Over the many moons I have been playing with cameras there have been photographs that stand out from the crowd, ones that really stick in the mind. Sometimes it is a famous photographer that that seems able to produce imagery that you just gel with. One such photographer for me was Don Mcullin and his photographs of London, something about them stirred my emotions. As those London shots and his wonderful conflict photography were before my time, coupled with my inability to photograph people, it was not something I would want to even attempt to replicate. To some extent, most photographers begin by trying to replicate and learn from those that have gone before us. I have definitely taken that route and would hope that with time I can add my own creativity along the way.

As my interest in macro photography grew I begun to visit a few online forums and blogs. While browsing on dpreview.com I came across one photographer that stood out from the crowd. His work was nothing short of stunning. What really grabbed me about this particular photographer was his willingness to share and discuss various macro techniques. Not only that, but like most successful photographers his knowledge the subject the choses to photograph matches his skill with a camera. His name, John Kimbler.

For some weird and unknown reason I have been approached a few times over the years by people offering me kit to review, some has been photographic kit while others has been windsurfing kit. I can never understand this as I am not the best at either. On all but a couple of occasions I have politely declined, but sometimes I am intrigued by what I am offered and the Aperlite YH 700C was one of those times. I wondered how anyone could produce a flashgun so well specified for the price.  I already have a number of high end Canon Speedlights which cost a pretty penny, so could this device at 1/10th of the price compete on any level whatsoever? I had a lot of doubts and part of me was ready to open the box and find something that wouldn't be out of place in Toys 'R' Us. When the box finally arrived I was quite surprised by the quality of the package.

One area of photography I really enjoy is the macro world. No matter the time of year, the weather or where you are there is something to photograph. In the UK we have over 20,000 insect species which can be photographed all year round, in the summer it is bees, butterflies, beetles, bugs, flies, moths, ants and so much more. Come winter they are a little more scarce, spiders, centipedes, earwigs and all those other little beasties that spend the year clearing up the natural world are a great target group. We also have fungi, snails, lichen or just any object that you can find, even around the home. There is so much that fascinates me, so much to see and all of it from a completely different perspective through the macro lens. 

For some reason many people become obsessed by these wonderful little birds. I know one chap for instance who spent nearly 2 months staked out in a local bird hide photographing them and waiting for the day their young would fledge. He very nearly missed it too but we both managed a few shots. I too am guilty of spending an inordinate amount of time trying to get that magic shot of a Kingfisher just as it exits the water with a fish. I have come close but have yet to succeed.