Levon Biss es un fotógrafo británico galardonado. Su trabajo ha abarcado una amplia gama de géneros fotográficos, desde el retrato hasta el documental y el deporte. Los sujetos de los retratos de Levon han incluido a Quentin Tarantino, el presidente Emmanuel Macron y Usain Bolt, y su trabajo apareció en las portadas de TIME, The New York Times, GQ y Sports Illustrated. Su obra ha sido expuesta en todo el mundo y se encuentra en numerosas colecciones privadas y de museos.
Es una serie de hermosos retratos de gran aumento que capturan la forma microscópica de los insectos en sorprendentes detalles de gran formato y alta resolución. Presenta una nueva perspectiva sobre los insectos, lo que permite al público estudiar y apreciar los detalles ocultos del mundo de los insectos de una manera única y atractiva.
Cada imagen que se muestra en Microsculpture tardó unas cuatro semanas en crearse y se creó
a partir de más de 8000 imágenes separadas tomadas con lentes de microscopio.
Las fotografías están impresas en formatos a gran escala, con insectos de milímetros de largo que se presentan a una altura de hasta 9 pies.
Las intrincadas formas, colores y estructuras de los insectos son asombrosas en su variedad, pero sin el poder de un microscopio óptico o la lente de una cámara profesional, su asombrosa complejidad y belleza permanecen mayormente ocultas al ojo humano.
La exposición fue creada por el fotógrafo Levon Biss y muestra la colección de insectos del Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad de Oxford.
Coprophanaeus lancifer (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae).
This large and impressive scarab beetle is found widely across the Amazon Basin. This species is particularly active at dusk when the contrast in color between the black horn and the blue body is enhanced and helps individuals to recognize others of the same species. Although belonging to a group of scarab beetles which mainly consume dung this and related species have switched to feeding on dead animals. The toothed, blade-like area at the front of the head and the serrated front legs are thought to help in breaking up tough carrion.
Credit: © Levon Biss
Species of the genus Sternotomis (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae).
Once magnified the secret to the spectacular patterning of this beetle is revealed – a covering of extremely fine pigmented scales similar to those of butterflies and moths.
Credit: © Levon Biss
Exaerete frontalis (Hymenoptera, Apidae).
The Orchid Cuckoo Bee of the most spectacular of all bees in terms of size, color and microsculpture. We usually think of bees as benign, helpful creatures, but Exaerete is a cuckoo bee. Instead of collecting pollen and constructing their own nests, female cuckoo bees enter the nests of other bees and lay their eggs in the host’s brood cells. This particular specimen has grown to a large size by consuming the pollen diligently collected by its host.
Credit: © Levon Biss
Species of the genus Brachysphaenus (Coleoptera, Erotylidae).
Close relatives of ladybirds, species of pleasing fungus beetles show a seemingly endless combination of bright colors, spots, stripes and other patterns. Their attractive colors are not there to please humans of course; rather the striking decoration advertises a sophisticated chemical defense system to predators.
Credit: © Levon Biss
Helictopleurus splendidicollis (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae)
Arguably the most attractively marked dung beetle in the world, it is thought that after the extinction of all the large animals on Madagascar this beetle survived by switching from feeding on dung to feeding on dead animals.
Credit: © Levon Biss
Platypria melli (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae).
The wonderfully complex shape of the Tortoise Beetle is a composite of bumps, pits, wrinkles and rows of spines. Light passing through the specimen further reveals areas where the wing cases are paper-thin. The function of the spines is unclear but can be assumed to be a physical defense or to help camouflage the insect on its host plant.
Credit: © Levon Biss
