I aint no nature photographer . . .

[Robert Watcher]

. . . that's for sure. I just realized that I don't have the patience for it (plus I have no idea how they get the animals, bugs or pests to stay so still so they can set up and shoot - it may go back to the fact that I have no patience for it)

Anyway, I have never played with my 70-300 as a macro lens and so when I noticed a busy bee beside my chair while drinking my afternoon tea this afternoon, I grabbed my E-3 and 70-300 and rattled off a dozen shots or so. First few were at f5.6 and focus was virtually impossible to nail on his/her tiny head. I cranked the aperture closed a little - better - but still too shallow. Anyway I could only focus so close with the lens fully extended, and so have to crop heavily to get close enough for a half interesting shot. My question is how in the heck does one get close enough to shoot only the eyes of these things (I kinda know the answer and don't really care - I don't have the patience for it)?

The Olympus 70-300 does admirably as a close focus lens in a pinch and allowed a working distance fully extended, of a few feet so I didn't get stung:

Olympus E-3 : 70-300mm lens : f9 @ 1/250'th : 800 ISO

[tbnj]

I think it's cool shot, Rob. I like it. Nice comp and DOF.

And I don't know how some of these guys get the images they do of insects. They're amazing. I'm thinking I don't have the patience for it either.

[Take12]

Originally Posted by Robert Watcher

I have no patience for it

Originally Posted by tbnj
I don't have the patience for it either

Ha! That's nothing! Try shooting wildlife! Like a woodpecker. Or deer. That'll tax your patience!
With macro you can arrange a lot. With wildlife that's nigh impossible. Only unending patience and a thorough understanding of nature in general, and the species in particular will bring in great wildlife shots.

Nice image, Robert!

[Paul Shields]

I've not tried it yet, but the EX-25 extension tube should work with the 70-300mm. That would allow you to get very close to the subject. When I've used the EX-25 on the 50-200mm it was great fun. Because the plane of focus is so narrow you just use the zoom to move in and out of focus. Makes for an easyish way of doing macro as you're reasonably far from the subject.

[Ardea]

I think you did wonderfully!

And Take12 has the right take on wildlife--I mostly take shorebirds on a river (from a kayak being moved by current and/or wind) and I get a lot of critiques suggesting that I try a variety of settings and then choose the photo I like best...they never say how I get the bird to not fly away while I take the time to adjust my settings (maybe that's why I have so many flight photos !). Insects might give you a little more time than birds or deer, but they still just won't pose! I like your photo very much--I've never successfully captured an insect image.

[Robert Watcher]

Insects might give you a little more time than birds or deer, but they still just won't pose!

This guy maybe looks like he/she is sitting there for me - - - but OH NO, every shot was split second before moving on to a different spot - - - - and trying to keep the AF sensor positioned on that puny little bee head let alone while moving. And out of the 30 or so shots, this is the only one where the wings are fanned out for more appeal. I'll stick to people thanks