My fascination with insects started at a very young age. I read about them, I observed them, and I kept them as pets throughout my childhood. They were endlessly interesting and entertaining, and that fascination remained with me well into my adult life.
Observing them in detail the past few years has also inspired me to return to my artistic roots. I regularly create art pieces, mainly colored pencil, based on my photos. Drawing them is especially helpful during the winter months, when there’s not many insects to be found.
This year marks my third year as a macro photographer. It was always a fun hobby for me to find insects and take pictures of them once smart phones became popular. But it’s become much more of a passion for me since I got my first camera and macro gear two years ago. It was a bit of a challenge learning the best approach to getting the photos I wanted. There’s no one-way method for macro photography, and I went through several different setups before finally purchasing an Olympus OM1 MKIII camera with a macro lens. I had also special ordered a diffuser specifically for macro photography from the Australian based Cygnustech, an essential tool for macro.
With insects though, it’s not just a matter of getting a good setup. Learning your camera settings is key, as every situation will require a bit of adjustment depending on the subject, as well as lighting, composition, etc. Being able to zoom in close enough to see the scales on a butterfly’s wings, or the individual grains of pollen on a bee’s legs, has given me a unique outlook for insects and how they live. The sheer variety and the fact that I find something new almost every time I go out searching for them makes this incredibly rewarding work.
The sheer variety- and the fact that I find something new almost every time I go out searching for them-makes this incredibly rewarding work.
The brown eyes on this individual is a sign that it has recently emerged as a winged adult. The eyes will later turn a deep black.
One of my goals with my photo work is to show the beauty and unique details that most people don’t ever see with their own eyes. I always try to present them in a way that invokes wonder. It seems as though insects are generally looked down on as annoying pests or something to be afraid of. But in reality, over 99% of insects are considered harmless. I hope, through my photos, I can help change the mindset that they are annoying pests. I hope to show that they are in fact quite incredible and essential to the world we share.
Contributed By
Ken Bluma
My name is Ken Bluma. I am a macro photographer and artist specializing in the insects and spiders that can be found in the Midwest United States and beyond. I visit many different parks and environments, day and night, to maximize my chances of finding as many species as I can. It can be quite a difficult challenge, but the effort is thoroughly enjoyable.
