Bees

Mark, that is some spectacular macro footage…. with my favorite lens. Nice work!

I also had the chance to shoot honey bees at an Apiary last year. I learned so much, and gained a great respect for bees, and their vital importance in the world. Regarding how to not get stung, the beekeeper I worked with kept a small bin of cotton burning to create a light smoke around the hives. Apparently the smoke doesn't sedate the bees, but rather triggers their natural instinct to work harder at their task, making them not aggressive. I didn't wear a bee suit, was shooting with a macro lens, and spent two days and a total of 5 hours with them, and not one sting. A few landed on my neck, but stayed there for a few seconds and then flew away. They are really amazing creatures…

Yes, the smoke is ok for bees but they don't like bad smell of body (like sweat or if you eat a salad with a garlic before going to the hive:) or perfumes.

Nice shots...