26/05/2026
Last Thursday, a few of us visited a local apiary to photograph the bees and beekeepers at work. As well as the chance to get close to the hives, it was fascinating to hear about the hidden life of bees from the beekeeper. Who’d have thought that bees’ eyesight is so poor they return to the hive in a zig-zag rather than a bee-line?
Wearing full beekeeper suits gave us access most people never get. We were able to stand right beside the hives as hundreds of bees flew around us, photographing behaviour that would normally be impossible (well, risky) to see at close range.
The afternoon produced plenty of photographic variety: portraits of the beekeepers, macro shots of bees arriving with pollen, details of honeycomb and hives including the queen cell, and the challenge of capturing fast-moving insects in flight.
Judging by the conversations at the pub afterwards, several members went home with images they were pleased with.
