Photographing Bees: Finding Beauty in the Buzz
- Amy Cyphers
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
I believe in slowing down to notice these small wonders and gifts God has blessed us with.
"The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera." – Ansel Adams."
Whether you’re a beekeeper, nature lover, or budding photographer, capturing the beauty of bees on camera is a rewarding way to connect with creation — and to share their story.
Start with Observation of your bees
When I am doing hive inspections, I usually have a camera on me. I love shooting with my Sony camera and macro (close up) lenses, but I usually have a decision to make. I don't want to be switching lenses with my gloves on so I usually decide before I open the hive what my goal is. Sometimes I really want to get some great images of the frames of bees, sometimes my goal is very specific like finding drones or eggs to photograph.
Before you even lift your camera, take a moment to watch. Bees have a rhythm — a pattern to how they move between flowers or on the frame. Spend a few quiet minutes just watching them. If you are photographing them on flowers, notice which blooms attract them most, how long they linger, and how they move in the light.
You’ll begin to predict their next landing spot, making it easier to be ready and in focus.
Use the Tools You Have to Photograph Bees and Nature
You don’t have to have professional gear to take great images of bees. A simple macro lens or your phone’s macro mode can beautifully capture details like fuzzy bodies, wings, and pollen-dusted legs.
Fast shutter speed: Freezes motion as bees fly.
Manual focus or touch focus: Keeps the bee sharp even when it’s moving.
Steady hands: I often hold my breath when trying to focus on a bee.
If you’re using your phone, tap to focus on the bee’s eyes or wings — that’s where you want your focus to be.
Find the Right Flowers and Light
Bees love blossoms in shades of yellow, purple, and blue. Try photographing near native wildflowers or blooming herbs like lavender, sunflowers, or clover.
Lighting makes all the difference. Soft, side lighting brings out texture, while backlighting makes their wings glow like stained glass.
I have a frame hanger I use to photograph parts of a frame of bees. I usually put it on the shaded side and I'm able to then use two hands to take a picture. Dropping a frame is pretty scary and I always want to make sure the queen is protected, so the frame holder is a good idea if you want great pictures of the inside of your hive.
Tell a Story
The best bee photos show more than just beauty — they capture their behavior. Look for a bee covered in pollen, the queen surrounded by her nurse bees, one mid-flight, or two sharing the same bloom. Those tiny interactions tell the story of their busy and miraculous world.
Edit with Intention
A little editing can enhance your images — bring up the warmth to highlight the golden tones of honey and sunshine, add contrast to emphasize detail, and brighten those translucent wings. Keep it natural and true to life — that’s part of what makes bee photography so inspiring.
Learn and Share
As you start learning and photographing bees, you’ll naturally become more curious about their world — their anatomy, roles in the hive, and importance to our food supply.
That’s why I created the Honey Bee Educational Posters —I needed to use my photography for something besides just a pretty image. My posters are designed and scientifically accurate images that help you learn and teach others about these incredible pollinators. They’re perfect for classrooms, homeschoolers, or anyone who wants to celebrate the wonder of bees through art and education.
If you love photographing bees, turn your images into something cool!
Photographing bees is more than a creative exercise — it’s a reminder to pause, look closely, and appreciate the small miracles all around us. Every photo (good or bad) is a celebration of life, hard work, and beauty. The bees teach us so much aabout our world.
So the next time you step outside, camera in hand, take a moment to listen to the buzz. You might just find that the sweetest part of life is right there in the flowers.
*side note: Are you shopping for a camera? I wrote a blog post about that awhile back. Camera's have changed but the info is still the same. Happy shopping!!
– Amy, The Kansas Sweet Life
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