As the background was very distracting, I realized it would not be easy to isolate the main subject. I decided to open up my aperture entirely so I would have a very shallow depth of field. I took some time to look around for the perfect angle and I managed to compose this shot with the help of another lily leaf as the green backdrop.
Equipment: Nikon F100 with 105mm F2.8 Micro; SB-26 Flash and tripod; shot on Fujichrome Velvia 50

I borrowed a pot of plants from my neighbor and prepared my studio lights. To resolve the problem of an artificial background, I decided to use my army uniform to stimulate the butterfly's natural habitat.

As butterflies tend to complete the metamorphosis process around dawn, I had to wake up at 5am everyday to check its progress. After testing my patience for four days, it finally emerged successfully! The beauty was later returned to the client to continue its lifecycle.
Equipment: Nikon F100 with 105mm F2.8 and studio lighting; shot on Fujichrime Velvia rated at ISO 40

Studying the surroundings, I noticed that it did not have a lot of space to move should it decide to take off. There is only a clear path in front of the bird and this was exactly where I prefocused my camera. Of course, before that, I took a spot reading off the "middletone" in the scene (in this case, a particular portion of the ground) so I could also properly expose the bird's underside.

The eagle finally took off when our driver got down from the vehicle, flashing past my prefocused area. Through sheer anticipation and reaction, I managed to unload a couple of frames before it glided out of view.
Equipment: Nikon F100 with 500mm F4 lens on tripod; shot on Fujichrome Provia 100F

As we did not believe in "forcing" animals to do things just to get a good shot (in this case, getting the colugo to glide), we sat around and waited for the coveted moment. I found myself a prime position, one I hoped would include the subject's flight path. I was lying on my back with the camera squashed against my face, in rapt anticipation.

It was probably the longest 15 minutes of my life as I had to struggle with holding the camera in an awkward position and fight against cramps and camera shakes simultaneously. However, it was all worthwhile as the result speaks for itself.

Of course, without my buddies' help choreographing the lights, I would not have had enough light to catch this amazing glide in the dead of night.
Equipment: Nikon F100 with 105mm F2.8 Micro; SB-26 Flash and a couple of searchlights; shot on Fujichrome Provia 100F

Imagine, I had to extend my arms to place the heavy setup in front and then crawl forward so I could advance gradually! As I was using a super-telephoto lens, I was able to keep a safe distance and avoid disturbing the animal too much. I had to wait for about half an hour in this position before I managed to get this shot.
Equipment: Nikon F100; 500mm F4 lens with extension tube mounted on tripod; SB-26 flash; shot on Fujichrome Vevia 50

Of course, this was coupled with the use of a tripod and the great convenience of a digital camera. The tripod ensured that any chance of "accidental blurring" was eliminated and my digital camera gave me the advantages of an extended zoom and the crucial "post-view" function.

With all these elements in place, I just had to exercise patience and wait for the kingfisher to fly into position.
Equipment: Nikon D2X with 500mm lens; F4 at 1/40 second; shot on Fujichrome Provia 100F

In pitch darkness I fumbled about to prepare my equipment. I set up my tripod and decided to use my trusty digital SLR to take the shots so I could view the results immediately. This was extremely crucial because I was sure this was a "now or never" opportunity. The fungus would not be in the same glorious state even if l were to come back the very next night
Equipment: Fujifilm S2 Pro with 105mm micro lens; F8 at 30 seconds; ISO200

Captivated by the intricate patterns in its eye, I decided to do an extreme macro; provided I could get close enough. I decided to mount my favorite 105mm with two extension tubes to get the proximity I was looking for.

Sitting on the ground, I began to advance slowly as I did not want to startle the toad. Initially, I could tell it was wary of my steady approach because it brought all its limbs closer to its body (like it was curling into itself). I then decided to change my strategy and slowed down my movement significantly.

After a long, long while (7 hours!), I managed to set up my camera just about an inch from its eye and began my photography. By this time, the toad had grown so accustomed to my presence that it just allowed me to go about doing my job. It probably regarded me as its new neighbor as it must have concluded that I had no intention of grabbing it for a meal.
Equipment: Nikon F100 with 105mm F2.8 Micro; 2 extension tubes; SB-26 flash and tripod; shot on Fujichrome Velvia 50

I purposely used a long telephoto lens here to get a "compression" of the different layers in the photo. Placing a foreground subject (the tree) adds a three-dimensional effect to the photo.
Equipment: Nikon D2X with 500 F4 lens; ISO 100; F5.6 at 1/160 second

Be absolutely passionate about your photography and it will serve as a catalyst for improvement. Find your passion and you will find your purpose in photography.
Equipment: Nikon D2X with 12-24mm lens; ISO 200; F4 at 1/80 second