This weekend I was super stressed with trying to produce inventory for the show. After watching me cast on and rip out a project for the 5th time Tito suggested I take a break and go do some photography. I resisted of course, must…..work….harder! But gave in at last and even though I lost lots of production time I did manage to relax and cheer up which made it all worthwhile. Attached are some photos from the weekend, and also from the summer that are all macro; very close up shots of bugs.

This shot was my favourite one of the weekend. I had to sit there for about 20 minutes to get this one, but I think the jumping spider’s face is so cute!

For macro photography I use the Canon f2.8 100mm prime macro lens. It’s easily the sharpest lens I have and one of my best lens investments ever. On top of that I use kenko extension tubes, they allow me to get in even closer. To explain:

“Extension tubes are designed to enable a lens to focus closer than its normal set minimum focusing distance. Getting closer has the effect of magnifying your subject (making it appear larger in the viewfinder and in your pictures). They are exceptionally useful for macro photography, enabling you to convert almost any lens into a macro lens at a fraction of the cost while maintaining its original optical quality.”

(Taken from http://www.thkphoto.com/products/kenko/slrc-04.html)

I got my extension tubes used, at Henry’s, for a little less than $100. They have no glass, and they work like a charm!

Here’s a great shot – when I found that same dragonfly on another plant he turned out to have captured, and was eating, a ladybug.

Ok, so this is clearly not a bug, but I wanted to show how the Canon 100mm performs as a telephoto lens and not just as a macro, I was standing about 30 feet below this little guy.

I love the colours on this leafhopper! I love them so much I want to glaze something to match…

All I can say is… “Oh, Hai!”

This guy is having a bad hair day.

One thing I love about macro is that for at least half the year there is always something to photograph because there are always bugs about. Even in October at the Leslie Street spit we saw grasshoppers, caterpillars, spiders and even a few garter snakes. This lens is also great for birds, we saw (though I was too slow on the shutter) robins, cardinals and bluejays. Some people think the pics are gross, but I think bugs (except centipedes, eeeewwww…) are just beautiful =o)