I came across this adult hawthorn shield bug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale) in the garden today and it proved to be a good subject for a bit of macro photography. I really enjoy photographing objects in close-up detail because it gives a completely different view, but insects simply are some of the best subjects for close-up  work as the high magnification reveals their alien-like features. I accidently disturbed this guy from his hibernation which meant that the hawthorn bushes in the garden are not yet in leaf. I made a decision to use a bit of flowering current (Rubus) as a prop and it works OK for the shot. A couple of speedlights, softened with home-made diffusers to kill the specular highlights and the legendary 200mm macro Nikkor revealed this beautiful insect in fine detail. I had to use an aperture of f/40 to get as much DOF into the image as possible – it’s remarkable how the focus falls away at high magnification!

I’ve just created a new illustrated lecture on the art of macro photography which has gone down well with a couple of the local camera clubs recently. I cover lenses techniques, lighting and a whole host of macro photography tips, so if you are looking for a speaker for your camera club, just give me a call on 01924 229800 or send me an email through the contact form above. If your club is interested in seeing more of my commercial work, visit John Gardner Photography for an idea of what to expect.