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Construction Worker Bee - Constructing the Hive
Construction Worker Bee - Constructing the Hive
kaiser12345


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Construction II (Basic Editing)
Camera: Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro
Location: Garage Door
Date: Jun 14, 2009
Aperture: 16
ISO: 400
Shutter: 1/200
Galleries: Nature, Macro
Date Uploaded: Jun 16, 2009

 This is the beginning of a hornet hive being constructed on the top of my garage door. Spent about 40 minutes snapping away with my macro and an inexpensive ring flash while balancing on the top of a step ladder. I couldn't use a tripod but was able to brace the lens against a wall a few inches from the nest. I don't like to edit much so the photo is pretty much as seen through the lens.

This was the last photo I took that day...before this guy went on the attack! It was the only sting I received but that's enough. I got the message :-)

After seeing that the shots turned out pretty well, I looked to see what challenges were available. I was lucky that Construction II was one of them. I don't know if voters will say this does not meet the challenge but, if you click the link below, you'll see that this guy is clearly a construction worker...

I was going to submit a different photo that actually shows the building process a little better but it's probably too busy for DPC (link below). In the other picture the hornet on the right is spitting out a ball of chewed up wood while the one on the left is using specialized 'tongue' behind its mandibles to pull up and manipulate the drying wood mixture into the paper-like walls of the nest. There are a bunch more pictures at the link that show the process from different angles and a much better view of the tongue at work. It's pretty interesting to watch the building process.

//www.ultimatephoto.smugmug.com/gallery/8563716_cVoYU#564099595_AzCNq-XL-LB

Statistics
Place: 4 out of 70
Avg (all users): 6.5642
Avg (commenters): 7.9375
Avg (participants): 6.1563
Avg (non-participants): 6.6531
Views since voting: 2433
Views during voting: 349
Votes: 179
Comments: 29
Favorites: 6 (view)

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AuthorThread
 06/24/2009 10:39:30 AM
Your outtakes are excellent as well - very much appreciate the link to those.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2009 10:20:46 AM
Oh awesome! You know why I love a photo like this doing so well and showing itself so proudly on the first page? Not only is it an amazing photo! But there was a time (before your time :) when the voting community decidedly let people know that it was not acceptable to think outside the box and submit something even so much as slightly out of the literal interpretation of the challenge. Way to GO! And I'm proud of our progressive thinking now. Congratulations on an honorable mention with this very impressive shot that fits the challenge to a T :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2009 07:47:53 AM
I am just back on dpchallenge after a long break. I see people are still giving he most amazing shots, scores of under 5. Very Disappointing. At some point people need to give up on their greed for their own scores and appreciate true art like this shot! Congrats on such a fabulous job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2009 04:32:40 AM
great pic, first entry - top 5. congrats, Mark
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2009 02:28:45 AM
That ring flash really made the difference here. But I bet it has had a long-term effect on those waspy's psyche... Really good photo IMO.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2009 01:21:51 AM
Congrats on 5th. Great image, I like the different approach to the subject.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2009 12:04:52 AM
this is absolutely fantastic ..
such a brilliant macro .. such excellent details .. WOW .. !! ..:)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/23/2009 10:30:09 PM
That is a superb shot and all the better to see the wasp in context.

Congrats on your HM
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/23/2009 09:20:03 PM
Big Congrats on the Top 5. I am so glad this did so well. Well deserved for a super shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/23/2009 08:20:22 PM
Congrats on your top 10 finish!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
06/23/2009 04:48:01 PM
Nice depth of field. You make this look easy.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/22/2009 11:09:21 AM
Slightly DNMC, great image though!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/22/2009 09:13:31 AM
Great bug shot and it totally fits. 10 and a fave.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/22/2009 02:38:16 AM
Unique, clever, well-shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/21/2009 04:50:46 AM
Great out-of-the-box thinking that even fits the challenge perfectly. You've captured an amazing amount of detail, the bee's pose is excellent, and his colors are exactly what you'd expect to see on a construction site.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/19/2009 04:52:44 PM
great idea, well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/18/2009 11:35:14 AM
The background feeler is awesome, love that sense of hidden activity - cool shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/18/2009 07:15:40 AM
very good, thinking out of the box...wouldn't have thought of this...but it is an excellent example
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/18/2009 01:28:00 AM
Lydia this yours ??? wonderful macro. Hope the voters are voting based on the quality of the image.8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/17/2009 07:15:12 PM
awesome shot!!!!!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/17/2009 02:43:40 PM
This is outstanding!!! I hope it wins.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/17/2009 02:16:34 PM
fabulous - I C blue 4 U
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/17/2009 10:09:13 AM
This image better take the blue, it deffintaly stands out in this challenge, a great idea! The quality is superb. My only nitpic is the large white border. I wanted to do something like this, but couldn't find anything like it. Congrats on an awesome capture. (not voting yet)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/17/2009 06:37:47 AM
Pretty cool,nice job of capturing the bee
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/16/2009 10:01:46 PM
Fantastic! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/16/2009 09:56:07 PM
Great shot but that there is a wasp not a worker bee lol
Good take on the challenge
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/16/2009 09:24:39 PM
Its a perfect macro shot, love the colors, but somehow dont feel it meets the challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/16/2009 08:47:53 PM
excellent detail 9/10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/16/2009 08:38:44 PM
Based on the ones I've voted on so far, I think you have a ribbon here.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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