If you learned of a secret wilderness, a little‑visited place ignored by guidebook writers and television producers, yet easily reached by nearly anyone, whatever her age or physical condition, what would you do? Would you want to explore this hidden treasure? I’ll bet you would. Now here’s the good news: Just such a place exists. It’s the miniature world at your feet. A world of intricate plants, exotic fauna, and strikingly varied topography. And your passport to this unknown land? Your camera.

Too good to be true, you say? Well, maybe it is. If the only camera you own is the one in your cell phone, it almost certainly is. But if you have a single‑lens reflex (SLR) camera — digital or film, it makes no difference — your passport’s made. All you need now is a suitable lens. To be sure, this may prove something of an obstacle in itself. Good macro lenses don’t come cheap. They take up a fair amount of space in a dry box, too. And even if you already own one, you may not want to subject it to the dangers inherent in exploring the watery world, with mud underfoot and a risk of capsize around every bend in the river. (Yes, I’m exaggerating. But when you have hundreds or thousands of dollars tied up in camera gear, you can’t help but feel a little paranoid.)

Of course, we can’t afford to be ruled by our fears. If we were, we’d never get out of bed in the morning. Happily, though, there’s a way to have the best of both worlds. You can outfit your SLR for macrophotography without spending (or risking) a fortune… Read more…

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