With more than sixty stunning photographs of pillbugs, silverfish, moths, and other household insects, Aliens Among Us depicts a hidden world flourishing in our homes.
Over the course of his photography career, Daniel Kariko came to realize that many of his most stunning subjects could be found in his own subdivision in Greenville, North Carolina. Determined to show the rest of us that his experience is hardly unusual, Kariko utilizes a combination of a Scanning Electron Microscope and optical Stereo Microscope to achieve a portrait-like effect for insects and arthropods. Vibrant in colour and surprising in personality, these images reveal such details as the glittering eyes of a horsefly, the strong legs of a centipede, and the fetching smile of a honeybee. Each photograph comes equipped with a full-body illustration from artist Isaac Talley and fascinating character descriptions from entomologist Tim Christensen. Deftly blurring the lines of art and science, Aliens Among Us is the perfect guidebook for anyone interested in putting a face to the creepers under the couch.
Daniel Kariko is an associate professor of fine art photography at the School of Fine Arts and Design at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. His work has been shown internationally in galleries and museums.