My photographic focus? Chasing photos of birds. OK, and reflections. OK, OK, and bridges. Indeed, when it comes to photography-and-me, it might be unreasonable to use “focus” in anything but its strictly technical sense: Getting the subject in the desired degree of sharpness. Which brings us to last week and some bees.
While chasing birds (OK, OK, and bird reflections), I was momentarily diverted by some tiny bees, maybe half the size of most bees at home, in the largely shaded flowering bush right beside me. Their size alone would be tricky enough, but I also had my longer lens on, the better to capture the target birds. That meant I had to be farther away from the bees to get them in focus — far enough that, to my aging eyes, they were mere specks through the view finder.
Anyway, the results were clear: Largely not clear.
What is that fuzzy thing in the bottom left corner? Oh, a fuzzy bee.
Then, of course, there was their tendency to launch into flight without any warning. Sort of like the Army joke.
Prepare to move.
Move now.
I don’t know about the wicked, but bees seem to have little rest.
But, as always, persistence counts. Even if they hardly ever come to what a fair-minded observer would call a full stop, eventually the little devils do pause. On the other hand, they pause with no apparent consideration for what that entirely fair-minded observer might consider to be their best side.
Here is my butt.
But sometimes, they (accidentally?) give me a charming pose. In full sun.
OK, OK, here is my profile. Now, shouldn’t there be a flower up here?
I interviewed a biologist, a long time ago, who argued that there is no such thing as a bee. The unit of life is a hive, not its individual bees. Individual bees are like individual cells of our human bodies — they all work together for the common good, but the loss of a single skin cell or stomach cell has little impact on the whole body.
He wasn’t quite willing to argue that the metaphor could be extended to human societies/communities. But that implication is there.
Jim T – That’s an interesting perspective. Maybe we’d do better if we thought of ourselves that way.
Not an easy photographic target.
You did “good”
Jim R – Many thanks. They are awfully tiny. And fast.
Love it when they finally pose perfectly! I admire your persistence – well rewarded.
Judith – Yes, I was quite pleased.