Wow!!! Super tips here!! Thanks for asking Sheila!! LOL maggie copies and pastes furiously I am learning so much here...now the trick is to put it into practice. Practice, practice, practice...great advice! :-) My macros were totally taken spur of the moment, no tripod but ..sometimes I can find a branch to rest my cam on or the ground even just to steady the zoom. I don't go looking for bugs either..they seem to find me when I'm out enjoying nature and I think they get used to be beeing there ;-) ...and then come out. Best of luck to you with your self-imposed challenge Sheila! I know you will succeed!! :-)))

Love, Light and Laughter  ~ :-)