Orange Eyes

A fly on a garden path, photographed with a macro lens and more patience than the subject deserved. At this distance the eyes are two orange lamps and the stripes on the back look painted.

Close enough

The working distance is four centimetres. Every breath moves the focus, so you hold it, press the shutter and hope the fly is still there.

The magazine wanted insects that people would look at rather than swat. The trick is to show the part they have never seen, which for a fly is everything above the size of a fly.

Sixty frames, four in focus, one with the eyes and the stripes both sharp. Macro is a lottery you can improve your odds in only by buying more tickets.