Another attempt at macro photography. I was sitting outside on the balcony when I heard a sound as this small (1/2 to 3/4 inch) bee dropped down onto the arm of the chair where I was sitting.

For once I actually had the right lens within easy reaching distance. The bee didn’t seem to want to leave any time soon so I was able to take a few pictures, of which this one was the best.

A footnote: I took this picture about a week ago. Yesterday afternoon I was sitting on the balcony again when I felt a sharp prick on my left shoulder. Having been stung before I knew immediately what it was. I took off my tee shirt and shook it out and a small bee dropped out and scuttled away. I’d always heard that bees die after they sting, but this didn’t seem to be the case with this one. It looked suspiciously like the bee in the picture above. Maybe it was annoyed because I’d posted its picture to Instagram.

Taken with a Sony A6000 and 7artisans 60mm F2.8 Macro Lens

I was going into New York City with a friend and we’d arranged to meet in Law Park (my town park). I got into to the village a little early so I could have a coffee at the Moonbean Cafe. After I’d finished my coffee I was walking past the pond in Law Park when I noticed this magnificent Egret.

As is often the case I didn’t really have the right camera/lens combination for taking pictures of birds, but I guess he/she was probably used to people and so let me get quite close.

Taken with a Fuji X-E1 and Fuji XC 16-50mm f3.5-5.6 OSS II