Ever since I was a child, insects fascinated me. I would turn up rocks in my back yard to see what I would find crawling around underneath. I'd pick up unsuspecting ants and drop them into the lair of funnel web spiders to watch what would happen. I would try to catch PBS nature shows every sunday morning just to see if they were going to showcase a certain insect species. BIOEver since I was a child, insects fascinated me. I would turn up rocks in my back yard to see what I would find crawling around underneath. I'd pick up unsuspecting ants and drop them into the lair of funnel web spiders to watch what would happen (my sincerest apologies to the families of the dearly departed). I would try to catch PBS nature shows every sunday morning just to see if they were going to showcase a certain insect species. But as I entered into my teens, and was introduced to my very first computer (the Commodore 64), my scientific fascination took a backseat to this newfound technological passion. Computers became my new love, so to speak. As time passed, and I entered into my thirties, I found out about the world of macro photography. It was then that my three passions came together: insects, computers and macro photography - a perfect blend of nature, science, art and technology.

Insect are extraordinary creatures. They are prime examples of billions of years of evolutionary engineering. Here you have these small, almost insignificant organisms that for their size are capable of feats far greater and beneficial than any other animal on the planet, including ourselves. For humans being as highly evolved as we are, and with the complex brains that we have, it takes us years to learn how to walk upright, communicate and eat, let alone learn the other things necessary to survive. We need to rely on our parents and others for a large number of our years before we can "fend for ourselves". Insects on the other hand, don't have brains as we define them, don't learn anything from their "parents" and often are left to survive by themselves from the moment they are born, relying on nothing more than instincts. Yet, they are able to build their own shelter (webs, hives, etc.), fly and hover in mid-air without any training, mimic other species, metamorphisise, communicate by way of chemicals, move objects ten times their size by themselves, care for their young and countless of other amazing characteristics and traits found among the hundreds of thousands of insect species. This is why I like to think that insects are the most advanced species on the planet, for as intelligent, big-brained and highly-evolved as we are, we can hardly do anything in comparison to what insects are capable of doing. And while insects may be small in stature, it doesn't mean they are any less significant. Insects are more than just "pests" or "creepy". Insects are an important part of this world and they play a vital role in the ecological balance of the planet by pollinating flowers, recycling the remains of dead and decaying plants and animals, providing us with silk and wax and even keeping themselves in-check by preying on each other (insectivores).

This ongoing collection of mine is a representation of the natural insect world and depicts insects as they are found naturally in their environment. For me, it's important that I show as much respect for insects and nature as possible, that's why I don't bring them home, feed them or coersce them for my photos. Besides, it's more enjoyable, exciting and challenging to photography insects in their environment as usually they are always on the move, which is a challenge in itself. When I go out into the field I'm like a kid all over again: I'm having fun exploring, discovering, observing, studying and learning as I'm photographing the various insects I find. Macro photography gives me the chance to observe and study these insects close-up which is often impossible to do with the naked eye. It's like bringing a microscope into the field, as it enables one to see all of the extraordinary fine details and physiological characteristics of the various insects. My objective is to get up-close as possible to document the subject and all of its remarkable details and traits while at the same time trying to take an artistic representation of the bug in its natural environment if possible. What I also love about this passion of mine is that it gets me away from the hustle and bustle of everday life, out from behind the computer and out into the great outdoors to be surrounded by the serenity and beauty of nature where I can enjoy the beautiful spring, summer and fall weather which seems to rejuvinate my soul every year.