Jasper asked that I share my thoughts on his blog today. He knows I've been out taking pictures of bees and other insects lately. He thought his readers might enjoy the images and my message.

I've written about my passion for photography before. It's an amazing experience to love how you spend your time.  When I study life from behind my camera lens, I get transported into a new, and incredibly fascinating world. I start to see the blades of grass and leaves differently; more from the view of my main character, whomever that happens to be on a given day.  Yesterday, my star characters were several ladybugs. Until yesterday, I'd only photographed a ladybug one time just a few weeks ago. On my new page called INSECT PHOTO JOURNAL you will find many more photos of these curious, little beauties in all sorts of scenes.

 Doing macro photography is probably similar to exploring life beneath a microscope, only it doesn't go nearly as deep as that. Nonetheless, it's an extraordinary world to observe, and from the time I'm focusing my lens until I leave, I feel a part of something special. I get to experience a part of life often revealed only in books or documentaries. 

Photography has many highs. There's the high of being in the field, out there camera hunting ready to capture an unexpected moment in time for eternity. Then there's the rush of focusing just so and clicking away. Following the character from one scene to the next is mesmerizing. Then there's the ride home with the camera full of potential glory. It's a rush every single time. When I get home, I greet my kitty, and head straight for my computer where I begin the next rush: downloading the images. And finally, there's the sweet of all sweets when I get to see hundreds of moments in time captured by the marvel of a camera, and when the timing is perfect along with the lighting and focus and angle, I get the best rush of all - a photograph to cherish and share.  I wouldn't sell my passion for a million dollars -- or for any amount of money.  

For a 'starving artist', I'm happy getting to do what I do. This kind of passion is priceless.

One last commentary ... 
It's amazing to get up close to the insect world and see them react and interact with me. They aren't oblivious to humans at all. They are very aware of sounds and movement, and some are aware of scent. The more I discover and learn about all forms of life, the more connected I feel to the world, and the more precious I view all life. 

When I tromp across grass and through the weeds, I'm aware I'm entering the world where so many insects make their home and are carrying on their business of living. It's made me more conscious of how everything is interrelated. I tread more lightly now; more mindfully.