Hi everyone ! On my instagram I received the following question : doesn’t it affect the insect eyes getting a flash burst like that ? I know that I do not set my flash to high values but in a video it might seem like it’s really harsh. So I’m curious, how would you guys answer that question ? Did anyone ever ask you this ? French native speaker, sorry for my English.

Hey everyone! 😊 I’m out in Bristol tomorrow for a photowalk, so it feels like the perfect time to drop our January Showcase thread today! This is your space to post ONE macro photo you captured in January that really stood out to you. It could be your sharpest shot, a new lighting idea that worked, a subject you’re proud of finding, or just an image that made you happy. ✅ No theme. No pressure. No judgement. If it means something to you, it belongs here. ✨ Quick reminder: This is a sharing thread, not a critique. Let’s keep it positive and inspiring. 💬 And as always, show some love on other posts too — a like or kind comment can genuinely make someone’s day. 🙌

How’s everyone doing this week? Have you managed to get out with the camera, or maybe done something creative indoors? Drop a quick comment below, even if it’s just one sentence. It’s always great to see what the community is up to.

The shortlist for this year’s British Photography Awards is out. I didn’t enter this time (to be fair, I don’t really do contests), but it did get me thinking. The awards have two parts: the judges’ vote and the public vote. I like the judges’ vote, most of the time it’s professional photographers making the decisions, and I’ve even been a judge for a different contest myself in the past. But here’s where I’d like to start a conversation: the public vote. No doubt you’ve seen shortlisted photographers posting all over social media asking their followers to “vote for me.” I did the same last year when I was shortlisted. Where do you stand on public voting in photography contests? Does it take away from the photography itself and turn it into more of a publicity contest (the person with the most followers wins), or do you think it adds a valuable dimension by getting the public involved? I’ve cast my vote this year for what I believe is the best image in the macro category. Also, has anyone here entered the contest this year? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

You can count on Laowa to come up with interesting lenses! There is a lot of buzz around a new one, the Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5 X Ultra macro. This fills a rather neglected niche in macro lens world, since longer focal lengths translate to longer working distances -- this while the lens can focus down to 1.5x, all the way out to infinity. Here is a link from Laowa: https://www.venuslens.net/product/laowa-180mm-f-4-5-1-5x-ultra-macro-apo/?srsltid=AfmBOooxF3OlE2Job4p_jKhZzswkz-rpXdRFs-VndzqaR_0NKj89ovgP