Stunning Close-Up Photos of Honeybees

By livelifeandlove on August 4, 2021

My Macro Photography

With macro, you can see how detailed the small portion of the honeybee appearance. These honeybees are my morning visitors, I was fortunate to take photos with ease all in the comfort of our own garden.

Honeybee constant movement and flight patterns is difficult to take, it really requires patience and observation. During photography time as my most quiet moments, I treat bees as my friends the same way as humans, it’s just a bond throughout photography hour. I just need them to keep still for a second for zoom setting.

Honeybees Extreme Close-Up Shots

As the morning sunshine illuminates the honeybees, it lends a golden glow to this scene.

You can clearly see their complete body parts; triangular head, pair of sensory antennae, thorax, abdomen, three pairs of legs, outer shell called exoskeleton.

Honeybees has 5 eyes: 2 compound eyes and 3 simple eyes.

Till next post… Take care and Keep Safe

Thank you for reading my blog!

3 Comments

Brilliant Red Dragonfly Pictures

By livelifeandlove on November 7, 2019

I’ve photographed my morning visitors, it’s a daily ritual to welcome all winged insects such as honeybees, butterflies and of course, today’s subject is a sleepy one, a brilliant red dragonfly or Red-veined darter Dragonfly landed on a small tree trunk. Using only a single subject and constantly changing position to consider the best creative angle to choose from. Let me show you the result, it’s a fresh shoot taken this morning.

Stunning Pictures of Red-veined darter Dragonfly

Brilliant red dragonfly or Red-veined darter Dragonfly is not widespread, it is rare here in the Philippines.

You can clearly see the three distinct segments here.

This is the best advantage of macro you can see and discover what is hidden behind.

The center of interest is the visual appeal of the dragonfly.

When photographing dragonflies, it usually requires macro to see tiny details that even the naked eye can’t see.

How I wish to create a clear detailed dragonfly image.

Morning atmosphere is just right this time. Following the basic rules, Macro photography is not always as easy as you think but it is rewarding.

Point of focus to my subject to which I think is suitable for my morning hobby. Just a closer shot from a distance.

Morning light works well this time. I just hope you’ll enjoy viewing my dragonfly images. Thank you for visiting my website.

Leave a comment

Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography

Rainforest Butterfly House

By livelifeandlove on July 26, 2019

Butterflies are one of the most visually stunning and scientifically fascinating insect that can be found on earth, they receive the widespread admiration they deserve. Today, I’m confident that I’ll be able to capture something interesting and I’d be delighted to share the narrative on how I managed to do in here the wonderful world of butterflies.

Considered by many as the most beautiful habitat, Rainforest Butterfly House displayed several species of living butterflies from a garden enclosure. You are free to wander around in this area to admire and engage with different kinds of butterflies. You will also see here all the nectar flowers which is a butterfly favorite but the most interesting part is that you will witness the release of the newly hatched butterfly on their first flight. Butterfly house offers an educational tour with a guide to supply adequate information about butterflies.

This is not my first time to visit this location in fact my last visit here was in October of 2018, a month in which the temperatures are mild and the amount of sunshine and cloud cover in the sky is definitely good in comparison to this year. I’m enjoying a half-day of shooting here.

Rainforest Butterfly House

Butterfly garden is an enclosed butterfly habitat, it is a place that caters to the feeding and housing needs of butterflies at every stage of their lives. It is also a place for guests to watch the insects and engage in educational activities with them.

Butterflies are winged insects that have antennae that are knobbed and wings that are rainbow-colored. When at rest, butterflies hold their wings in an upright position. The most effective pollinators are butterflies, dragonflies and bees.

Components that make up a butterfly

A graphic depicting the anatomy of a butterfly including important parts presented here. Students and researchers alike will view this as of basic importance. I just snapped these photos, you may have noticed that it is a picture that captures the natural clarity of a butterfly as it pollinates a flower.

My sister snapped this photo as I strolled around the beautiful behind-the-scenes moments.

Taking in every little bit of time I get to spend with my most beloved pollinator. My spirit is alive by the process of documenting my interactions with the various pollinators that flit around the numerous flowers. I couldn’t wait to get some pictures of them.

**Caterpillar Habitat**
**Monarch and Paper Kite Caterpillars**

Raising eggs, caterpillars and butterflies. You can clearly see the life cycle of a butterfly here. (Butterfly photos below)

As the butterflies emerge from their cocoons, I get to witness butterflies maiden flight outside.

What sort of food do butterflies consume? In addition to the nectar of the flowers which is more nutritious for them however, kite butterflies have a preference for sweet fruits such as ripe mangoes, bananas, watermelons to name a few. You’ll find all of the butterflies favorite fruits right here.

