A Carpenter's Passion

riddim_makerriddim_maker Registered Users Posts: 1,835 Major grins
edited June 19, 2007 in Wildlife
Passion flora are in full bloom around the house these days and naturally
I just could not resist it's flamboyance.
163086247-O.jpg

Apparently I'm not the only one attracted to this unusual flower
163082363-O.jpg

163082386-O.jpg

A little pollen rubdown won't hurt
163082424-O.jpg

How about some company while you're at it
163082460-O.jpg

I guess Carpenter bees are not alone in their attraction to this flower
163082339-O.jpg
(composite)
Russ
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Comments

  • RichardRichard Administrators, Vanilla Admin Posts: 19,989 moderator
    edited June 15, 2007
    Wow! Fantastic series. clap.gifclapclap.gif

    Cheers,
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited June 15, 2007
    Wow is the first thing that came to my mind too!

    Great stuff, Russ.thumb.gif
  • SkippySkippy Registered Users Posts: 12,075 Major grins
    edited June 15, 2007
    Passion flora are in full bloom around the house these days and naturally
    I just could not resist it's flamboyance.
    Apparently I'm not the only one attracted to this unusual flower
    A little pollen rubdown won't hurt
    How about some company while you're at it
    I guess Carpenter bees are not alone in their attraction to this flower
    (composite)

    Gooooooooooood Heavens! eek7.gifeek7.gif I ... I .... I liiiiiiiike clap.gif :ivar
    Those eyes! Those Wings! Did I meantion the Eyes already :jawdrop
    Truly stunning work ... incredible shots even ... getting back to the Eyes.. WOW even gawwwwwwwd words escape me.

    Man what a Series !!
    I'm gob smacked even ........... I love all of them nod.gif .... Skippy :D
    .
    .
    Skippy (Australia) - Moderator of "HOLY MACRO" and "OTHER COOL SHOTS"

    ALBUM http://ozzieskip.smugmug.com/

    :skippy Everyone has the right to be stupid, but some people just abuse the privilege :dgrin
  • GonzoBernelliGonzoBernelli Registered Users Posts: 62 Big grins
    edited June 15, 2007
    What THEY said!

    I really like the depth of focus in your shots - not something seen very much in the macro work i have seen elsewhere.
    DISCLAIMER: This post is a natural product made from recycled electrons. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects.
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited June 15, 2007
    Jaw-droppingly beautiful. You handled the exposure and narrow DOF very well.

    WhoaMan.gif
  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited June 15, 2007
    Excellent photos Russ! clap.gif Great detail in the flying cornuts!
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited June 15, 2007
    Wow :wow Never seen anything like it! eek7.gif

    Amazing compositions. Where'd you find that flower? I know you've been working on your macro technique. Well you can stop now. :D They just don't get any better than that. bowdown.gif

    You'll have to show me how you do that some time. deal.gif

    -joel
  • Dick on ArubaDick on Aruba Registered Users Posts: 3,484 Major grins
    edited June 15, 2007
    Maestro wrote:
    Jaw-droppingly beautiful. You handled the exposure and narrow DOF very well.

    WhoaMan.gif

    I have to agree here.

    Thanks for sharing,

    Dick.
    "Nothing sharpens sight like envy."
    Thomas Fuller.

    SmugMug account.
    Website.
  • bfjrbfjr Registered Users Posts: 10,980 Major grins
    edited June 15, 2007
    Whoa Russ best dang bee shots I've seen clap.gif :wow thumb.gif

    Is this with the setup you used when we were bflying :D ??
  • nikosnikos Registered Users Posts: 216 Major grins
    edited June 15, 2007
    I've never seen such a beautiful flower.

    Awesome stuff there thumb.gif
  • PhilHPhilH Registered Users Posts: 31 Big grins
    edited June 15, 2007
    These are superb, EXIF's please ne_nau.gif
  • ShepsMomShepsMom Registered Users Posts: 4,319 Major grins
    edited June 15, 2007
    bowdown.gifbowdown.gifbowdown.gifbowdown.gifbowdown.gifbowdown.gifbowdown.gif
    Marina
    www.intruecolors.com
    Nikon D700 x2/D300
    Nikon 70-200 2.8/50 1.8/85 1.8/14.24 2.8
  • saurorasaurora Registered Users Posts: 4,320 Major grins
    edited June 15, 2007
    :jawdrop Holey-moley!!!! The quality of these shots is beyond description! Awesome Russ!!!
  • leaforteleaforte Registered Users Posts: 1,948 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2007
    Amazing shots. It's great to see 'up close' the actual collecting of the pollen on the backs of the bee's. Quite a symbiotic (sp?) relationship. Again, amazing.
    Growing with Dgrin



  • SkippySkippy Registered Users Posts: 12,075 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2007
    Wow so these bees are in fact huge, are they called Carpenter Bees for a reason??

    What exactly do they do?
    They look dang big enough to carry a hammer and nails gawwdd rolleyes1.gif

    I've never seen these bees before, are they related to the bumble bee family?

