Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Eric Bosworth on June 30, 2015, 12:29:34 PM

Title: hive pictures
Post by: Eric Bosworth on June 30, 2015, 12:29:34 PM
I have been trying to find a way to take good pictures of frames. My wife won't go anywhere near the hives so I don't get any help from her but I was wondering how other people do it? Do you have somebody else take pictures while you hold the frame or do you somehow managed to hold the frame and the camera at the same time? I should probably get a frame stand and set the frames on it for pictures.
Title: Re: hive pictures
Post by: Rurification on June 30, 2015, 02:28:01 PM
I put my daughter in a suit and she takes the pics.   As we've gotten more used to the bees over the years, she doesn't bother with the suit sometimes if we're taking a quick look and she's just taking pics.    My other daughter, who was very scared at first, is now much more comfortable hanging out nearby when we inspect and sometimes takes the pics.   
Title: Re: hive pictures
Post by: texanbelchers on June 30, 2015, 02:56:56 PM
I've purchased a telephoto lens for my wife.  I have used a wide angle setting and done one hand on the frame and one on the camera successfully, but it gets awkward.

I've been thinking about setting up a rig that has 2 cameras pointed towards a central point.  Set up a remote trigger for both cameras where I can lower a frame into the middle and capture both sides at the same time.

Maybe I should just get a grip - or is that a best boy.  :)
Title: Re: hive pictures
Post by: GLOCK on June 30, 2015, 06:58:13 PM
Just set the frame on top your hive with a brick behind it  to lean it on works great . I use a olympus tough to take all my pics  it's waterproof and takes great pics and video . I never have help in the bee yard.
(http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae9/GLOCK3/BEEKEEPING%202014/P5260001_zpsecf94905.jpg) (http://s952.photobucket.com/user/GLOCK3/media/BEEKEEPING%202014/P5260001_zpsecf94905.jpg.html)
(http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae9/GLOCK3/BEEKEEPING%202015/P5240007_zpshiesq7cq.jpg) (http://s952.photobucket.com/user/GLOCK3/media/BEEKEEPING%202015/P5240007_zpshiesq7cq.jpg.html)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YSBtC_JOwc
Title: Re: hive pictures
Post by: Michael Bush on July 01, 2015, 08:04:15 AM
I used to have a frame holder that hung on the side of the hive.  I never used it, so I sold it to someone else.  But that would work well for taking pictures of combs.
Title: Re: hive pictures
Post by: Eric Bosworth on July 01, 2015, 11:48:36 AM
Quote from: Michael Bush on July 01, 2015, 08:04:15 AM
I used to have a frame holder that hung on the side of the hive.  I never used it, so I sold it to someone else.  But that would work well for taking pictures of combs.
That was what I was thinking about getting.
Title: Re: hive pictures
Post by: Sundog on July 03, 2015, 01:12:23 AM
I have a home-made "Gizzy" that is very handy and easy to make.  Works on a table or on the ground or on an adjacent hive.  Handy when processing too.

(http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab218/Sunchaser01/Bee%20Stuff/DSCN1159_zpsysis7k8k.jpg) (http://s865.photobucket.com/user/Sunchaser01/media/Bee%20Stuff/DSCN1159_zpsysis7k8k.jpg.html)



Or I make my son hold the frame up while I take a picture.

(http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab218/Sunchaser01/Bee%20Stuff/DSCN0708_zpsed7dncmz.jpg) (http://s865.photobucket.com/user/Sunchaser01/media/Bee%20Stuff/DSCN0708_zpsed7dncmz.jpg.html)


Great fun.   :cool:
Title: Re: hive pictures
Post by: Eric Bosworth on July 03, 2015, 07:36:10 AM
Cool I would have to go with the first option. My son is a German Shorthair Pointer.
Title: Re: hive pictures
Post by: KeyLargoBees on July 03, 2015, 09:13:47 AM
 Lack of opposable thumbs could prove to be problematical when using a camera 😀
Title: Re: hive pictures
Post by: Eric Bosworth on July 04, 2015, 07:15:52 AM
Maybe my wife's cat could operate the camera. She has two extra thumbs on both front feet... God knows she doesn't earn her keep catching rodents... Maybe she could be my camera operator...
Title: Re: hive pictures
Post by: YpsiBee2015 on July 04, 2015, 01:46:50 PM
I have used Siri on my iPhone 5s. I ask hold down the button, ask her to open the camera, then use the volume up or down buttons to "snap" a picture. Then I can hold things, keep my gloves on, etc.

The key being using the volume buttons as the shutter button on the app. Might work with other photo apps too.

I found that when I tried using my DSLR, it was to cumbersome
Title: Re: hive pictures
Post by: Eric Bosworth on July 04, 2015, 02:35:28 PM
How many bees were required to pollinate an apple tree that grows phones? I could probably do that with my phone. But the problem I have is not having enough hands and or coordination to hold the frame and the camera and take the picture.
Title: Re: hive pictures
Post by: YpsiBee2015 on July 04, 2015, 02:45:37 PM
Right, and thats my dilemma too...plus my hive is sometimes in broken shade, so some parts of the picture at super dark.....
Title: Re: hive pictures
Post by: Sundog on July 05, 2015, 02:54:06 PM
Quote from: YpsiBee2015 on July 04, 2015, 02:45:37 PM
Right, and thats my dilemma too...plus my hive is sometimes in broken shade, so some parts of the picture at super dark.....

Forcing the camera to flash will solve that and illuminate many things you don't see even with your eyes. 

I wasn't able to see eggs or find the queen in a hive I started from a cutout recently.  I then photographed all the frames and reviewed them on my PC, saw hundreds of eggs and found the queen on one of the frames. 

:cool:

http://www.beemaster.com/forum/index.php?topic=46450.msg405912#new