Those wasp photos were taken on a 10 year old APS-C DSLR currently worth about $400 on the used market. It has a smaller sensor. It doesn't have enough megapixels. It struggles at high ISO. The autofocus cannot detect eyeballs.
I used an 80 dollar manual flash with a 20 dollar diffuser from Amazon.
I didn't even have a macro lens. I just stuck a plastic spacer behind my normal lens to increase its magnification.
And I also cannot stand upright for more than 10 minutes at a time.
That is basically the "in a cave with a box of scraps" version of photography.
I say this not to brag, but to let people understand how much you can do with modest tools under challenging circumstances when you prioritize knowledge and experience.
Education is the superpower that transcends fancy gear.
This I say to brag...
This is only a fraction of my photographic power.
When I get healthy and have a modern camera system, I'm gonna make some cool shit.