    The Passion Fruit Vine yeilds a very unusual flower doesn't it :D
    ....I'm still amazed with this series of images clap.gif .... Skippy
    .
    .
    Skippy (Australia) - Moderator of "HOLY MACRO" and "OTHER COOL SHOTS"

    ALBUM http://ozzieskip.smugmug.com/

    :skippy Everyone has the right to be stupid, but some people just abuse the privilege :dgrin
  • riddim_makerriddim_maker Registered Users Posts: 1,835 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2007
    rsinmadrid wrote:
    Wow! Fantastic series. clap.gifclapclap.gif

    Cheers,
    Thanks Richard
    Russ
  • riddim_makerriddim_maker Registered Users Posts: 1,835 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2007
    Ric Grupe wrote:
    Wow is the first thing that came to my mind too!

    Great stuff, Russ.thumb.gif
    Thanks Ric
    Russ
  • riddim_makerriddim_maker Registered Users Posts: 1,835 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2007
    Skippy wrote:
    Wow so these bees are in fact huge, are they called Carpenter Bees for a reason??

    What exactly do they do?
    They look dang big enough to carry a hammer and nails gawwdd rolleyes1.gif

    I've never seen these bees before, are they related to the bumble bee family?

    The Passion Fruit Vine yeilds a very unusual flower doesn't it :D
    ....I'm still amazed with this series of images clap.gif .... Skippy
    .
    Thanks Skippy,
    the Carpenter bee, so named because it burrows and builds its nest in soft or decaying wood, is about the size of a Bumble bee (about an inch or more in length). I'm not sure about the relationship to the Bumble bee though, they seem to be of different genus: Carpenter bee (Xylocopa), Bumble bee (Bombus). They do look quite menacing up close, but seem pretty docile (lucky for me otherwise I would be covered in welts by nowrolleyes1.gif ) This was also my first experience photographing the Carpenter bee. They are indeed awesome, especially their eyes. Thanks again Skippythumb.gif
    Russ
  • riddim_makerriddim_maker Registered Users Posts: 1,835 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2007
    What THEY said!

    I really like the depth of focus in your shots - not something seen very much in the macro work i have seen elsewhere.
    Thank you for your kind comments, Gonzo
    Russ
  • jonh68jonh68 Registered Users Posts: 2,711 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2007
    Beautifulclap.gif
  • riddim_makerriddim_maker Registered Users Posts: 1,835 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2007
    Maestro wrote:
    Jaw-droppingly beautiful. You handled the exposure and narrow DOF very well.

    WhoaMan.gif
    rolleyes1.gif Love that eye-popping smile
    Thanks Stephen
    Russ
  • riddim_makerriddim_maker Registered Users Posts: 1,835 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2007
    Excellent photos Russ! clap.gif Great detail in the flying cornuts!
    Thanks Glenn
    Russ
  • riddim_makerriddim_maker Registered Users Posts: 1,835 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2007
    kdog wrote:
    Wow :wow Never seen anything like it! eek7.gif

    Amazing compositions. Where'd you find that flower? I know you've been working on your macro technique. Well you can stop now. :D They just don't get any better than that. bowdown.gif

    You'll have to show me how you do that some time. deal.gif

    -joel
    STOP, MACRO PHOTOGRPHYeek7.gif :cry ...NEVEEEEEERRRRRR...rolleyes1.gif
    Thanks for the compliment, Joel
    I would love to get together and do some shooting again.
    BTW, the flower is from the passion fruit tree (or vine).
    Russ
  • riddim_makerriddim_maker Registered Users Posts: 1,835 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2007
    I have to agree here.

    Thanks for sharing,

    Dick.
    Thanks Dick
    good to see you posting and commenting again
    Russ
  • riddim_makerriddim_maker Registered Users Posts: 1,835 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2007
    bfjr wrote:
    Whoa Russ best dang bee shots I've seen clap.gif :wow thumb.gif

    Is this with the setup you used when we were bflying :D ??
    Thanks Ben
    I was just trying to emulate the one you posted a while ago, which I thought was awesome.
    And yes, I use the same setup, won't do macro without it :D
    Russ
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2007
    Those are just too good ylsuper.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • RogersDARogersDA Registered Users Posts: 3,502 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2007
    Thanks Ben
    I was just trying to emulate the one you posted a while ago, which I thought was awesome.
    And yes, I use the same setup, won't do macro without it :D

    Care to share? ear.gifear
  • JohnDCJohnDC Registered Users Posts: 379 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2007
    Really nice photos, Russ. Great composition, depth of field, light, the works. What f-stop were you using? Have the fritilliary butterflies moved in yet? If you haven't seen them, they look a little like monarch butterflies without the black lines, and their caterpillars love to eat passifloras. A few years ago (before I got into this kind of photography), the fritillaries swarmed my passion fruit vine and layed eggs all over it. I gladly let the caterpillars eat up most of the leaves, then they metamorphosed into more butterflies. The leaves grew back--a better deal than the carpenter bees eating up the external woodwork on my house (my experience in Florida).
  • riddim_makerriddim_maker Registered Users Posts: 1,835 Major grins
    edited June 17, 2007
    nikos wrote:
    I've never seen such a beautiful flower.

    Awesome stuff there thumb.gif
    Much appreciated
    Russ
  • riddim_makerriddim_maker Registered Users Posts: 1,835 Major grins
    edited June 17, 2007
    PhilH wrote:
    These are superb, EXIF's please ne_nau.gif
    Thanks for your comment and inquiry Phil
    Please click on the link below for more info
    http://riddimmaker.smugmug.com/gallery/1259201#163082363
    Russ
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