August 15 2005, the evening which changed it all
7.30 pm, August 15th, 2005, the evening which changed my life and damaged my bank balance.
I’d gone to Wheatlands, a wonderful 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 Jones 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.
Eventually I learned to use the macro settings.
The world of the tiny opened up to me. I began to SEE when I looked. Things I hadn’t noticed leapt out and screamed for attention. Two months later, on October 14th 2005, 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 don’t understand any of the technical twiddly bits. My “technique” is still point, click, view, hope, delete – sometimes it works. But I have fun, great fun.
Some one told me macro photography is the easiest form. That may well be true, but what a wonderful world is revealed.
I have met delightful people, some in reality, many online. Some have become dear friends, precious beyond words. You know who you are.
Joy had no idea what she was starting four years ago, neither had I, but: I AM HOOKED.
150808
This sky where we live
Is no place to lose your wings.
So love, love, love.
Hafiz حافظ
Human beings are members of a whole,
In creation of one essence and soul.
If one member is afflicted with pain,
Other members uneasy will remain.
If you have no sympathy for human pain,
The name of human you cannot retain.
Saadi
“Of one Essence is the human race,
thus has Creation put the base;
One Limb impacted is sufficient
For all Others to feel the Mace ”
—Saadi (1184–1283)
“There is only one sacred manuscript, the sacred manuscript of Nature, which alone can enlighten the reader.” Hazrat Inayat Khan
All profits from my sales will be donated to Butterfly Conservation.
My Images Do Not Belong To The Public Domain. All images and writing are copyright © jesika 2005-2009. All Rights Reserved. Copying, altering, displaying or redistribution of any of these images without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.
August 15 2005, the evening which changed it all belongs to the following groups:
All Around the Styles, Animal Kingdom, Art 4 Charity, Bee & Wasp Passions, Birds and Creatures of Flight, Butterflies, Skippers, Moths, & Other Winged Insects (2 a Day), Conservation Photography, Descriptions, Friends, Live, Love, Dream: May you have a Blessed Christmas Season , Masterpiece: Photography, Nature's Wonders, Plight of the Bumble Bee, Shameless Self-Promotion, Something To Say, The Addicted Photographer►2 Per Day◄, The true beauty, The Woman Photographer **7 Submissions a week only please** and Victorian Viewfinders Available for sale asGreeting Cards
knightingail
wow such a close up picture! it’s fascinating to see all the little hairs on its legs and body
Yool
Stunning macro here Jesika
Jamaboop
Oh wow…nothing like coming face to face with a bee. What a fabulous macro shot!!
Kate Adams
Stunning macro Jesika!!!!..I like your post edit..yes it a great tiny world out there and we haven’t even touched the surface.:))
jansnow
This is a superb macro Jesika! I love it, and I love your story of gaining interest in this wonderful media!!
shadyuk
Great shot!
Anne Smyth
stunning – the textures and the face are wonderful—yes, they are fascinating and wonderful. You have really done them justice
karen Bradshaw
Well whatever you did jesika its a fantastic shot well done
Bonnie T. Barry
Thank you, Joy, for introducing Jesika to tiny things and twiddly bits; my world is so much richer as a result! Another fantastic close-up, my dear friend!
Bonnie T. Barry
Oh, and Happy Anniversary!
Joseph Rieg
A great close up of this, you did yourself proud.
pjd69
Nice shot jesika…and a great read…..its always good to hear where people get their passion from…
cherylc1
wow- incredible macro- gorgeous!!
George Lenz
awesome macro… what a woolly guy he is..
PrairieRose
Well My Dear Jesika….....your passion really does show through your lovely macro shots! I just got a new macro lens myself and I don’t really think it’s as easy as most folks think…....hope I can capture some great work half as good as yours…......Hugs, Rose xo
Richard Veal
Happy Anniversary Jesika.
Im glad you discovered macro photography, as your photos have brought a lot of pleasure to me, and many others.
Keep up the good work. xx
David Friederich
So beautiful, Jesika, whether you know the twiddly bits or not. You are very good at this. I love all the work you have shown us, and love your description for this one.
Cheri Perry
What an outstanding image. The write up is excellent and sure touches home for me. :) I had a “Joy” also and also around 2005 sometime. I have since bought a different camera and I too love to do macro’s. It is a different world for sure…but you sure seem to get excellent shots. This is just perfect…close and the details are fantastic. Do you use a tripod for these macros. If not you have outstandingly stable arms…lol. That is what messes my photos up..I shake too much. :) Anyways, you have some outstanding macro images….beautiful work.
Barb Leopold
Beautifully written Jesika, from the heart. What passion and how lucky you are to feel it! And it shines in your work my dear!!
brian pendrey
awesome macro
Sharon Perrett
Stunning macro J, loved reading how you got hooked :) xxxx
Jim Hunter
Jesika maro and bees, great shot keep it going Jim
North0f40
They have such an intense look to them don`t they…. Cool point of view
artist4peace
DUH, FOUND IT!
artist4peace
GREAT STORY,congratulations, and I know exactly what you mean…....I have been mystified by photography,and only a few weeks ago accidently saw i had macro!oh yea..look out raindrops….
LOVE YOUR WORK! an inspiration to me/ty/ad4p
jesika
I thank you all so very much for the incredible response to this photograph and narrative.
I enjoy “capturing” my tiny subjects and knowing that they bring pleasure to others is enormously rewarding.
Many, many thanks
jesika
x
eaglewatcher
What a wonderful story Jesika. Now we all get to benefit from your talents. Thank You!!
Martie Venter
Amazing macro and beautiful writing, Jesika! I will be buying a macro lens for my new DSLR soon, thanks for the inspiration!
jesika replied
Good luck with your macro lens, Martie. life will never be the same…....
