I aint no nature photographer . . .

. . . that's for sure. I just realized that I don't have the patience for it (plus I have no idea how they get the animals, bugs or pests to stay so still so they can set up and shoot - it may go back to the fact that I have no patience for it)

Anyway, I have never played with my 70-300 as a macro lens and so when I noticed a busy bee beside my chair while drinking my afternoon tea this afternoon, I grabbed my E-3 and 70-300 and rattled off a dozen shots or so. First few were at f5.6 and focus was virtually impossible to nail on his/her tiny head. I cranked the aperture closed a little - better - but still too shallow. Anyway I could only focus so close with the lens fully extended, and so have to crop heavily to get close enough for a half interesting shot. My question is how in the heck does one get close enough to shoot only the eyes of these things (I kinda know the answer and don't really care - I don't have the patience for it)?

The Olympus 70-300 does admirably as a close focus lens in a pinch and allowed a working distance fully extended, of a few feet so I didn't get stung:

Olympus E-3 : 70-300mm lens : f9 @ 1/250'th : 800 ISO

patience is a virtue.. a trick is to find a popular flower, set up to shoot it and wait for the insect to land on it. People have been known to bait the flowers as well.

You did very well for having no patience, hope your tea didn't get cold. [grin]

Hmm, patience for people, but not for nature. 
I dont understand it, but its a great photo!

Corey

Oh my goodness, the focus is awesome!