What’s Your Preference?

jiminyClickit · #1 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 02:36 PM

My vacation these past few days has been more of a medical leave. It's difficult not being able to spend time with familiar DPS faces and to welcome new members, but it just wasn't possible.

Here are a few things I've seen outside my door, after much too long indoors. Thanks to those of you who've kept in touch. I've missed you all, too.

A simple deep-purple bloom, a closeup of this: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2628/...3cdb51f253.jpg

Largest moth (four inches and deceased) I've seen this year, brought to me by a friend who discovered it on her lawn.

One of my favorite wildflowers, sunlit and subtle.

And this quarter-inch guy with blue eyes - spiders are endlessly varied. And not scary at this size.

With good fortune, I hope to add more soon. Amazing, how satisfying photography has become. And it's good medicine, too!

Hayward Taylor · #2 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 03:28 PM

Health first I always say .. these images are incredibly beautiful .. you do have a way of getting in close and personal with your subjects .. I admired that about you .. stay healthy

fstopMike · #3 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 03:44 PM

And I've missed the Macro World of Jiminy Clicket! Hope you are doing much better. The moth is so captivating. I didn't realize what it was until I read your caption. As far as I could tell, it was something from a parallel universe, but none of that matters because I like it. The others are magnificent, so go out and rub on some more of that soothing photographic salve and get to feeling better!

audrey-g · #4 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 04:06 PM

well done jimini clickit. very beautiful shots, especially the last one with the bug's eyes in clear focus. do you do that with the fuji??? because that's reeeeaaaallly great work. i do have to start taking my camera seriously!!!

leonaashlee · #5 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 04:44 PM

Lovely shots Jiminy...I hope you're feeling better...I didn't know you were sick, but I missed seeing you on.

windrider86 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 04:49 PM

yea, uh huh. I am being all nice and calm, admiring your wonderful soothing, soft, beautiful and calming images and then I get to a close up of a multi eyed flesh eating, going to jump out of the screen and eat me spider!
All kidding aside Jiminy, as always I love viewing your images. You have such an eye for capturing items that we see every day in unique ways that we DONT see every day. Your my hero!
Hope you are feeling better soon. Need some chicken noodle soup?

harsh.kataruka · #7 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 04:56 PM

Such amazing macro shots..

How do u even have the courage to go so close to the spider??

jiminyClickit · #8 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 12:43 PM

Hayward Taylor, Thank you

After two years of trying for more serious photographs, health has finally gotten the better of me, so I do have to address it. Pain overshadows even our passion for things, so my local VA clinic has given me great care and I'm going to balance things better. It's that beauty of things that I strive for, and hope to keep finding, and bringing here. Our collective look at the world has added up to one great site. Long may we all stay healthy!

fstopMike, Thank you

Photographic salve? Exactly! It can usually take all other worries away. The dead moth was so unusual that I had to shoot parts of it, and added some alcohol so that I could rearrange the antennae and legs (which are askew above). Oddly, the hole in the wing design "eye" is actually a hole.

audrey-g, Thank you

Seriously the Fuji has proven to be adaptable and adding a loupe magnifying glass has made it my window to many wonders. It's inexpensive and simple enough to make the learning part easier and more enjoyable. I still yearn for the detail a better camera could reveal, but Fuji has given me a good start. You may discover your camera is capable of much more, if you give it the chance.

leonaashlee, Thank you

Of all things that could go wrong, feet may be the least problem. Eyes or brain - that would mean photography just couldn't continue. Pain is beatable, and I'm much better now than last week. I used to kid my aunts when all of their conversations seemed to include some foot-issue one of them was having - I understand now! Thanks for missing me - it's easy to get lost in the crowd.

windrider86, Thank you

That's really encouraging, and I suppose that's the passion - showing the unseen parts of little creatures that far outnumber us, and yet help make our life possible, or at least more enjoyable (even mosquitoes and spiders!).

The little eight-eyed speciman above is so small, you'd probably not feel any fear holding it a few inches away from your face (which is how I do it). They jump away from me if they're afraid, which they rarely are. Youl'll notice I don't mess with anything much larger than this =O=

The chicken soup? Maybe as a foot bath - the sodium increases the swelling if I ingest it! But the thought warms me up. Thanks, lady, you are amongst my heroines here, too.

harsh.kataruka Thank you

It's the difference between a puppy and a Kodiak bear - these spiders are 1/8 inch =O= average body size, and I've held many on my finger with never a bite. Let's say I've overcome my fear of them, while never giving them a reason to bite or fear me. It's that way with stinging bees and wasps, too.

(side of my thumb joint)