I was shooting some wildlife the other day when the midday sun began to get to me. Finding some shade I sat down in some tall grass to cool down. While sitting I began to shoot some of the insects I saw around me, and I was reminded of something I knew to be true, but hadn't thought of. When you're outdoors insect wildlife is everywhere. If you just sit for ten minutes they begin to come out, and it becomes difficult to choose among the fascinating subjects. If you have sunlight, patience, and a decent macro lens you can get great images of grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars, and a host of other interesting creatures. Pretty much everything is beautiful if you get close enough to it, but insects are a special case. Their chitinous body armor, colored wings and bodies, different shaped antennae, and compound eyes make for fabulous photography.

I find that you can use f3.5, and get sufficient depth of field, yet still allow the background to blur out. Have a look at kodo34's work as an example. The detail you can get on these beautiful, frightening little creatures is fascinating, and if you're like me you'll find yourself admiring your own work just because the subjects are so beautiful.