United States
£ GBP
The extreme close-ups of insects, spiders and other invertebrates illustrate a hidden fauna of alien-looking critters. Many people see these creatures as creepy and revolting if they even notice them at all, but viewing these tiny animals through a macro lens presents them in an entirely new light. How many people have actually seen the 'face' of a tiny jumping spider, or the beautiful compound eyes of a female horsefly? This remarkable book will help people to appreciate the beauty of nature's smaller creatures. The macro photography brings to life the world of bugs, which is all around us yet too diminutive to be observed by the human eye.
Coverage of families includes the likes of butterflies, beetles and bees, right through to giant stick insects and mantids which look like they are straight from a science fiction film. It covers everything from warning patterns and camouflage to mimicry and many other unbelievable adaptations. The incredible photography is supported by informative extended captions detailing the subjects and in some cases explaining how the images were taken. Bugs in Close-Up is an essential read for insect enthusiasts and fans of creepy-crawlies everywhere, as well as for photographers who will marvel at the skills and techniques used when taking the close-up macro images.
Introduction 6
MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES 10
Camouflage 26
Mimicry 31
Eye-spots 36
Prominent caterpillars 45
Slug caterpillars 47
Atala Butterfly 56
DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES 60
Damselfly portraits 73
BEES AND WASPS 76
FLIES 90
BEETLES 106
Tortoise beetles 122
GRASSHOPPERS, KATYDIDS AND CRICKETS 130
Leaf mimic 144
Lichen mimic 146
Peacock katydid 148
MANTISES AND PHASMIDS 150
Hatching 159
TRUE BUGS 168
Leafhoppers 190
SPIDERS 196
MORE AMAZING BUGS 218
Mantisfly 230
Dobsonfly 232
Macro 234
Acknowledgments 237
Further reading 237
Image details 237
Index 238
Author and photographer Colin Hutton has been taking macro images of invertebrates for many years, in his home country the USA as well as in other locations around the world. When not out in the field and behind the lens himself, he runs courses explaining how to get the best results from macro photography.
