Close-up work photography, especially when the subject is moving, is one of the most technically exacting disciplines. Exposure and lighting have to be perfect. In the pre-digital age, I used mile upon mile of film photographing insects, spiders and other creepycrawlies. The satisfaction of getting a good shot was immense, largely because for every dozen frames, only one produced a worthwhile shot. With the instant review digital provides it is now a very rewarding and satisfying activity, not just from a technical point of view, but because it opens a whole new world to photograph. In an age when we are bombarded by nature documentaries from exotic lands it is easy to forget just how much is on our doorstep, even in what, at first glance, can seem like the barren tundra of Sutherland. It can also be quite disconcerting when one realises the horrors lurking under our every step!

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