I photograph insects and flowers and other tiny, often-overlooked things because I would like people to really SEE how beautiful they are. I like to think that my images capture the individuality of each of these subjects. I attempt to create portraits of these individuals that express their character. By portraying them in this way, I hope to enhance appreciation for their beauty and foster a sense that they are fellow living things with an important place in our lives.
I sometimes think that my photography is an excuse to visit
magical places (often my back yard!) and sit quietly
observing the "bugfolk." I suppose it's a form of
meditation. It's pleasant to see wild animals in a natural
habitat that's as close as just outside my door! Their
lives have the same drama and the same heroic quality as
the animals featured in nature programs--they're just
played out on a miniature stage. It's the sense of wonder
at these tiny beings and their individuality I would like
to convey to people who may have been too busy to notice it
before. The brief lives of these beautiful little creatures
can, if we let them, remind us of just how precious life
really is in all its variety and form.
Appreciation of insects
isn't a new phenomenon and it isn't limited to scientists
or eccentrics! Here's a poster I presented at the
Entomological Society of America meetings Cultural
Entomology session that may inspire you to look into how
insects were regarded by writers in the 18th and 19th
centuries.
