Some lessons don’t start with words, but with a simple challenge.

As my wife is getting used to her Sigma 100–400mm, one of the hardest parts has been not the zoom—but finding and locking focus on something small, fast, and unpredictable. So I gave her something to return to whenever the scene felt overwhelming: a hoverfly.

I picked up my Canon 5D Mark IV with the Canon 100–400mm, found a member of the family Syrphidae (hoverflies), zoomed all the way in, took a shot, and showed her what was possible. “Whenever you’re unsure what to shoot,” I told her, “find a hoverfly and practice.”

Hoverflies are perfect teachers. They mimic bees and wasps, yet they hover with remarkable precision, holding position mid-air thanks to wingbeats of up to 200 times per second. Small, erratic, easily lost in the frame—exactly the kind of subject that forces you to slow down, anticipate, and truly see.

Throughout the day, I noticed her raising her camera at moments I couldn’t even follow. Practicing. Missing. Trying again.

And then, at the end of the day, she showed me this image.

Taken with her Canon 7D Mark II and Sigma 100–400mm, fully zoomed in.

Progress doesn’t always shout. Sometimes it hovers quietly in front of you—waiting to be seen.

#Hoverfly #Syrphidae #Zweefvlieg #WildlifePhotography #NaturePhotography #Telephoto #Sigma100400 #Canon7DMarkII #CanonPhotography #LearningPhotography #PhotographyJourney #PracticeMakesProgress #InTheField #NatureLovers #MacroVibes #CloseUpNature #InsectPhotography #FocusPractice #PatienceAndPractice #WildlifeMoments #OutdoorPhotography #PhotographyLife #ThroughTheLens #NatureObservation #ScienceInNature #TinyWorlds #FieldWork #ByMaikeldeBakker #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #WonderingLens

💪💪MOTIVATION MONDAY: A few months ago at an open pole I worked with @j.v.karavai on pole handstands and preps - and the work is finally paying off!! I can usually get myself up by myself successfully like 60% of the time!!! now I just need to work on stabilizing myself!! So lucky to have you as a guest instructor <3 #dancer #poledancer #poledance #poledancers #poledancing #poledancersofig #poledancersofinsta #poledancersofinstagram #poletok #foryourpage #fyp #foryoupage #fypage #motivation #motivationmonday #practicemakesprogress #hardwork #workinghard #friends #polecommunity #poledancemotivation #pdhandstand #pdhandstands #pdstatic #pdstatictrick #pdstatictricks

Skill isn't magic, it's mindful practice. #PracticeMakesProgress

Skill isn't magic, it's mindful practice. #PracticeMakesProgress

This is a much more dynamic santa that I carved. I've shown him off before but he's gotten a paint job now. Really love how the candy cane behind the back turned out. 😀 #woodcarving #whittling #santaclaus #caricature #practicemakesprogress #folkart #christmas #christmasdecor

AUA803 ✈️ from LOWW 🇦🇹 - LTAI 🇹🇷 in the #B777. Landed safely but on the wrong runway #oops following a botched approach. Unbeknownst to me, due to mountain ranges the final descent and line up for approach happens quite late so of course I opted for a shortcut which wasn’t the best idea. The 777 seems to throw me off quite a bit still. #practicemakesprogress #flightsimulation #XPlane12

#todayistheday #mockexams #mockexams2025 #revisiontips101 #youcandothis #makethemostofyourtime #preparation #gcsemocks #gcserevision #education #proudofoldbury #practicemakesprogress #LearnTodayLeadTomorrow #learntoadayleadtomorrow