On January 1st 2017, at the suggestion of my dear friend Felicity, (FBailey, please do view her transition from auto to highly inventive) I joined the 365 project. I lasted about 2 months and a dozen images.
One year later, this will be my second attempt and I have promised myself that I will stay the course. I know that my fascination for insects will remain paramount and expect that most of my images will reflect that interest.
I strive for perfection, but if I get there will my journey be at an end? What could come next?
My first offering is “Where it all began.”
7.30 pm, August 15th, 2005, the evening which changed my life and damaged my bank balance. My interest in birds & butterflies was about to escalate beyond belief into something even more wonderful and enduring.
I’d gone to Wheatlands, a new, privately owned, but open to the public, nature reserve near York.
I had a camera, hardly used and then only on full automatic. I had no idea how to work the wretched thing, it was all a mysterious mystery.
Then Joy showed me an image, still within her camera.
It looked like a blade of grass – until she gradually expanded it, revealing masses of insect eggs.
I was HOOKED.
I learned to use the macro settings.
The world of the tiny opened up to me. I began to SEE where previously I had only looked. Things I hadn’t noticed leapt out and screamed for attention. Two months later, on October 14th, I took this photo of a bee feeding on a bramble blossom. I hadn’t realised how exquisitely beautiful a bee’s face is, how complex, the textures, shapes and colours.
I was HOOKED.
Then there was the fly blowing a bubble. Why? How did he do it? Do ALL flies do this? What about other insects?
And just exactly which fly, wasp, bee, hoverfly have I captured on camera? Things to learn, books to buy.
I was HOOKED.
Over the years, many subjects have claimed my attention & interest, none have snared me in quite the same way, so deeply. Most have been passing fads. This is serious.
I didn’t understand any of the technical twiddly bits. My “technique” was point, click, hope, view, delete – sometimes it even worked. But I had fun, great fun.
I have met delightful people, a few in person, many online. Some have become dear friends, precious beyond words. They know who they are.
Joy had no idea what she was starting that evening, neither did I, but:
I AM HOOKED.
Now, several cameras, lenses, books, hours of reading, experimenting, failed attempts to move away from the tiny world later, I have a greater knowledge base, both of photography and insects. I remain frustrated that my images are not as good as I want them to be, frustrated that my camera can't/won't/doesn't capture what I want it to. But still my interest prevails, my desire to learn more, to understand why, how, what, continues to grow. And now, many years later, I realise that the more I learn, the less I know, and still ...
I AM HOOKED
This was the beginning of my photographic journey and my great fondness for the insects we take for granted or abhor or try to annihilate with our sprays and toxins. They are essential to our existence, we destroy them at our peril.
jesika
010118
Happy New Year to you,
jx
j
I am fascinated by insects and the great variety of beetles.
j