Comment on Photo sale by Insect hunter

Insect hunter — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:30:43 +0000

Thanks Han Cheng, for the encouragement. You hit the important aspect of any form of endeavor, it is patience and perseverance. In many ways, a believe brought to the extreme, becomes a religious vigour, a singularity, that may shed light on the subject matters when dig deep enough into the core or root of it. A single lens, whether 90mm or 100mm, could create a whole dimension of pictorial landscape, however small the insect world is, we could see their world if the photographer first see it and record that feeling he had on film, whether digital or negative. His unique vision will show through if he does it long enough and share it with all those who read into his picture.
Here are some things I did when I could not find insects:
It wasn’t that I could not find insect, it was my expectation of finding a great insect to photograph. Glass hopper, butterfly and dragonfly are every where. I forgo that expectation, and let what may come to me when I walked among the bushes or at the edges of the pond. I shot and practiced with them, learn their habits, their movement, their nature, their live and their cycle. I read about them, both by observing and reading information on the internet. I began to take interest in their being. In the process, I invisibly became intimately involved with them. I became their soul mate knowing every move they would make. Sometime I could let them walk on my finger, however strange it may sound. All this is a subconscious becoming, I do not search or force it to myself to become in this state of being, it comes into me as I spent more time with them. Yes, therevare always favoritism, we favour some insects or spider over others. We are equipped with this faculty when we are presented with a variety of options to choose one over the other.
For the simplest or common insects that came to me. I would watch them and observe them intensely. I would not shoot more than 4 different insects, most of the days, I concentrate on a single insect for weeks, take my recent shots on the crab spider, it was shot over a period of 2 weeks. Also, I usually only bring a single lens and camera out to shoot. Fluidity and lightness were the 2 important believes that stayed with me for the last few years. For the longest time, I prefer prime lens or fixed focal length lenses.
You already have the equipment, next is practice and practice. Something will come once you do it long enough. May be 10,000 hours spent shooting them is what you need to perfect your craft and find a certain way of seeing.

Comment on Photo sale by Han Cheng

Han Cheng — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 07:21:10 +0000

Your website is amazing! I like your website a lot. I personally have a Tamron 90mm macro lens but I had a hard time hunting insects. I guess it really takes a lot of patience to capture beautiful shots like yours!

Comment on Appreciation of the MicroWorld, Talk by Insect hunter

Insect hunter — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:06:09 +0000

Thanks David. Yeah will plan for more talks.

Comment on Cyclosa and Wasp. Wasp nibbling in mid-flight by Insect hunter

Insect hunter — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:00:52 +0000

Thanks. This picture was once in a life time chance. I had never seen another, for 5 years already.

Comment on Cyclosa and Wasp. Wasp nibbling in mid-flight by sandra742

sandra742 — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:47:17 +0000

Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. Cheers! Sandra. R.

Comment on Appreciation of the MicroWorld, Talk by David Guo

David Guo — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:12:11 +0000

It was a very fascinating afternoon for me, Meng Foo.

You are as passionate about this hobby as ever, and I am happy to see you pursuing it relentlessly towards a new dimension.