
I had already been dabbling in photography and photomicrography for a few years and was aware of macro photography when I joined. My first purchase, after getting a Canon 5d2 (with kit lens) for my microscope, was a 100mm macro. My interests had been wholly observational up until then (except astro-imaging for a while, which kind-of started the change), but I became mega-hooked on photo[macro/micro]graphy from this point on, and even more so now!
It was around then that I came across the work of Charles Krebs and Wim von Egmund too, here and through Nikon Small Worlds. I was spellbound by their jaw-dropping images and the standard of their work became a goal. I wanted to produce images of that quality and continually sought out their images and writings for any tips or crumbs of info I could glean while I "strived". Bet you didn't know you were being "hero-worshipped" and stalked, did you guys?
Here I am 7 years on and my work has improved. Super help from the generous people on this forum of course, and lots of try-fail-try-again on my part, but I have better skills than I did and my various, complementary specialities are (at last) meshing into a coherent whole. I may even have some kind of exhibition in me yet (another aspiration). It's true I could have improved my photography skills much faster, but I really enjoy tinkering with the many related distractions that crop up in this game, so I'm content with my progress - considering.
Of course, Charlie and Wim didn't stand still. They improved too and remain distant dots on my aspirational horizons! Gits! But that's a great thing really - not a negative. Just like it was when I started out here, there is *still* an infinite road of learning, improving, and things to see stretching ahead of me. I've found it gets even *more* enjoyable and wonder-inducing as you gain knowledge and skills too. An unexpected but very welcome bonus because things that become familiar and routine (no matter how "cool") also become deeply, deeply boring to me! Ain't this hobby grand!?
A few recent handheld "garden" macros for decoration. Flies...
A fly...
A hungry fly...