Thank you for all your support
jesika
mikrin
Wonderful macro Jesika!!! Love the colors and detail!!! great story!!
mausue
Fantastic macro. Great detail and lovely composition! :)
eddiepark
Great shot!
Gethin
hi jesika,
fantastic ‘life changing’ image :) great front on pose and nice diagonal composition. great details too. awesome work
DiEtte Henderson
Hello Jesika, I hear what you are saying and I’m right there with you. I’m a macro freak, love it, love it, love it. This is a stunning image!
Wildwings
I am glad you were hooked. This is a stunning macro.The details are superb. The flower buds are so beautiful too. I really enjoyed looking at your portfolio.
LYN EVANS
Absolutely fantastic image
Tania Biancon
l love this shot. Fantastic.
erattik
gr8 shot…well done
Karen Zimmerman
great shot, jesika! Macros are amazingly addicting, yes??
Steve Chapple
Great detail and DOF!
Gili Orr
That’s great – both image and writing! Should send it to the ImageWriting group ;-)
moonglow
Stay hooked Jesika you do this wonderfully well.
Peter Davidson
Wooo … stunning shot!
Luci Mahon
Excellent work jesika! I can see why you got hooked! : ) x
Photomojo
This image and you fantastic description of you introduction to the “tiny” was most enjoyable!!!! Keep on zooming in and clicking. I have experienced this phenomena and it is all so fascinating and sparks my curiosity too!!!
SharonD
Brilliant macro jesika.
Paul Davis
Your story is awesome (although expensive clearly) and what a fantastic image… I can see why you’re hooked, it’s such an amazing photo!
NaturalDisaster
amazing ♥
Michael Wolf
Great macro J and i enjoyed your write-up
Bill Morgenstern
Really fine macro J.
ApeArt
fantastic and wonderful commentary too. well in my experience i think macro is definitely the hardest form of photography by far. I find everything else a doddle, but macro an awful pain. a delightful pain when you get a great capture, but a pain the rest of the time, scrabbling about in the undergrowth, trying desperately not to breathe when you take the shot, trying to get a good dof and going cross-eyed and developing housemaid’s knee in the process…
Alexanderargyll
excellent shot…........... i havent tried these for years ...;-)
Phil Deaves
Great shot…well done….a very good macro image.
AlexandraPhoto
a lovely story and a so beautiful image of a busy bee !
Cheri Perry
How did you know what I felt in my heart? You speak words I could not have put any better. I too love macro photography. and when you say: “I don’t understand any of the technical twiddly bits. My “technique” is still point, click, view, hope, delete – sometimes it works. But I have fun, great fun.” Oh how I know what you mean. I still use my auto settings on my camera including the Macro setting. I have tried to use the manual settings, but the camera does so much better…lol So I stick to them for now. I’ll start using them some day, but now right now. The one thing I would like and am saving for, is a Macro Lens. Ohhhhh I’d really go nuts with that. :) I do try to mimic others settings that they have put with their images. Just to see if something comes out as good for me. It doesn’t always work though…lol
This image is absolutely spectacular. You did a fantastic job capturing this one. I’d love to know what the settings were for this one. Absolutely beautiful.
jesika replied
Cheri, thanks so much for your comment. the macro world is such a joy and revelation.
To my surprise, Opanda has managed to salvage Exif data from a tiny jpeg image.
I used an Olympus C74OUZ 3.2 mpx(how I wish I’d kept it!)
Super macro setting & probably sports setting as well.
1/100” f3.2 iso64 auto everything & something called creative program. All very new to me, I’d never run an Olympus image through Opanda before.
I hope you get your macro lens and have great fun using it.
jx
digitalpoetry
Very nice capture Jesika great macro.
lorilee
FANTASTIC!!!!!
rasnidreamer
This is quite an awesome shot! I LOVE macro photography but like some others I have to wait to get a good lens.
jdmphotography
Stunning macro !
Adam Gormley
Brilliant macro image, so crisp and clear! Love the narative writing too :)
Xandru
Terrific macro!! The sharpness and details are amazing.
PICMART
Fantastic capture!
Richard G Witham
Wonderful work Jesika … by the way I find Macro to be the most difficult form of nature photography and you’re doing a great job at it :)
Anthony Hedger
What an amazing shot – wow!
Gene Walls
Your photograph and narrative are pure GENIUS, personified. You have verbalized my exact feelings precisely! I love your image, but your well-chosen words have stricken an even deeper nerve. Thank you for expressing the thoughts and emotions of a truly certifiable macro addict!
bubbleblue
Wow, stunning shot.
sporadicgleam
fantastic close up.. n lovely story :)
sfmilner
Greetings Jesika; Very beautiful and stunning work ! Excellent !
steve
micklyn
Excellent macro, wow!
dougie1page2
wonderful jes!! how the hell do you get that close without them flying off????
Robin Webster
Stunning!!!!!!!!!!!!
robmac
A wonderful shot Jesika and RB wouldn’t be the same without you so keep them coming, regards Rob
JennyDean
what a wonderful moment when you found the macro button! bout the same time as me Jx! and the bank balance well, yes, ummmmm just ask my man :)love this shot!
Christopher Jo...
great photo
shaneran
wonderful macro…. especially as a beginner… I loved your story of how your love for photography evolved. I’m about like you although I’m learning more, but a lot is point and shoot and hope it works… and sometimes a really great one works and it is wonderful to be able to upload it and have others enjoy what I thought was great! I’m rambling a bit…. just wanted to say I relate to your story….and this is fantastic!! ♥ Jan
Johnny S
Wow, amazing capture and details.