Help Radoslav get the macro gear of his dreams

My friend Radoslav is fundraising again to ask for your help with the purchase of some photography equipment. GoFundMe is not supported in his home country, Bulgaria, so I’ve helped him by creating this page. Here are the details:

I need your help to purchase a complete flash system and two different macro lenses to produce documentary output that is up to to the highest scientific standards. Your contribution will make it possible to seamlessly blend exquisite artistic detail with ultimate documentary precision. Last, but not least, I will also be able to focus on the wildlife around me without any fear of missed opportunities.

This July was marked by a surprising research I conducted on the tiny Horehound Long-horn moth. It was an unforgettable experience for me during the hottest summer days in my garden, an exciting journey to better understand the hidden life of this rare and unique species. The astonishingly intricate world of miniature insects is not just aesthetically beautiful, but also full of wisdom, ingenuity and desire to thrive. The survey also brought about another worthwhile take-home message for me, namely, the need to seek the depth of nature’s wonders as much as possible, at another, nearly microscopic level. Researching the overwhelmingly complex behaviour of this small moth was kind of exploring another, parallel universe. Such streamlined scientific missions require patience, physical endurance, great care and excellent technical preparedness.

Two years ago, I got the camera of my dreams - with your generous help! Now the time has come to gear it up with suitable optics for macro photography and advanced lighting setup. Such equipment will allow fully automated, completely hand-held operation and keeping "safe" distance from the insect, as to avoid scaring the animal away. The beauty from the first photo below was so small, that special optics to magnify even more the exceptional detail were needed, but unfortunately, they are currently unavailable to me. And this is not just about revealing the inconspicuous splendour; the greater my interest to explore and protect understudied and ecologically valuable insects in my garden, the more complex the technical obstacles to overcome.

Please consider making a contribution to my lens and lighting budget and help me "reach the destination" after many years of precious moments, learning and dedication to both entomology and macro photography. Every single act of support would bring me much joy and gratitude, and help me take a good step closer toward showing the world the lesser known around us - and in the best way possible!