it!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. desleyjane Avatar

      Thank you Britta!!!!

      Like

  2. graydaysandcoffee Avatar
    graydaysandcoffee

    lens cap?! hahaha! The detail in these shots is amazing.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. desleyjane Avatar

      Haha yah lens cap was the product of laziness!! Thanks so much.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. graydaysandcoffee Avatar
        graydaysandcoffee

        hey whatever works. I would say lazy….I’d say…innovative….quick thinking…resourceful!

        Liked by 1 person

        1. desleyjane Avatar

          Thanks, you should write all my job applications 😉

          Liked by 1 person

        2. graydaysandcoffee Avatar
          graydaysandcoffee

          that should be wouldn’t not would haha!

          Liked by 1 person

  3. Norm 2.0 Avatar

    Awesome shots. I’m definitely going to try this the next time I find a dead wasp, bee, or other interesting insect.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. desleyjane Avatar

      Thanks Norm! Yes you just need some light and a good surface.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Heyjude Avatar

    Great images, but you say wasp? Isn’t this a honeybee? I think of wasps being less hairy! Or maybe they are different in Australia 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. desleyjane Avatar

      I think you’re right, I wasn’t sure. I did some checking and I think yes wasps are smoother. He just looked longer and skinnier than other bees but maybe he was trying to be a model 😉 Thanks so much!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Heyjude Avatar

        I’m no expert! Wasps are more aggressive though, so I tend to stay a long way from them.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. desleyjane Avatar

          Well I did get you some back up with google images. LOL. They definitely seem nastier. Lucky this one was not … alive.

          Liked by 1 person

  5. lisadorenfest Avatar

    Really, really tremendous Desley! Your macros are always a treat. 💖

    Like

  6. Stacy P. Fischer Avatar

    Absolutely unbelievable, Desley!! The detail is amazing and I love the white background – brilliantly done. And what a patient little one he was to stay out as you worked your magic 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. desleyjane Avatar

      Thanks so much Stacy. Unfortunately he had already left this world before I started 😝

      Like

      1. Stacy P. Fischer Avatar

        Ah, I hear I was going to add “insect bravery” to your list of skills 😉 Actually, I think I still will – alive or not, they make me squeamish!

        Liked by 1 person

        1. desleyjane Avatar

          Me too! You should have seen my face while tying to move it 😝

          Like

  7. tildy1 Avatar

    Fantastic! So much detail!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. desleyjane Avatar

      Thanks Tildy 😊

      Like

  8. badfish Avatar

    all very cool images, you are definitely getting good at closeups! I love that last wing shot!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. desleyjane Avatar

      Thanks me too. Actually I entered that one into a photo comp. 😬😬

      Like

      1. badfish Avatar

        good luck…!!! let me know if you win

        Liked by 1 person

        1. desleyjane Avatar

          Thank you! I will!

          Like

    1. desleyjane Avatar

      Thank you, I loved doing this.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Bee Detailed. | musings of a frequent flying scientist Avatar

    […] posted some macro shots of a bee that I found recently. I went back to take another look at the photos and went through the ones […]

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  10. LDG luciledegodoy Avatar

    DJ, this wasp-bee is zen. It’s doing yoga asanas/poses. Truly.
    But tell me just one thing, handheld again? Of course.
    I bow to the Queen and Empress!
    Stunning.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. desleyjane Avatar

      LOL thank you. Yes handheld, but resting on a tabletop and balancing on my lens cap to get the required angle 😉😉

      Like

      1. LDG luciledegodoy Avatar

        I read a review this week comparing all olympus. Guess what, the EM5, contrary to mine the EM10, has a stabilizing system which is better and allows for sharper handheld macro photography! You see, even there you win! Lol

        Liked by 1 person

        1. desleyjane Avatar

          LOL, yes it truly is an amazing camera. I love it.

          Liked by 1 person

          1. LDG luciledegodoy Avatar

            And I love what you do. Xx

            Liked by 1 person

  11. […] is our Queen and Empress of Macro photography bringing masterfully executed images of Bees, Hibiscus, and more hibiscus.. Awe inspiring macro photography and photo editing. Go there, […]

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  12. More Bee Photos – musings of a frequent flying scientist Avatar

    […] more of my macro bee shots here and here and […]

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