<p>Still Here.  I think this is big news and a big deal.  T'ai Roulston and his identification triggerman Skyler Burrows stopped by the lab this week to work on some tricky bee ids and brought this Bombus affinis in from  Sky Meadows State Park at the edge of the Blue Ridge in N. Virginia to have its picture taken.  20 years ago this would be no big deal as this species was common, but populations have subsequently tanked and the last ones see alive East of the Great Lakes were found in New England in 2009 (and only 1).  So there is hope that populations persist and may claw their way back from their punishment by introduced microcreatures.  Collected as part of a joint Smithsonian/Front Royal Blandy Experiment Station/ UVA project to look at meadow restoration.  Nice to have good news. 
</p><p><br><b>               18:09, 17 November 2014 (UTC)18:09, 17 November 2014 (UTC){{{{{{0}}}}}}18:09, 17 November 2014 (UTC)18:09, 17 November 2014 (UTC)</b>
</p><p><br>
All photographs are public domain, feel free to download and use as you wish.
</p><p><br><b>Photography Information: </b>Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Stackshot Sled, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens,  Twin Macro Flash in Styrofoam Cooler,  F5.0,  ISO 100,  Shutter Speed 200
</p><p><br><i>Further in Summer than the Birds</i>
Pathetic from the Grass
A minor Nation celebrates
Its unobtrusive Mass.
No Ordinance be seen
So gradual the Grace
A pensive Custom it becomes
Enlarging Loneliness.
Antiquest felt at Noon
When August burning low
Arise this spectral Canticle
Repose to typify
Remit as yet no Grace
No Furrow on the Glow
Yet a Druidic Difference
Enhances Nature now
</p><p><br></p>
<pre>      -- Emily Dickinson
</pre>
<p><i></i>
</p><p><br><b>Want some Useful Links to the Techniques We Use?  Well now here you go Citizen:</b>
</p><p><br></p><p>Basic USGSBIML set up:
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-_yvIsucOY">www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-_yvIsucOY</a>
</p><p><br>
USGSBIML Photoshopping Technique:  Note that we now have added using the burn tool at 50% opacity set to shadows to clean up the halos that bleed into the black background from "hot" color sections of the picture.
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdmx_8zqvN4">www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdmx_8zqvN4</a>
</p><p><br>
PDF of Basic USGSBIML Photography Set Up:  
<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="ftp://ftpext.usgs.gov/pub/er/md/laurel/Droege/How%20to%20Take%20MacroPhotographs%20of%20Insects%20BIML%20Lab2.pdf">ftp://ftpext.usgs.gov/pub/er/md/laurel/Droege/How%20to%20Take%20MacroPhotographs%20of%20Insects%20BIML%20Lab2.pdf</a>
</p><p><br>
Google Hangout Demonstration of Techniques:
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://plus.google.com/events/c5569losvskrv2nu606ltof8odo">plus.google.com/events/c5569losvskrv2nu606ltof8odo</a>
or 
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c15neFttoU">www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c15neFttoU</a>
</p><p><br>
Excellent Technical Form on Stacking:
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.photomacrography.net/">www.photomacrography.net/</a>
</p><p><b>Contact information:</b>  
Sam Droege  
sdroege@usgs.gov
301 497 5840
</p><p><br></p><p><b>               18:09, 17 November 2014 (UTC)18:09, 17 November 2014 (UTC){{{{{{0}}}}}}18:09, 17 November 2014 (UTC)18:09, 17 November 2014 (UTC)</b>
</p><p><br>
All photographs are public domain, feel free to download and use as you wish.
</p><p><br><b>Photography Information: </b>Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Stackshot Sled, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens,  Twin Macro Flash in Styrofoam Cooler,  F5.0,  ISO 100,  Shutter Speed 200
</p><p><br><i>Further in Summer than the Birds</i>
Pathetic from the Grass
A minor Nation celebrates
Its unobtrusive Mass.
No Ordinance be seen
So gradual the Grace
A pensive Custom it becomes
Enlarging Loneliness.
Antiquest felt at Noon
When August burning low
Arise this spectral Canticle
Repose to typify
Remit as yet no Grace
No Furrow on the Glow
Yet a Druidic Difference
Enhances Nature now
</p><p><br></p>
<pre>      -- Emily Dickinson
</pre>
<p><i></i>
</p><p><br><b>Want some Useful Links to the Techniques We Use?  Well now here you go Citizen:</b>
</p><p><br></p><p>Basic USGSBIML set up:
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-_yvIsucOY">www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-_yvIsucOY</a>
</p><p><br>
USGSBIML Photoshopping Technique:  Note that we now have added using the burn tool at 50% opacity set to shadows to clean up the halos that bleed into the black background from "hot" color sections of the picture.
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdmx_8zqvN4">www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdmx_8zqvN4</a>
</p><p><br>
PDF of Basic USGSBIML Photography Set Up:  
<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="ftp://ftpext.usgs.gov/pub/er/md/laurel/Droege/How%20to%20Take%20MacroPhotographs%20of%20Insects%20BIML%20Lab2.pdf">ftp://ftpext.usgs.gov/pub/er/md/laurel/Droege/How%20to%20Take%20MacroPhotographs%20of%20Insects%20BIML%20Lab2.pdf</a>
</p><p><br>
Google Hangout Demonstration of Techniques:
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://plus.google.com/events/c5569losvskrv2nu606ltof8odo">plus.google.com/events/c5569losvskrv2nu606ltof8odo</a>
or 
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c15neFttoU">www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c15neFttoU</a>
</p><p><br>
Excellent Technical Form on Stacking:
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.photomacrography.net/">www.photomacrography.net/</a>
</p><p><b>Contact information:</b>  
Sam Droege  
sdroege@usgs.gov
</p>
301 497 5840
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/54563451@N08">USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab</a> from Beltsville, Maryland, USA
2014-09-25 20:22
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usgsbiml/15169109958/">Bombus affinis, F, face, big sky meadows, virginia_2014-09-22-17.57.06 ZS PMax</a>