A fellow blogger and friend has been posting some images of spring in Australia including close-ups of moss starting to sprout. It prompted me to take my new macro lens down to the river where I knew moss grows abound and where I had seen some tiny fungi growing just the other day. Unfortunately it was quite dark by the river (it is flanked by a high cliff and trees on the one side) and moss isn’t as attractive in its latter stages, but I did find the fungi and a few interesting little things to photo. They are not the sharpest of images, but as I have mentioned over on the flower blog where you will find more macro images, I am happy to record my journey with the new camera with the hope that as time goes on I will improve!
We will start with this quite small leaf covered with tiny hairs on which there were beads of moisture – from the early morning fog I imagine.
Next a look at some fungi – note that the puff ball ones are actually very, very small, probably the size of the nail on my little finger.
Then some moss – again with the droplets – ferns and a couple of flowers. I had not realised until now how much the spores on a fern look like tiny eggs.
And finally one insect (there was a spider too but the quality of that shot is far too embarrassing to post here) a bright red-brown fly. If you click on him to enlarge the image you will see the hairs on his back.
TRAVEL WORDS 
Jude this’s to journey of yours is amazing! As if there is a whole new perspective to your images. The insect looks as if under a magnifying glass it is so vivid!
That’s what I like about this lens. You can zoom right in and it is still clear (well it is in the bit that is focused on) hee hee…
Wow, those are fantastic images! As well as looking for benches and post boxes, thanks to you, I will now be looking closely at moss and fungi… đ
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I’ve never seen a fly of that color: are they common near you?
Glad to see you’re putting your macro lens to good use.
I’ve not seen one either, the bright colour caught my eye as I was trying (unsuccessfully) to capture a spider. Pure luck it was in focus before it flew away again!
Good to see you having so much fun, Jude. I love the puff balls đ
Meg’s moss fest! Hope to get more fungi later on in the month.
I love the hairy fly. The moss is beautiful but how can you beat a hairy fly. I’m glad I stumbled upon your lovely blog.
Glad you like it Lisa. Much appreciate your visit đ
I must say these photos are so good Jude and you are having so much fun, I am getting very tempted to buy a new camera and lens. That fly photo when enlarged showing all his hairy back is amazing.
I have been wanting a camera to which I could attach a proper macro lens for several years, just couldn’t decide on the model.And really there was nothing wrong with the camera I had (except you couldn’t get really close-up). As it was the macro aspect I was more interested in I finally decided that now was the time. And it opens your eyes to a whole new world!
I’m so pleased to get to share your new world Jude. My camera is not bad, but macro is a bit hit and miss. More miss than hit most of the time.