bzzzz

This was one of my first attempts at Macro photography, back in 2003 (!!). I had just gotten my new Canon Powershot G3, which Canon dubiously marketed as their “Prosumer” line (the midway point between “consumer/general” and “professional”). Clever I suppose, I bought into it.. as I wasn’t ready to move into the cost of a DSLR (and wasn’t that impressed with the cost/return ration on them at the time). It was like a point and shoot on steroids I suppose.

This shot was taken in my backyard while the bees flew around me everywhere. Somehow this one wasn’t bothered by me at all, I guess he sensed I was no danger (or that I was more afraid of the damage he/she could do to me than I could to him/her?). This was hand held, just foot zooming as close as I could and still be in focus. What I really like about it is that if you look at the largest size (here), you will see the pollen dripping from the flower as the bee is doing his/her thing.

So the thing about macros that really draws me in is that there so much of life that we can’t see. So much beauty. So much life. Macros catch some of what we miss and offer us new perspective on every day things we see all the time.

This relates to my own life in so many ways. There is so much that I don’t see every day, be it because I am too busy, in a rush, or just distracted. I am trying to make an effort to take it all in – to savor every moment – but often failing miserably. I don’t know how many years I have left on this earth, so I want to savor each and every experience. While that sounds easy, it isn’t. So often it is hard to let life drive you instead of you driving it.

This photo is one of many that remind me of that.

-b