Bee

[Christopher Miller]

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m244/CAMiller290/BPN/P8120257ResizeWeb.jpg

Shot this last summer and just recently got around to processing it. I'd be curious if anyone knows what kind of bee this is; it's not one I'm familiar with.

Any C&C are welcome!

Olympus SP-550 UZ
f3.5 @ 1/125, ISO 100, -0.3 EV
Program mode, auto WB, natural light
Processed in PS CS2; cropped, curves adjustment, saturation increase, noise reduction on BG, and cloned out two cut-off petals

[Julie Kenward]

Nice, clear head-on image of the bee, Christopher! I would check your yellow saturation, though, as it feels really heavy on the back half of the flower. I also think either giving this a sprinkling of contrast or lightening/brightening it just a bit would give the bee more life. Nice pp work!

[Christopher Miller]

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m244/CAMiller290/BPN/P8120257ResizeWeb2.jpg

Thanks for the suggestions Julie. I've brightened the picture a little and toned down the yellow on the flower. How does this look?

[Steve Maxson]

I like the repost, Christopher. What an interesting head/face this bee has. The multicolored eye is striking, the fuzzy forehead is "cute," and the open mandibles top it off. Good colors and very sharp where it needs to be. Sorry, I can't help on the I.D.

[Ed Cordes]

Repost is much better. I like the detail in the eye and mandibles.

[Christopher Miller]

Thanks everyone!