[jmerchant]

Note above, jmerchant. As you assemble gear for macros, don't forget a pair of water-proof 'wind-pants' for those early morning days of dew drops or afternoon showers when the sparkles, lights and colours are at their best.

I haven't committed to getting up that early yet...
But I have lain down in wet grass to try and get some shots...

[Doundounba]

Generally yes, photography makes you more observant, but in some cases I think it can go both ways. In one video, noted macro photographer Thomas Shahan walks along a forest path as someone is conducting an interview of him, and he remarks that he's never noticed a particular cave before because he's always looking down to try to spot jumping spiders as he walks by.

But as I train my powers of observation to discover small insects, what shooting macro has definitely given me is a much better appreciation for the amazing diversity of life that's in our very backyards. For example, I never would have thought that within 3 meters of my backdoor, I could pretty easily observe at least four different species of (minuscule!) jumping spiders, some of them living on/in the very walls of my house! I never suspected that there are so many species of dragonflies and damselflies, or even types of bees. I've now seen and photographed species of flies that I had no idea existed. It's still amazing to me to stop and observe a patch of blooming flowers for a few minutes and to just discover there a richness of life that I had never seen, even though I had casually walked those grounds (or similar ones) countless times before I started shooting macro.

[EllenJ]

I've always been detail-oriented and have, I think, a good eye for composition. Spending more time with my camera has probably made me even more observant. I could happily spend all of my serious photography time doing macro and various sorts of close-up.

I bought the K-50 specifically for weather-resistance so I wouldn't miss a great shot due to outside conditions. I love the wet clover photo posted several replies back --

... the same white clover they see in their yards every day. You see it when you walk around and barely even notice it...

[Paleo Pete]

Thanks for the compliments.

I've noticed a lot of small critters too just by sitting there watching flowers, especially the tiny ones no more than a couple of inches off the ground. Bugs no bigger than the numbers on your keyboard...one thing I've seen several times but not been able to photograph is a very small dragonfly looking critter about 3/4 inch long. I've seen them flying around at least a dozen times but have never seen one land. And the Ichneumon, looks a little like a dragonfly but only a half inch long.

And this little guy. I have no idea what it is, but less than 1/4 inch long.

[Kerrowdown]

On the few macro shots I've taken, I certainly see additional details on the image that I didn't see at the time of taking.

[lytrytyr]

I bought the K-50 specifically for weather-resistance so I wouldn't miss a great shot due to outside conditions.

And with live view and focus peaking, you don't have to lay down on the ground!

[Kerrowdown]

more observant

Having only recently bought a macro lens, I'm certainly seeing and find myself now looking for more, in the this "wee world" to photograph.