Close-up and macro photography its art and fieldcraft techniques by Thompson, Robert

Exploring the natural world in close-up has, for me, been a journey of enlightenment, knowledge, and discovery. I have spent most of my life engaging with nature, intrigued by its beauty, complexity and fragility. For the masses who go about the daily routine of life, most are oblivious to the smaller world and its significance in sustaining the ecological equilibrium in our own. My fascination with nature stems back to my childhood days which were spent exploring an extensive parkland estate where I grew up. During the summer months, I often witnessed the profusion of bright blue damselflies that congregated among the bankside vegetation of the 105-acre lake adjacent to our home. My attraction to nature and insects had its beginnings then, and although my interest in natural history has extended to encompass other related fields I have always sustained my fascination with insects, particularly dragonflies, butterflies and moths. Many people see only the big picture, unaware of the microcosm of life around us, which is one of astonishing beauty and mystery. Through visual inquisitiveness and curiosity, we can discover the underlying harmony and connectedness of nature in minute detail, from the scales on a butterfly’s wing to the dewdrops clinging precariously to a fine blade of grass; all of which can be captured in incredible detail and immortalised in print and screen.