What a chance to play around with my new macro lens. This is a magnified view of the side of a lovely Baltic amber pendant that my husband gave me for Christmas a while ago. This is a hover fly which became trapped over 50 million years ago. When I point this out to people there are two distinct reactions one - why on earth would you want to wear a dead insect around your neck? or two (the people I generally get on with) - how amazing. Actually now I can see him in such detail, I'm feeling quite sorry for him!
Looking at something this old gives me a huge thrill. It's a feeling similar to what I had when I worked in a library with some very old books: "This book was made when Henry VIII was on the throne of England, and I'm touching it!" Of course your amber and the captured fly are far, far older than that. Such things are goosebump-producing, don't you find? This is a wonderful photo, very special, as is your pendant. I love my macro lens; if I had to give up one of my two lenses, it would be my zoom, not my macro. Have fun with yours! I'm going to give this a fav, it's so special.
@tristansmum It is quite amazing to own something this old. You must have come into contact with some amazing books in your career, brilliant to be able to see them first hand rather than in cabinets.
@nicolaeastwood My old Sigma totally packed up in January (apparently the gearing has gone??!!.. translate as very expensive to repair if possible at all), new one is very nice though!
