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Flight of the Bumblebee


Flight of the Bumblebee
Photo Information
Copyright: Ken Slade (Ken52) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 640 W: 98 N: 1241] (4189)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05-17
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT), Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, 58mm circular polarizer
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/200 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Bees [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-06-02 22:54
Viewed: 817
Points: 44
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
A few weeks ago I went to a new place near Grapevine Lake to take photos. It was a very rustic environment with trails for hiking and horseback riding. With camera in hand, I hiked along the trail through a heavily wooded area and suddenly I came upon a sun drenched opean meadow full of wildflowers. It was a nature photographer's paradise. In addition to the many species of wildflowers, butterflies were every where. There were also bumblebees, honeybees, and even a hummingbird made a brief appearance.

It was there that I got this shot of a huge bumblebee in mid-flight. It hovered in place like a helicopter for a few seconds and I took a couple of photos. I was suprised that it was in focus considering that my shutter speed was 1/200s. Here is the second photo.


Did Scientists Once Prove That Bumblebees Should Not Be Able to Fly?

A well-known myth says that scientists once proved that bumblebees should not be able to fly. The myth started from an over-simplified calculation on a napkin at a dinner party. But even detailed models of the flight of the bumblebee are limited because they are based largely on the motion of tethered bumblebees, which behave differently. Now Lijang Zeng of Tsinghua University in China and colleagues have devised a laser system that accurately measures the key parameter in the flight of any insect - its 'body vector' (Lijang Zeng et al 2001 Meas. Sci. Technol. 12 1886).

The story about bees not being able to fly arose because the roughness and flexibility of their wings was neglected in a quick calculation. The wings of a bumblebee bend to create vortices that provide lift on both the upward and downward strokes, and a full analysis of the bee's flight involves many factors: wing angle, wing deformation, aerodynamic and inertial forces on the wing, and so on. All of these parameters are expressed in terms of 'body vector' - that is, the exact orientation of the insect's body.

Existing methods for measuring the body vectors of insects in free flight assume that the wings act symmetrically, but this only happens if the insect is flying in a straight line. To measure body vector more accurately, Zeng and colleagues developed technique that accounts for more realistic curved flight paths.

The team glued a sliver of glass weighing just 0.8 milligrams to the top of a bumblebee's body, between its wings. The bumblebee was then allowed to fly freely inside a small clear box, illuminated from above by an array of 49 lasers. As the bumblebee changed direction and orientation, the laser beams bounced off the glass onto a trapezoidal screen suspended above the box.

Synchronized cameras above and at the side of the box monitored the position of the bumblebee and this allowed the team to calculate the angle of reflection of the laser light and then the body vector. Coupled with velocity and acceleration data provided by the cameras, the technique should allow biologists to model insect flight much more precisely. Using the new method, Zeng's team found that the bumblebee's body vector varied considerably, even as it flew in their small experimental chamber.

Source: http://physicsweb.org/articles/news/5/10/9


Aperture = f5.6
Shutter = 1/200s
ISO = 400
Focal Length = 300mm
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens
Luis52, angybone, jaycee, Alex99, uleko, Argus, Debz, iris, jcoowanitwong, sunkirana, star74, gracious has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To TommyB: ThanksKen52 1 06-18 22:29
To jaycee: blue beeKen52 1 06-03 12:45
To GaetanV: ThanksKen52 1 06-03 01:27
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1111 W: 5 N: 3457] (12761)
  • [2007-06-02 22:57]

Hola Ken. Bella tu foto de esta Abeja en pleno vuelo. Debe ser muy dificil lograr una foto asi. Muy clara y con exelente BG. Luis52.

  • Great 
  • trinko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 593 W: 79 N: 323] (4314)
  • [2007-06-02 23:05]

great action capture. that's one big bee!

WOW! AMAZING PHOTO.A MOTION MIRACLE.
GREAT! EXCELLENT! NICE WORK!

Great photo, love the stillnes of the bee and motion of the wings Fantastic!

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1899 W: 36 N: 5578] (18516)
  • [2007-06-03 3:45]

Hi Ken,
Outstanding shot of this bumblebee in flight. I know how difficult it is to catch them this way. Very impressive details and the wings are perfectly captured. Excellent POV and a smooth BG. Very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hi Ken ,
what a nice moment.
very well captured. it has great details.
Thanks for sharing
Regards
Saeed

Hi Ken, splendid flyng bumblebee, great focus and lovely blurry BG, very well done, ciao Silvio

hi Ken, good and hard soht in same time. I saw you had 300mm lens and iso 400. good job without noise.
Marjan

However do you do this? WOW! That's great.
I noticed the speck of something on his back. Is it birthmark ya think? ha ha
THis is a wonderfully clear flight photo. Excellent!!!!

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2007-06-03 11:17]
  • [+]

Hi Ken,

Wow! How much better can you get? You froze this bee in flight wonderfully. Sharp and clear with wonderful details. The wings are fantastic. Good colors - a blue bee?? Looks great against your bg. I love it!

Jane

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3581 W: 143 N: 5669] (18529)
  • [2007-06-03 12:03]

Bravo, Ken.
It is really great luck to take such shot but only skilful photographer can use this chance. My congratulations. Superb work. Terrific details, sharpness, colours and light. TFS and kind regards.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3805 W: 190 N: 11321] (34909)
  • [2007-06-03 13:18]

Hello Ken,
Fine in-flight capture of a Bumble Bee, in fact amazing considering the shutter speed.
Great composition and BG and fine lighting showing the iridescence on the abdomen.
TFs and best wishes,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • Debz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 516 W: 0 N: 846] (3307)
  • [2007-06-04 7:08]

Hi Ken, this is a wonderful shot of the Bee in flight! I like your shutter speed choice showing the wings fast movement. Colours, sharpness and detail are superb. Great pov and dof. Great catch.
tfs
debz

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2988 W: 162 N: 933] (2743)
  • [2007-06-04 9:28]

Hello Ken,
Two very fine in-flight shots of this Bumble Bee! I can hear it buzzing! Amazing DOF and sharpness. I like your note too!
Many thanks and best wishes, Ulla

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 855 W: 23 N: 942] (5111)
  • [2007-06-04 11:11]

Bonjour Ken, voici de la concurrence serieuse!! toutes mes félicitations, Didier.

Hello Ken,
Nice in-flight shot. This bumblebee is well in focus. Nice pov and composition.
JC

Hello Ken,
An interesting capture of the moment!
Good motion blur in the wings, ane the image display well details in the body when flying like leg position and use of antennas...
Well framed and with good details!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 469 W: 60 N: 947] (3016)
  • [2007-06-06 12:23]

Hello Ken,
Great shot of the Bumblebee buzzing and in action.
Good BG and details on its body.
TFS & Cheers

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-06-09 23:49]

Hello Ken

A wonderful capture.The DOF and POV are well done.excellent sharp focus and details.The OOF BG is super.TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • TommyB (62)
  • [2007-06-18 19:31]
  • [+]

Hi Ken,
Great shot, it makes him seem alot bigger than he actually is. Almost like a hulking bomber or something. My favorite part are his antennae. Thanks
Tom

hi ken, very good work here. the body of t e bee has retained good details.

good work, TFS, regards, Kiran

  • Great 
  • star74 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 212 W: 3 N: 598] (2474)
  • [2007-06-20 13:00]

Hi Ken,
Amazing macro shot,
Perfect timing and background,
Colors and details are beautiful,
Well done

Hello Ken,
very good close-up captured of this in flight bee!
good sharpness with details in action
lovly catch
cheers
Tony

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