Hi @hopeful33250 , the bumblebeewatch.org website has a nice page that outlines their recommendations on photographing the bumblebees, I had to read that a couple times and it takes some practice. I'm finding that the bees aren't bothered by someone holding a phone over the flower. That photo I provied is enlarged actually on the bee, I wasn't that physically close to the bee or the flower. I had to read up on instructions on how to use my smartphone properly too. Like the website says, the bees have not really been aggressive toward me, and if I get too close, they just buzz away.

Here it is, it's kinda hard to find. Here are the tips for photographing the bees:
https://www.bumblebeewatch.org/photo-tips/

I'll add this too, my daughter works for the Iowa DNR, so I subscribed to their emailing list and receive regular updates. The DNR in Iowa requested that volunteers go out and survey the bees in their area, that's how I learned of this conservation effort (and fun exercise opportunity). Here's the article from Iowa
https://www.iowadnr.gov/About-DNR/DNR-News-Releases/ArticleID/2008/Join-the-search-for-Iowas-endangered-bumble-bee

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