I follow a lot of blogs by extremely good nature photographers (Garden Walk Garden Talk springs to mind; there are many others). This makes me very conscious that I am not among them.
However, here are a few bee macro pics I had a go at using a new iPhone gadget which Drew bought me for Christmas. It’s a little lens on a rubber band that fits over my iPhone camera, see www.easy-macro.com. I found this worker stuck in the mouse guard of Rosemary’s hive.
The last two aren’t so good sorry. The bee had got a little dusty at this point!
Looking at a bee up close, you notice just how hairy they are. It’s one of the characteristics of the bee family, in contrast with wasps, which are mostly hairless.
Thanks for all your hard work little bee.
Adventuresinbeeland's Blog 
Those look pretty cool! Insects are just fascinating up close. I’ve tried to do macro but haven’t had the patience to use a tripod and I move too much.
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They are fascinating, so high tech looking! They’re like a collection of gadgets – proboscis, sting, pollen baskets, wings, compound eyes, antennae – stuck together into a nifty little whole.
My problem was that my cat kept headbutting me for dinner as I tried to photograph!
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Hi Emily,
You might enjoy Rose-Lynn Fisher’s work at http://www.rose-lynnfisher.com/.
She’s coming to speak to our bee club in New York in May, and stopping in my village first to launch a solo show of her bee work at a small gallery here. (I’m going to do a honey tasting and show-and-tell at the gallery!)
btw, while the hives near the city are having a terrible time this winter — too much rain washing out autumn pollen and warm temperatures through January that have kept them from clustering — my four hives up in the Catskill Mountains were in great shape when I checked on them yesterday! Tight clusters, heavy with honey stores, and a nice, loud hum from low in the brood nest.
Best,
Marty
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Ah yes, I have come across Rose-Lynn’s work before, I have a link to her blog on my links page. Lucky you getting to see her show!
Glad your hives are doing so well, that’s fantastic. It’s been a mild winter here but mine seem to be doing ok so far, touch wood.
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No wonder they tickle so much (one of the reasons I started wearing gloves). I never cease to be amazed at how beautiful bees are.
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I like that tickly fussy feeling. When you take time to really look properly, I think most things in nature are pretty beautiful.
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Thank you Emily for the shout out of GWGT. I too have an iPhone and never saw the add on lens yet. It does a pretty good close up and really shows how hairy bees really are. Macro work is difficult getting good focus, even with a tripod when you are as close as you have gotten in these images. The first shot is very, very good.
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It is a good add on considering it’s only $15 and is so easy to carry around in my purse. No wonder they’re sold out at the moment.
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Hi Emily,
Can you buy the add on lens in the UK, or just online/from USA…
I have an Apple Fan’s birthday coming up….
Thanks, Sara x
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Hi Sara,
That website is the only place we know of that sells them sorry. Maybe try e-bay?
Drew also got me some special gloves that work on touch screens like iPhones for times like waiting at the bus stop, might be another good present for an Apple Fan! This website sells some: http://www.touchscreengloves.co.uk/
Em
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