At home, we also have our own backyard garden which is frequented in the morning by honeybees, dragonflies, and butterflies but when it rains, we do not have a weatherproof enclosure for the butterflies, it is just a free and natural habitat.

These dazzling insects have a certain endearing quality perhaps, it’s their rainbow of colors or the fact that they serve a useful purpose by pollinating flowers either way, I can’t take my eyes off of them.

Feeding time

Complex and drawn-out process of courtship.

Butterfly mating

Wonderful World of Butterflies

During my recent visit, I was able to capture these beautiful photographs of butterflies. Only three distinct species of butterflies were able to be photographed at this location: a lime butterfly, a golden birdwing butterfly, and a paper kite butterfly. Other species were not present during the time of my visit.

I hope my readers will enjoy viewing these photos and it’s nice to know that I’m not the only one who feels this way. When I set-up to write about these lovely pollinators to feature here, I just wanted to share a few things. I have already received praises from students and fellow bloggers who love butterflies. Photographing butterflies is a very satisfying hobby and I’m having fun with it. Let’s get started. Happy viewing!

Lime Butterfly

Paper Kite Butterfly

Golden Birdwing Butterfly

Lime Butterfly Gallery

Note: To view images in a larger size, click on them.

The monarch butterfly prefers to feed on sweet fruits such as mangoes, watermelons etc. However, in my garden, in addition to nectar from flowers, monarch butterflies hang from lime trees which bear citrus fruits.

Paper Kite Butterfly Gallery

Note: Click on images to view larger

Golden Birdwing Butterfly Gallery

Note: Click on images to view larger

If you are an insect lover like me, you should invite butterflies and bees to your own garden, make your own garden an educational ground and a lovely place to enjoy all the agents of pollination.

The Rainforest Butterfly House is an ideal location for conducting research on butterflies and taking photographs of them. Let us work together to ensure the survival of butterflies by preserving and protecting their habitats.

Thank you for reading my blog!

7 Comments

Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography

The Fairy Butterfly

By livelifeandlove on December 1, 2017

There’s no preventive measures taken to drive away garden pests here especially the caterpillars, even if serious attacks can be expected to cause damages to some plants, it’s not that troublesome garden pests, damage is just mild and not severe. The coolness factor, they will surely turn into beautiful butterflies, a natural beauty and a good garden display for photography. I’m just waiting for that time.

Eventually, the right time comes earlier than expected, a white butterfly caught up hanging on a grass that looks like a beautiful and elegant fairy in bridal gown. It looks like a lavish floating angel wearing an ivory silk laced gown and skirt double flared with an outlined brownish shade that flows naturally downward…

There’s no absolutely no reason to have a boring garden, having some pollinators in the backyard garden gives me a wide range of possibilities to take good butterfly pictures with a number of different angles probably but this one is just simple but a hard to catch angle. More butterfly images next posts, all butterflies was captured in our own garden, call it our morning pollinators.

Leave a comment

Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography

Summer Outdoor Photography

By livelifeandlove on September 11, 2017

I’m having a good time viewing particular scene, so busy checking and organizing old photos from summer outdoor photography. Months has been passed but still I can feel the scents of summer upon seeing it, how nice to bring back moments from before. Few photos shows broad and lovely setting that will surely change your mood, it depends upon time of the day taken. Result shows timely but to some photos, I admired. Check the results of my outdoor photography, it’s my daily collection to keep memories bright and alive all the time.

Sometimes, you don’t need to look afar, my surroundings has more to offer when it comes to my daily activities. I’m doing a good habit to find the best subject which is closer and nearest to home. Following my daily path, the bees, butterflies, birds, flowers and insects are the easiest to capture which serves as the best subject.

The refreshing image of hibiscus will give lushness of the garden. Gumamela widely spread around and it’s commonly called, ”Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis” I never miss to photograph the first flower appeared in the morning. What a cheerful sight to see all the glorious blooms!

Red Hibiscus is a Chinese single petal Gumamela it’s commonly called,”Rose of China”

Another particular scene shows the reflections of the sun far from behind the Orange Gumamela

You can see here the natural light behind the subject, the widespread of sun rays reflections that passes through straight direction, it produces and fully emphasized multi-colored lights, it seems the flowers and the honeybee absorbs the light completely.

The direct sun rays pointing to the the honeybees while pollinating the flower, it makes the color of the 2 subjects to appear clearly brighter but it’s quiet dramatic. Scene like these, is a rare snapshots!

The last one, this image will probably change your mood, it was captured late in the afternoon…

Leave a comment

Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography

Pollination: Honeybees Upside Down Position

By livelifeandlove on August 31, 2017

It’s honeybee olympics,”The Insect Olympics,” Let me show you some exciting and incredible tricks of the honeybees, you’ll see the worker bee performing some great deal of balance in the air while pollinating the flowers. Having a hard time reaching the nectar, honeybees turn their bodies upside down position, the easiest approach and most comfortable way to collect nectar but only a few can…

Leave a comment

Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography

How do Carpenter bees Pollinate Flowers?

