Superb, as usual. I particularly like the unsymmetrical details - antennae, rear legs - which (to me) say that this is a real insect not just an illustration.

Steve

Taking the previous suggestion a bit further, I wonder whether something could be done with a lens hood? If the lens hood will fit in the ring flash, a bit of sticky-backed foam wrapped round the hood should provide enough grip. Does anyone know the dimensions of the hood for the 100mm macro? (I don't have the lens so can't try it out myself.)

Steve

You might be a bit rusty, but you haven't lost the knack. Impressive pictures!

Steve

Good to see them engaging in their natural beehaviour.

Reminds me of a song by the late, great Arthur Askey:
"Oh, what a glorious thing to be
A healthy, grown-up, busy-busy bee
Whiling away the passing hours
Pinching all the pollen from the cauliflowers"

Steve

Right, it's time for some lateral thinking...

A 58mm filter fits snuggly into the ring flash and the flash does a fair job of gripping the filter thread (just tried it). So perhaps a few step-up, step-down and reversing rings connected in appropriate order would be able to simulate the 49mm adapter for the ring flash - 49mm at lens end, 58mm at flash, then a bit wider (but not much) to stop the flash slipping off, a ring or two for padding at appropriate places. If it works, it would be a great triumph of human ingenuity at a time of great need . Does anyone with a big collection of rings fancy trying it?

Unfortunately, 58mm is my least popular lens diameter so none of my rings are any use.

And also unfortunately, 58mm means that Chrism8's Sigma adapter won't fit.

Steve

It comes with age. You'll get used to it...

And now for something really pointless - BINDWEED. No matter how much you remove, there's always more in the ground.

Steve

I prefer the first one, too.

It looks like the spot metering has exposed for a patch of wing, which has worked for the swan because it's picked up a mix of bright and shadow. Pity the head is turned away and a bit dark, but some swans never think about the needs of the photographer .

Steve

Perhaps you need a new camera. I've heard mention that Ricoh has recently released a new model that's reputed to be pretty good...

Your problem sounds electrical to me. I once had a TV that behaved much like that. Got worse over time. TV repair man said it was probably a soldered connection starting to fail so he resoldered all he could get to. It worked OK for a while then the bad behaviour returned. I don't have that TV now.

Steve

I like the tree - good colours, interesting shapes in the branches. A victim of prevailing south-westerlies??

Not so keen on the water and pebbles, I feel like I'm falling into it...

Steve

The Photospecialist price is now £1921, which is more than the price in the UK. Just in case anyone is interested...

Steve