Transitional Experiments

This is always a strange time in the year for me. Not really wanting to let the birds go, but knowing that the woodlanders will become increasingly difficult to photograph as the foliage closes the canopies over. I know that as the breeding season gets into full swing, many birds will be worked around the clock, feeding young and themselves. This in turn often gives them a scruffy, worn appearance that will only be changed after their next moult later in the year, so i tend to give the passerines a bit of space at this time. The pull of the insects (butterflies and dragonflies) becomes increasingly irresistable, and soon i'll be shooting them, almost exclusively.
      So, with this at the back of my mind, and with a great urge to capture even better shots of the insects this summer, i started experimenting with my macro gear. What i wanted, was a method whereby i can 'stand off' three or four feet (to avoid flyaways), and still get some really close macro shots. My mistake in the last couple of weeks,, was thinking (hoping) that i'd be able to 'hand hold' my 300mm f4.
      As i have found by my patchy, sometimes dismal results, 'hand holding' a 300mm non VR lens, with a 20mm tube behind it, needs an impossibly steady hand. I'm not saying its not possible, as the picture of a fly below confirms,,, just difficult to the point of foolishness.
       So now i'm back with my trusty monopods again, after trying one of Chris's shoulder stocks, which he kindly lent me to trial. Sadly (sorry mate), i couldn't seem to handle the shoulder stock either. On reflection this combo obviously needs good support, and maybe as i get older and even more unsteady i'll be forced back to a tripod.

Snipe Fly, Nikon D300s, 300mm f4 with 20mm ext. tube, and small flashgun. (Hand held).