Amazing Insects

Devils flower mantis or alien invader species!?Sharp details and striking contrast make this an evocative image. The blue tinged lighting accentuates the mantis's intricate textures and surreal appearance, while the dark background ensures it stands out sharply. The composition, focus, and dramatic contrast create a visually striking and otherworldly effect.

A well composed and beautifully detailed image of a swallowtail butterfly. The unusual usage of a full spectrum camera to adjust the background means that instead of a contrasting natural green background, the reds pick out the tones on the butterflies wings perfectly.

An incredible moment of an ant 'taking flight' on a seed head! The delicate structure of the seed head contrasts well with the strong shapes of the lichen and ant. The vibrant moss and lichen provide a rich, contrasting background.

A magical dreamlike scene. This image highlights the depth of field challenges in macro photography. Despite being taken at f/32 the depth of field is still razor thin with only the ants and part of the shell and acorn in focus.

A visually striking and beautifully composed image of two damselflies against a golden sun. The strong backlighting from the sun's warm glow creates a stunning silhouette that really enhances the the visibility of the fine, lace-like structure of the wings and elongated shape of the abdomen .

Incredible detail especially in the compound eyes thanks to the focus stacking used. Lighting in the photograph is well managed, with soft, diffused illumination that highlights the damselfly’s features without harsh shadows. This enhances the fine details especially in the very reflective compound eyes and brings out their vibrant colouration.

Incredible sharp details and beautiful contrast between the long horned beetle and background. A portrait crop would have simplified the frame, removing any distractions and increasing the size of the subject in frame. I really like the soft well diffused lighting which enhances the details perfectly without creating harsh high spots on the reflective surfaces.

Love the bold contrasting colours and fantastic detail in this image. A slight crop from the bottom of the frame to remove the edge of the leaf would give the appearance of a never ending sea of beetles to create a more abstract image.

This image highlights one of the most amazing aspects of macro photography; a glimpse into a world seldom seen with a level of detail invisible to the naked eye. Here, you can see excellent use of focus stacking providing ultra sharp details that fade gradually into the background.

This photograph of two damselflies seemingly 'peering' around the reeds is technically spot on. The sharp focus on the damselflies contrasts beautifully with the softly blurred background, highlighting the damsels delicate features. The composition, lighting and depth of field are expertly balanced, capturing a moment of natural curiosity and humour.

The sharp focus on the swallowtail butterflies’ intricate wing patterns contrasts beautifully with the soft, pastel background. Showing the butterflies both side on and top down means we can really explore the subject in detail despite their size in the frame.

A well composed and executed image with striking colours and great fine detail. The inclusion of the campion flowers and use of surrounding negative space really enhances the compsoiton. Showing that great insect photography doesn't always have to be close ups and extreme detail.

A technically well executed and interesting image. The sharp focus highlights each dew drop creating a sparkling effect and magnifying the fine details. The soft, natural lighting enhances the fly's intricate details and produces diffuse even lighting throughout. The graduated purple background blurred provides great contrast, ensuring the subject stands out beautifully.

Excellent sharp focus and almost completely frozen action. The slight motion blur in the wings despite the 1/5000 sec shutter speed creates a sense of motion and hints at the extreme speed of the dragonflies powerful wings. I really like the matching and contrasting colours on the abdomen and background.