World Bee Day - Small Sensor Photography by Thomas Stirr

Friday May 20 2022 is World Bee Day, and as such is a great opportunity to review the images we’ve captured of these important insects. Bee season is beginning soon in Southern Ontario and I’m looking forward to photographing these amazing little critters.

NOTE: Click on images to enlarge.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 560 mm, efov 1120 mm, f/9, 1/4000, ISO-5000, Pro Capture H, cropped to 4508 pixels on the width, subject distance 1.5 metres

Bees are under threat around the world from urbanization, climate change and the effects of some agricultural practices like the use of commercial pesticides.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 560 mm, efov 1120 mm, f/9, 1/5000, ISO-6400, Pro Capture H, cropped to 4929 pixels on the width, subject distance 1.6 metres

We can help support local bee populations by eliminating our own pesticide use and by incorporating bee friendly flowering plants in our gardens.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 560 mm, efov 1120 mm, f/9, 1/4000, ISO-4000, Pro Capture H, cropped to 4587 pixels on the width, subject distance 1.8 metres

There is a lot of good reference material on the internet to help identify local bee friendly plants. Getting active with local environmental groups can help protect habitat.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 560 mm, efov 1120 mm, f/9, 1/4000, ISO-6400, Pro Capture H, cropped to 3727 pixels on the width, subject distance 1.6 metres

Bees need water in the heat of summer. Setting up a bee pond with water that has become murky with algae can be helpful. Add some rocks to help ensure the bees won’t drown.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 560 mm, efov 1120 mm, f/9, 1/4000, ISO-4000, Pro Capture H, cropped to 4078 pixels on the width, subject distance 1.7 metres

It is also a great idea to buy honey from local producers. Some imported honey can contain antibiotics and contaminants like heavy metals.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 560 mm, efov 1120 mm, f/9, 1/4000, ISO-4000, Pro Capture H, cropped to 3856 pixels on the width, subject distance 1.7 metres

Sometimes large commercial brands of honey blend cheap sugars and other sweeteners into their honey to lower their costs and increase profits. This can make it difficult for local honey producers to compete.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 560 mm, efov 1120 mm, f/9, 1/2500, ISO-3200, Pro Capture H, cropped to 3522 pixels on the width, subject distance 2 metres

Educating our children and grandchildren about the importance of bees can go a long way to build future public support.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 560 mm, efov 1120 mm, f/9, 1/5000, ISO-6400, Pro Capture H, cropped to 3757 pixels on the width, subject distance 2.2 metres

Technical Note:

Photographs were captured handheld using camera gear as noted in the EXIF data. Images were produced from RAW files using my standard approach in post. Crops are noted. Photographs were resized for web use. This is the 1,168 article published on this website since its original inception in 2015.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-20 teleconverter @ 800 mm, efov 1600 mm, f/9, 1/2500, ISO-6400, Pro Capture H, cropped to 4996 pixels on the width, subject distance 3.2 metres

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OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 560 mm, efov 1120 mm, f/9, 1/5000, ISO-6400, Pro Capture H, cropped to 3915 pixels on the width, subject distance 1.4 metres

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