Very nice example walwyn.... Thanks for sharing these shots.....Alex

Expensive gear not necessary
 

I would like to say to all budding macro men and women, don't think you have to have a DSLR to achieve results like the ones shown in this thread. All of these pictures could equally have been taken with, for example, a Fuji F10 which can be picked up on eBay for about £50. You may well have to get closer and be a lot more skilful with your stalking, but it can be done. I know because I've done it.
Timedrifter

There should be a good discussion of ethics of that approach. I remember how the debate raged about refrigerating insects before taking pictures.

20 or 30 seconds is not quite long enough. I can spend more than 10 minutes with a particular insect. This shot was taken about one minute into a session with the insect:
http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...842&ppuser=472

this one was taken about six minutes later.
http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...719&ppuser=472

One minute apart on these two shots:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/overton...57600340691937
http://www.flickr.com/photos/overton...57600340691937

technique, technique, technique

If only I'd heard of these tricks of the trade when I was a kid running around mums garden with my Spotmatic and 50mm lens getting nothing but blur.
Would like to think i have slightly more patience now, but probably not much.
Much in admiration of dedicated people goin g for these shots.

The alternative is to confine them between panes of glass.

Don't be so defensive. The discussion of cooling insects for photography got quite heated on the Canon forums a while back. It also got heated about the use of live bait for photographing owls.

Hey the spray thing is a good idea - and yes there are billions of insects but don't you then get photos of insects covered in 'frost?

I am becoming passionate about macro work. Apart from anything else SPOTTING the insect is half the fun then the rest is working out how to get a good shot.