We live in fascinating times...

Back in October of last year I was approached by a California-based company called FSSI (No, not Food Safety Services International) this FSSI describes themselves thus: FSSI is a print and mail outsourcing provider specializing in designing, producing and delivering high-quality, regulatory compliant customer documents.

Based in Santa Ana Orange County USA, they produce a calendar annually, and for 2024 the chosen theme was to be 'The captivating concept of magnification'. 

Their request was for permission to use one of my photographs as part of the calendar; this photograph...

I've been lucky enough to have this particular image published in several magazines and periodicals now, and so had no problem with allowing it to be used. All I asked in return was to be credited and if at all possible, to have a copy of the completed calendar sent to me.

Then I sort of forgot all about it, until the post arrived a couple of days ago. 

When I opened the large white envelope (do you pronounce that as Envelope, or Onvelope I wonder?) this was what I first saw...

FSSI had not only kept their promise of sending me a copy (I've lost count of how many promises of books that used my photos never actually arrived!) but here was a personalised copy. 

If the front cover was anything to judge by, this was going to be amazing, with tightly cropped close-up images, one per page. They even included a free magnifier, should I want to get even closer...

Not all insects either, just nature in detail...

These two images feature an Abalone shell, and underneath, a Feather Star (a marine animal). 

Next to share are the images for July and October: they show a Panther Chameleon and a Jumping Spider...

Here's the image of the Ruby-Tailed Wasp that I provided for February...

Who would have thought that this image for July is of a Sunflower?

And a Blue Vantage Cabbage for March...

And so I hope that gives you a flavour of how the finished project looked, although frankly, these images taken on my phone don't do the originals justice.

Here's the full list...

I'll leave the final words to FSSI:

When we look into the universe, we are surprised at the incredible beauty that is beyond our normal vision. Similarly, when we peer into small objects, we often find magnificent patterns and colour combinations that we never could have imagined. 

Within these worlds that exist beyond our day-to-day perception hide the secrets of life and genetic modelling that will someday lead to great medical breakthroughs and a greater understanding of our unique place in the cosmos. We live in fascinating times.