I became interested in macro photography because I simply couldn’t believe what becomes visible when looking up close. Big and notoriously flashy organisms draw less of my attention because they receive plenty of attention already (though exceptions exist). I take pictures of the really small things. And I almost feel that it is my obligation to make the amazing beauty and craziness I see visible to everyone around me.
All images presented on this web page are © D. Magdalena Sorger 2010-2017 and may not be reproduced without permission. Please contact me if you are interested in using my pictures.
PHOTO GALLERIES
Borneo
Ethiopia
North America
Costa Rica
Greece
Taxonomic Gallery
Thailand
ARTWORK
Nature is beautiful. Tiny nature is even more beautiful. While many recognize the beauty of a flower or a butterfly, fewer recognize the beauty of an ant, a planthopper, or a spider. But sometimes we just need to look a little closer. When I look through my macro lens, I see a beauty that often remains hidden to the naked eye. What I see is art, in its purest form. My artwork is about sharing this beauty through my eyes and my goal is to create an awareness for the (tiny) natural world around us.
Nature is alive and waiting to be discovered. My scientific research has taught me that most of what surrounds us is unknown. My art is about making some of this unknown beauty visible to others. Almost 80 % of all animal species are insects, many the size of a rice grain or smaller. Yet often attention is given to organisms we relate to in size which in turn governs our conservation priorities and relationship with nature. Small things are fascinating and beautiful, and it is my hope that recognizing this will change how every single one of us interacts with nature.
Insecta Arta
Many insect species construct or produce structures for shelter, defense or camouflage. Insecta Arta is about highlighting these artistic insect structures. I focus on lacewing larvae (insect order Neuroptera), planthopper larvae (insect superfamily Fulgoroidea), and bag worm moth larvae (insect order Lepidoptera / family Psychidae). Lacewing larvae attach various materials to their backs for camouflage (video). Planthopper nymphs create waxy tail structures to distract predators. Bagworm moth larvae construct elaborate casings that they live in. All of these insects are tiny, only a few millimeters in size and almost invisible to the naked eye.
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