By livelifeandlove on August 18, 2017

When a carpenter bee (Bubuyog) visits the flower, it pushes its way into the tube like bell petals in order to sip the nectar. Most of our flowering plants have large flowers specifically fitted for the insect pollination but the bell petals simply the easiest to pollinate. In doing so, they transfer the pollen from one flower to another, the transfer of pollen is called ”cross pollination”

The interesting part to show you here is the process of step-by-step pollination done by a certain carpenter bee.This is quiet hard for me to photograph while observing the bees, the good part, I’ve completed the whole process. As shown, this is how a small carpenter bee pollinate a flower

The first step

The second step

The third step, the small carpenter bee will stay for a minute to pollinate and come back again to pollinate the same flower, the bee comes and go for at least a hundred times a day.

Leave a comment

Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography

18 Stunning Photos of Butterflies

By livelifeandlove on August 7, 2017

Some of my favorite subjects to capture are the birds, bees and butterflies. Among other specific groups, how can you get closer to the subject? Winged insects and animals are the most challenging subjects to take because they have hyperactive wings, they cannot keep still. Another thing to consider is the shooting location with the weather as it plays a very important role. August is a rainy month and the temperature changes from time to time, greatly affected by the weather, outdoor photography is hard whether to go ahead with your plans for the day or not. I simply waited for a good timing that sunny day will greet me with a smile.

Among my favorite location to shoot, one is the Rainforest Park conveniently located nearby. Little did I know, it’s equally good to take pictures of other interesting subjects of flora and fauna just about anywhere here, this vast landscape offers beautiful scenery to take so, Here it goes, butterflies would be the first to consider before other subjects.

Photography side, what I want to avoid if ever, when a butterfly picture in a set is taken with the same kind of flowers are particularly noticeable, it looks boring. It would be better to shift into different contexts, I’ve found some of my snapshots lately repeating the same manner, Daaa! In search of butterfly photos? There is something for you here. Ok Folks ! Happy Viewing! Lets get started!

18 Stunning Photos of Butterflies

The first photo shows a Monarch butterfly hanging upside down position is a rare chance to get. What a good timing! I don’t want to lose this opportunity, I’m avoiding quick movements moving slow motion. Like most winged insects, most of the time they flew away before I have had a chance to take. Patience to wait is the name of the game!

Having a hard time to focus my camera, how I wish I can approach them but how can I? With a variety of butterflies around, I’m rushing to snap the Monarch first.

At times, I waited for a quick stop even for just a second but seems hard to wait, I just stand-by to where I expect them to land. I’m sure they will come to pollinate the same flower again..

The green butterfly

The only problem here is the sunlit area, other areas shows low light in hazy afternoon calling for flash to some areas, it calls to brighten the dark shadows.

Mid-afternoon is the best time to snap butterflies, seems they are more friendly if tired so, it’s easier to snap and to this time, you can always expect where butterflies are.

Graceful landing!

The yellow butterfly

Butterflies in flight is very difficult to photograph but not necessarily best photographed in flight. just a serious try!

My 2nd shot for the upside down position.

Flying upward position.

A happy surprise! Two butterflies together pollinating one flower.

Stunning poise!

2 Butterflies lined up on the same stem of Maidenhair fern.

Black butterfly with large wings spread-out

I could go more into details but photos will give you a clearer view before my words. Good focus should be given a good consideration as I simply go for quality rather than quantity. Higher blurry rate gives frustration but good result is worth rewarding. Most of the photos that was published previously was taken from faraway island haunts but stunning photos of today are best featured for you.

2 Comments

Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects

Muntingia Calabura Fruit andFlowers

By livelifeandlove on March 10, 2017

Muntingia Calabura blooming under full sun,the petals changes its position and lean to the light and flop over. It’s a small,and white star-like flower that has a crepe texture petals and golden yellow anther that attracted insects around. However, the sepal and stigma is color green,so with the evergreen leaves. During hot season, the taste of the fruit is quiet sweet and juicy but during rainy days, it’s tasteless as it’s only good for the birds and honeybees.

Leave a comment

Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects

Red Rose of China-Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis

By livelifeandlove on November 25, 2016

What a gloomy feeling but these morning starters, Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis flowers will cheer me up. Since it’s a common flower around that we see it everyday and every time around the corner that its simply boring, the only way to be appreciated is to make the shots beautiful. I captured these flowers while doing my daily jogging at Capitol Commons, I was about to finish my last round but in between quick stop to snap the flower. That’s a bit distraction, Whew! It’s good I brought with me my iPhone, just a right time to snap also the bumble bees and the butterflies.

Leave a comment