Yes, I’m a photographer who spends hours upon hours photographing flowers outdoors, is passionate about flowers, has a website all about flowers, and…I am seriously afraid of bees.

I have squealed like a small child and run in the other direction from that “scary” buzzing noise.

I’ll easily admit that I, myself, think it’s ridiculous how I react to a bee as they buzz by me. There have been many times that I have squealed like a small child and run in the other direction from that “scary” buzzing noise. Though I feel even more embarrassed when a humming bird comes zooming by my head, and I totally freak out thinking it’s the largest bee in the world. By the time I calm down, I can only laugh at myself and hope that the next time I won’t react so frantically; a work in progress.

While on a flower shoot at The Huntington Library and Botanical Garden in San Marino, California, I came across a tall tree overflowing with large clusters of soft pink pompom flowers hanging from it. This tree reached over two stories high. Its flowers had the aroma of a freshly baked cake and it attracted, what seemed like to me, every bee within a 60 mile radius. With all of these bees buzzing around, I found it was a challenging decision for me: photograph this flower and maybe risk embarrassing myself in front of anyone in the area or miss the opportunity to shoot this lovely pom-pom of a bloom. I decided I could not pass up its beauty. I braved the next hour and a half photographing it as bees were truly flying all around and even bumping into and bouncing off of me, and I did everything I could not to run far, far away.

When I finally finished my shoot, I could truly feel how exhausted my body was from suppressing my fear and staying calm. Fortunately for me, the other flower I photographed that day wasn’t nearly as attractive to bees. Phew!

Share with me below if you too have a fear of bees, or share with me one of your fears and how you looked it right in the eye.

You can find this flower in my Society6 storefront, along with five other beauties, where you can order stationery cards, large prints, tote bags, and more!

FEATURED FLOWER
Tropical Hydrangea. Photographed @ The Huntington.

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