The sun is shining and the garden is starting to look lovely. The wind is from the east so when you venture out it’s not as warm as you think but the bees don’t seem to mind. This last week I’ve noticed more and more Hairy-footed Flower Bees (Anthophora plumipes). They love the pulmonaria. These are hyperactive critters zig-zagging from bloom to bloom with more of a distinctive buzz than the others. Time to dust off the macro and give the auto focus a hammering!



Here in the northern hemisphere spring is unfolding. Down south it will be your autumn. Wherever you are try and get out to enjoy your season in these troubling times.
Beautiful macros! 😎
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Thanks John, good to get the lens out again.
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Super Foto. You did very well Brian . I like Them very much. Stay healthy and take care of yourself .
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Thank you Werner, difficult to avoid people in my job but hope things turn out ok.
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Nice to see bees enjoying the flowers! Lovely photos, Brian!
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It lifts the spirits Belinda good to forget the worries of the world for a while.
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Spectacular shots of both the flowers and the bees. The shots are so wonderfully detailed that I don’t even have to ask why the bees are called “Hairy-footed.” I too am in the northern hemisphere, so I am looking forward to the unfolding of spring.
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It’s macro time Mike! A bit behind you with the butterflies but hopefully I will see more this week.
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Lovely – the detail on the hairy legs shots is amazing. Might have to risk the wrath of my wife and sneak out the Macro the next time I’m out.
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Brave man B but I’m sure she would forgive you. This is why I love the results of using a macro despite the dozens of deletions!
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Absolutely amazing macro photos, as always!
Here in Malta it feels like spring has taken a sudden break. Luckily, so far, we are still allowed to be outdoors, but new restrictions are coming daily. Almost everything is closed, the streets are empty… But I agree, “Don’t Worry Bee Happy”!!
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Spring rarely runs smoothly it always has dips. However it lifts the spirits and if you can still get out do so, it’s the best medicine Anita.
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Awesome!!! Bees!!! I am happy ever so happy!!! Bees please.
I saw them all weekend in our garden here in the a Netherlands too. I have cut flowers from the florist in the garden and the little guys were going nuts!!! It was very ZEN shifting compost and watching them buss by. Nature has the answers to all our issues. Thanks Brian for the wonderful photos.
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Just found your comment in my spam box CJ, don’t know what happened there!
Glad you like the bees yes they sooth the mind and now, for three weeks at least, apart from going to work looks like the garden will be seeing a lot more of me. We are under full lockdown!
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Holy cow! Full lockdown sucks!!!
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as always, gorgeous photos and lovely sentiment. We’re enjoying bees and hummingbirds as spring really settles in here on the Mendocino coast of CA. Finally!
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Thank you so much Katy. Glad you have space to enjoy the beauties of spring. Watching hummingbirds? Wow lucky you!
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Awesome shots, Brian! Stay well!
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Thanks Donna, going to try my best but I’m not in the best job to avoid contact and ‘Social Distancing’ doesn’t seem to apply in supermarkets.
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Beautiful shots, Brian. Your pulmonaria is certainly drawing them in.
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It was alive with various species yesterday Pete, the ‘Hairies’ were the ones I wanted to photograph most.
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Very nice, Brian. I particularly like the second photos showing the bee’s proboscis. It was hungry!
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Hungry indeed! Taking full advantage of the sunshine.
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Thank you for sharing this stunning photos.
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My pleasure!
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Much more like this and I will have to figure out a way to finally get a real macro lens.
Fantastic photographs, Brian! Really shouts “SPRING”!
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Well you could always ask Gini very nicely, promise to be good and do more chores. Or say “we only live once” and splash out on one!
As lenses go the Sigma 105mm 2.8 was quite reasonably priced for such excellent results, I got it with my last decent bonus a couple of years back. Mrs H added the 1.4x converter as a present.
Take care of yourselves and keep clear of ‘gators!
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Wonderful photos – the detail is outstanding!
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Thanks Kim!
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Excellent shots with that Macro of yours Brian! But mainly your keen artistic eye and nimble shutter finger!
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Kind of you to say so Michael but the stars of the show are my models, the bees. Fascinating watching them and so pleased to manage a few shots.
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