The art of a macro lens

In class we have to find a picture of our own that we like that will be put into a frame inside our class rooms for an entire year. Well I had been looking through my work and I had some images I really liked but none I really wanted to put in a frame, maybe it was the fact that I had been looking at them for an entire summer who knows. I did try out a swan picture I took but after printing it, it just didn't seem like something I wanted in the class room frames for a year. Do to all this I thought well why not take some new images. I ran between the ideas of having someone with sparkles being blown to writing, so I went and I took out a D3, a 60mm micro lens and a 16mm fish eye lens. Why not try all sorts of lens at the same time as getting a project done. Well once I was home all the people I could think of to model or help were at work. Then it came to me why not take my candles and try and capture some of their flames. I did this but didn't really like the result and then I was looking at some of the stuff I have hanging on my walls and it popped into my head, close ups. I had a micro lens why not get as close as I could with still being in focus and takes some pictures of that. Boy did I have fun. (the image at the end of the post is one of my favourites)
As I was uploading my pictures to the computer I decided to look up some close up pictures on the web, you know insect pictures. They have always fascinated me and hopefully when I get some money I can buy myself a true macro lens and go about taking insect images, Maybe even do a whole portfolio on them during the summer or something. I found 2 websites I liked best Insect Photography, Images of Nature and Natural Things . I liked this website because not only did it have closeups of bugs but it also had some of lizards and frogs, a real assortment of creatures plus it gave some interesting information along with the pictures like what the name of the animal was or what was happening in the picture. To me very cool.
The other site I found was A how to on Macro bug photography . I thought this website was pretty informative. Not only did it give you information on how to do photomacrography with your SLR camera but it also mentions close up work with a regular point and shoot. Definitely 2 sites to go check out whether your into close up photography or you just want to see some neat images.
-Photo Alley