Up Close with Nature

Like most people, I like butterflies. (Who doesn't?:D). However, while i like them and think they are beautiful, I never really have very high regard for them. So the butterflies pollinate a few flowers, plants and crops, but they are no where as efficient as the bees in this aspect. I didn't realize how wrong I was until I stumbled upon this website: Langkawi-gazette Excerpt from the page:

Macro workshop for beginners/intermediate macro photographers. Other services offered: Nature Trips; Macro Safari/Photo Tour. Upcoming workshop:  When : Once a month on Saturday and/or Sunday. Email me to book a date:  orionmystery at gmail dot com) Where : Kuala Lumpur. Exact location will be disclosed via PM to participants. Type : 2 types of workshops: (A) Full Workshop; (B) Hands- On

I have been using my Sigma 150 mainly for natural light shot for more than a year now and loving it. Just a few days ago, I acquired a pre-owned Sigma 180 so I thought I might do a little bit of side by side comparison of the two. Not on the IQ though. For that you can refer to a few excellent lens review sites such as Photozone, SLR Lens and Camera Review etc. I am mainly interested in what the

You will see nothing but just Bug Porn here.  Mating pair of green lantern bugs, Pyrops shiinaorum shiinaorum. More lantern bugs here. A mating pair of assassin bugs. Eating at the same time too. Merged from 6 ( 2 rows x 3 columns) images in photoshop. More detail here. Another pair of mating assassin bugs: A mating pair of ant-mimic crab spiders. For more wonderful spiders check this out

I mentioned the use of reflector in my "Tips on shooting with natural light" post. In this post I will show you sample shots taken with and without the use of a reflector. I use a 24 inch (60cm) 2 in 1 collapsible reflector. When collapsed,  it fits into my backpack nicely without taking up too much space. I use it not only for natural light macro but also for shooting bigger models/subjects like

I posted some of my favorite macro images from 2010 in a montage in this post, complete with links to individual images in the montage, but we all know it is more fun to view them large, with musical accompaniment, so here we go! Enjoy! Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas to all of you out there, and a Happy New Year too! Now a muack from the fly :D Hover fly Santa and giraffe weevils reindeers :D..recycled from last year, or maybe 2 years ago:D. Remind me to do a new one next year! Oh I couldn't resist adding the red nosed lanternfly in :D