Bee / flower macro
Any body + macro or 100mm
Get a sharp insect on a flower with a soft, creamy background.
Settings
Mode: Manualwhat's this?
macro exposure and focus are too fiddly to leave to auto
Aperture: f/5.6–f/8what's this?
enough depth to cover the bee, still a soft background
Shutter: 1/500–1/800swhat's this?
freezes the bee and your own handheld sway up close
ISO: 200–800what's this?
low for clean detail; raise only to keep the shutter up
AF: Single-point on the eyewhat's this?
at macro distances depth is paper-thin — nail the eye
Dial it in
- Manual: f/6.3, 1/640s, ISO to taste.
- Single-point AF on the bee's eye; rock gently to fine-tune focus.
- Shoot a quick burst — the bee never holds still.
- Keep the background distant for the creamiest blur.
Common mistakes
- Aperture too wide (f/2.8) — only one antenna is sharp.
- Shutter too slow — your own movement softens the shot at 1:1.
- Chasing the bee instead of pre-focusing on a flower it's heading to.
Pre-shoot checklist
- Diffused light / overcast best
- Single-point AF
- Burst drive
- Watch your shadow off the subject
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