Tag Archives: Zoom lens

Cool, windy and cloudy, I went on a quick scouting mission yesterday, trying to locate more potential bug shooting locations. I want to develop a list of locations near  home so that I know where I can go when I only have a short time for photography. In Edmonton,  that usually means somewhere in the river valley. Between errands, I went with my camera  and GPS to the nearest valley access point. I park, hoist the camera and stroll down stairs and paths until I get to the trail closest to the river. Walking up along the river, I am pleased to see some exposed bank ahead and make may way up the embankment to have a closer look.

The exposed face of the bank is pocked with holes, and a nearby buzzing  tells me I have found a colony of some sort of bee. I stand still, and soon one comes in to land – it is a deep metallic blue. ‘Eureka!’ I think to myself…followed quickly by ‘Dummkopf!‘ as I realise I have no macro lens with me. I stand and watch for awhile.

The bees are sensitive to my movements, but by watching which hole they enter, I  know I could place myself to photograph these as they emerge. I mark the location on my GPS. It wasn’t to be my only frustration. Within half an hour, that strip of exposed river bank and the path below it revealed at least 5 different species of  bee, 2 wasps, a large salticid, a few grasshoppers and one tiger beetle! I could have cried…

The sun disappeared behind clouds again. I had a little more time to linger.More inner cursing, and I wend my way back to the car and home again. I’ll be back with my macro equipment when time allows.

(All pictures with Nikon D8o and the Nikkor 18 – 200mm VR zoom lens)