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Woman Conquers Fear

© Melissa Olsen

Woman Conquers Fear

Uploaded: August 13, 2008

Description

Given that I am a lady who is scared to death of bees I felt pretty proud of myself for getting this close.

Nope I didn’t use a macro lens…I literally took that big Mark 1Ds III with a 16-35mm wide angle lens and got as close as I dared (I figured that if he was going to get me that he would fly right into the camera giving me a chance to run. I had to use this lens as I forced myself to leave the other lens at home so I wouldn’t not have the option to change lens (sometimes I have to take drastic measures like this or else I get side-tracked from goal…LOL).
Normally I would not have taken on the risk of getting this close to ANY bee, however the orange band fascinated me and I had to have the picture. After researching I found out that this bee is an Orange-Rumped Bumble Bee.

Exif: F Number: 11, Exposure Bias Value: -1.00, ExposureTime: 1/40 seconds, Flash: did not fire., ISO: 100, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 35.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

Comments

Melissa Olsen August 13, 2008

One more thing: (You can't stop a woman on a roll when she has something to say) LOL

“Aerodynamically, the bumble bee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumble bee doesn't know it so it goes on flying anyway.”
~Mary Kay Ash
#979001

Dominick M. Dimacale level-addict August 13, 2008

Lovely image and details noted here, Melissa.

Dominick #6307760

Sherran Andersen level-classic August 13, 2008

This title made me laugh Melissa... aren't you brave to get this great capture! Sherran #6307854

JO ANN CLEVELAND August 13, 2008

How cool Melissa, love your story too

Great job

jo ann c. #6307856

Renata Gusciora August 13, 2008

Great job,Melissa!:-)Lovely image! #6307964

Ray Clarke August 13, 2008

I had a fiend who used to stroke bees on plants and never got stung. Great image and effects Melissa. !!!(R) #6307998

Jessica Jenney August 13, 2008

Lovely colors and effects, Melissa! #6308165

KARU WIJESUNDARA. A.N.P.A.S. August 13, 2008

IT'S A NICE PRESENTATION HERE.
KARU. #6308168

Sheila D. Robertson August 13, 2008

Delightful story.....and a good shot with that lens! I love your treatment of this. Nice work. #6308279

Kitty R. Rodehorst-Hanna August 13, 2008

SPECTACULAR, Melissa!!!!! Wonderful effects and the colors are exceptionally beautiful!!!!! ♫ k #6308336

Derek D. Dafoe August 13, 2008

Beautiful shot and treatment!! I'd sure love to shoot a couple frogs with your Mark IDS III!! #6308341

Eivor Kuchta August 13, 2008

I love your title and story, Melissa! Great capture, too. The lighting is so nice and even, and you've got a great composition. #6308355

Kimi A. Phillips August 13, 2008

What an entertaining story!:) It was worth it...GREAT SHOT! #6308440

Melissa G. Meiselman August 13, 2008

WOW, Melissa, you really captured that bee well with sharp detail, great colors and fantastic effects!! #6308562

Denny E. Barnes level-deluxe August 13, 2008

My wife is with you about not liking bees. She has to carry a bee sting kit with her all the time. She has a very bad reaction if she gets stung. Love your shot and effects, Melissa! Very well done!!!....Denny #6308563

Vladan D. Djordjevic August 13, 2008

Terrific colors, details composition and amazing effects! #6308695

Tiia Vissak August 13, 2008

cool colors, effects & angle! #6308881

Mike Clime August 13, 2008

Beautiful capture and nice effects, Melissa! #6309028

Karen Engelbreth August 13, 2008

LOL - wonderful image and title, Melissa :0) #6309076

Bill Knaps August 13, 2008

Oh Melissa, I think your effects on this are so very very beautiful. Great shot and work. Bill #6309145

Eugenio Diaz August 13, 2008

Awesome image Melissa!!!
the contrast in colors is so gorgeous, the composition so wonderful....Perfect!
Looks like a drawing. Beautiful!
The PP effects are outstanding!!!
Well done!!!
Regards! #6309483

Kay E. Mahoney level-classic August 13, 2008

NICE CAPTURE, MELISSA. BEAUTIFUL COLORS. LOVE THE EFFECT. #6309798

ROLAN NARMAN August 13, 2008

To the woman on a roll: ANOTHER MAGNIFICENT IMAGE!!!!! #6309918

Linda D. Lester level-classic August 13, 2008

This is just too funny! Wonderful job!!!! #6310065

Debbra Bailey August 13, 2008

Way to conquer your fear!! Well worth it! This is a great image - I really like the effect you gave it too! #6310251

Nadya Johnson August 13, 2008

Great macro, Melissa! Looks like a bee-day for both of us... I do this too (get closer than I really want.) So far - so good! None of my visitors have been aggressive. Great effects on this! #6310463

Kirsten Kiki Kjaer August 13, 2008

You're very brave, Melissa. Loved your story :0)
Wonderful composition, colors and effects. #6310669

Melissa Olsen August 14, 2008

Thanks so much everyone!!!
I am glad I am not the only one who has a fear of bees. LOL
Ray and Audry: My son also strokes them with his finger. Creeps me out! #6311327

Mitch Spence level-classic August 14, 2008

The wide-angle produced a very interesting shot here, Melissa. I too have to play such games with myself to force myself to do things I don't sometimes do naturally, and using that wide angle is one of them, although I love what it does. The effects really work well here too. #6312336

Jodi Zimmer August 14, 2008

Beautiful image,colors and effects!! #6315310

Susan M. Campbell August 15, 2008

You conquered your fear and ended up with a terrific shot!! Way to go Melissa. #6316472

frank w. degenhardt August 17, 2008

Melissa- Good evening my dear friend. Now that is a story. Am proud you won this round with your fears of them. When I do bees I jam that camera right in their face with my macro lens, have'nt been stung yet, but am happy to hear you braved it for a wonderful and rewarding picture. The picture is so beautiful with the dazzling colors, stunning details, and I love the artistic look you used. Its sunny, its clear, the features of the flower and of that bee are sensational. I also enjoy the DOF with the white flowers in the background.
We got to see a beautiful work of art and we had the added joy of reading that hilarious story that makes you just laugh.
Incredible work on both.
Well its almost midnight so I will say have a great morning that leads to a wonderful day.
You take care, please be safe. #6326685

Janet Daniel August 20, 2008

Wonderful image, Melissa! WTG!!!
Keep up the good work! :-) #6339373

Melissa Olsen August 20, 2008

Thank you Mitch, Jodi, Susan, Frank and Janet! Frank...I am glad my story gave you a chuckle...sure did me. #6339416

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