Lavender in Profusion: Busy Bees

Recently I purchased some macro lens filters for my digital camera. I have been wanting to conduct some closeup photography for some time. I was reviewing an older SLR photography book that referenced these filters and went looking to purchase a set. It doesn't require the purchase of an expensive macro-zoom lens since I can use the zoom lenses I already have. With these attached combinations of 1-, 2-, and 4-diopter filters, they definitely offer some new perspectives in the Creative Pursuit.

I would like to say I have been busy as a bee but in comparing relative persistence and productivity, they have me beat hands down. The lavender is in profusion.

 Original Photo: Lavender in Profusion - Copyright James E. Martin 2012

And the honey bees and bumble bees have each blossom covered. I have spent a few moments in sunny mornings chasing bees to capture the appropriate depth of field [pun intended]. They move fast and I have to get within 8-12 inches of them and focus based on my precise distance to the object not by adjusting the lens. It's a chase.

Original Photo: Busy Bee 01 - Copyright James E. Martin 2012

Each spring and summer, I watch for the return of the bees to the flower and vegetable gardens and their prodigious behavior throughout the season.

With the advent of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), it's nice to know how the pollen gatherers fare. Entire economies are founded on their successful activity in pollination of our food sources. The study of the worlwide supply chain for honey collection and distribution is a fascinating one. There are interesting effects in the system dynamics because of the effects due to inventories, pricing, long term storage, reconstitution of honey, food labeling, high volume pollination services, cross-country bee transport, and contamination along the production process path that affect the consumer. Honey is considered one of the best foods for general preventive health. Using honey produced from local pollens presumably protects against allergies. For health reasons and to support the local economy, I became convinced to source and use nearby small business and hobby producers. It's all interconnected.