I have been photographing for more than 20 years. I am drawn to making photographs of things that are challenging or difficult to capture (astrophotography, extreme macro, ferrofluid structures etc.). Since the first of the lockdowns, I have been buying and pressing into service a series of 1960s - 1990s research microscopes. These have been configured with polarising filters and homemade and cobbled-together phototubes and adapters and used to allow my camera to capture the wonders of the shapes, patterns and wild colours of crystals of various substances (often sugar alternative sweeteners) in polarised light. After refining the process and being recommended almost daily that I should have an exhibition or make a book, this project has evolved from an interesting photographic path into a proper artistic foray. A commercial gallery in London has offered to show 16 large Chromaluxe printed images in an exhibition from the 10th until the 31st of March 2023. These colourful abstract photographs have transformed from a hobby within a hobby into an exciting new commercial venture. Without this particular branch of my interest in photography, I do not think my photographs would ever have seen the inside of a gallery on their own merit.