There’s no doubt that photographing the diverse species of insects may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Rasmus has made it his mission to magnify and capture the exquisite beauty that insects exhibit.
Insects are an often-overlooked group of animals. By magnifying and showcasing the beauty of these tiny creatures, I hope to instill a sense of appreciation and awe, encouraging others to see the beauty in even the smallest of organisms.
Rasmus Nielsen
We knew we had to learn more about how he discovered creativity in macro photography, how this led to his profession as a biologist and why we should appreciate insects.
Join us in Rasmus’ visual journey with getting up close and personal in the fascinating world of insects.
CG: You specialise in macro photography. How did you get into this style of photography?
RN: I got my first and current camera in 2016 with the goal of photographing larger animals. Later, I went into astrophotography, photographing galaxies and nebulae. However, in 2019, I stumbled upon a YouTube video by Thomas Shahan about high-magnification macro photography with arthropods as the subjects. I was inspired and went out in my garden to look for some insects myself and was blown away by all the beauty and diversity. It was like I discovered a whole new world, and I’ve been hooked ever since. This discovery also inspired me to embark on a career as a biologist.
CG: Why have you chosen to take close ups of insects?
RN: Firstly, the intricate details and fascinating patterns found in insects are awe-inspiring and provide a wealth of artistic opportunities. The world of insects is incredibly diverse, with literally over one million species, and each species has unique features that can be beautifully showcased through close-up photography. There’s always something you can shoot wherever you are! Additionally, insects are an often-overlooked group of animals. By magnifying and showcasing the beauty of these tiny creatures, I hope to in still a sense of appreciation and awe, encouraging others to see the beauty in even the smallest of organisms. All animals, no matter the size, are equal, and humans are no exception! Lastly, close-up insect photography offers a technical challenge that I find stimulating and rewarding. Achieving sharp focus, proper lighting, and composing the shot to highlight the insect’s best features can be both challenging and creatively satisfying.
CG: How much preparation does one image take and do you have any advice for photographers who would like to take macro images?
RN: It really depends on the subject. First, I have to find an interesting and cooperating species, which can take many hours or even days if I’m looking for a rare one. When a specimen has been found, I take hundreds of pictures from different angles, which usually takes between five minutes to a couple of hours. When I get home, I use a program called Zerene Stacker to stack the images together to achieve a large depth of field, followed by some clean up in Adobe Photoshop. Depending on how hairy and dirty the specimen is and how good the images are aligned, this can take between 2-10 hours. My best advice is to get some soft, diffused lighting. Diffused lighting provides even illumination across the subject, helping to reveal the intricate details in a balanced and visually pleasing manner. It minimizes harsh shadows and highlights that can occur with direct light, ensuring a more accurate representation of the insect. It also helps preserve the natural colours of the insect. The camera and lens are not as important. I for example shoot with an entry-level Nikon D3400 and a Sigma 105mm f/2.8, costing less than 700 pounds. Lastly, never harm or kill the subjects.
CG: Can you tell us about your favourite image in your collection?
RN: My favourite image is a perfect symmetrical portrait of Dune Tiger Beetle (Cicindela maritima) photographed on a cold summer evening at the beach. Tiger beetles are the fastest running animals on Earth in proportion to their size, which combined with their skittish nature, makes them one of the most difficult insects to photograph. This photo consists of 60+ images stacked together to achieve a large enough depth of field to cover the whole head.
Symmetrical portrait of the head of a Dune Tiger Beetle isolated from the background (Cicindela maritima)
CG: How do you edit your images to stand out?
RH: I love clean, minimalistic, and symmetrical images with no distractions, which is achieved by having a unicoloured and completely blurry background. My images are often quite bright without any harsh lighting, which is achieved by increasing the exposure and shadows, while decreasing the highlights and whites. I don’t change the colour hue of the insects, as I want to showcase their true colours. However, I do often increase the saturation to make them stand out more from the background.
Do you need further inspiration to get you started in marco photography? Check out our curated ‘Macro’ collection that covers not only insects but a diverse range of subjects. You can check out the rest of Rasmus’ eye-catching collection here and find his Instagram here. Make sure to come back around this time next month, to see who is next in our contributor spotlight.
