Microsculpture: Portraits of Insects

by Levon Biss

Microsculpture is a unique photographic study of insects in mind-blowing magnification that celebrates the wonders of nature and science.

“You will never look at a beetle or a moth the same way again.” — WIRED
“Art meets science to dazzling effect.” — Guardian
“You have never seen insects in such astounding detail before.” — New Scientist

Award-winning photographer Levon Biss’s work captures in breathtaking detail the beauty of the insect world and are printed in large-scale format to provide an unforgettable viewing experience. Each image in Microsculpture is created from approximately 8,000 individual photographs. Segments of the specimen are lit and photographed separately using microscope lenses, then “stacked” to maintain sharp focus throughout. These images are then combined to create a single high-resolution file. From start to finish, each portrait takes approximately four weeks to create.

Dr. James Hogan, entomology department curator of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, writes in his foreword, “This collection of photographs is a celebration of nature and photographic art, but it also shows how science and art can be effectively combined to produce something new and exciting.”

The vivid colors, unusual features, and never-before-seen details of the insects in this unique oversize coffee table book capture the true wonders of nature and science.

Genres: Photography, Nonfiction, Nature, Art, Science, Animals, Reference

144 pages, Hardcover

First published October 10, 2017

Reviews

[Caterina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Orchid Cuckoo Bee Exaerete frontalis, Brazil

I’m awestruck. This book is an opportunity for sheer revelment in the aesthetic marvels of the insect world at undreamed of magnification and focus (beyond any image I can include here) -- Strange creatures clothed in “armor” like intricately embossed and heat-worked rainbow-colored metal, or imitating the veins and patterns of dead leaves, or furred with whorling multicolored patterns of nearly invisible hairs — and all manner of terrifying weaponized limbs and mouth-parts. I’m not sure whether to set up a little insect-worship shrine or just be greatly relieved that these critters are a lot smaller than we are. In real life, I see new and different insects nearly every day in my garden, and always wish I had better eyesight ...


Ground Beetle, Carabus elysii, China

To create each insect image, photographer Levon Biss took 8000 photographs under a microscope and used Photoshop to create composites something like, I imagine, the composite view created by an insect’s multi-lens eyes — though the text doesn’t mention that analogy. In fact there is very little text; just the basics. One of the insects he photographed was an actual specimen collected in 1836 by Charles Darwin, preserved to this day (together with all the other specimens in this exhibition) at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. These images at nearly floor-to-ceiling scale toured various European cities, but I hadn't heard of the project till my library got the book -- a fine presentation.

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read in 20 minutes at the museum before my shift started.

[Emmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing and beautiful book! Each picture shows so much depth, focusing on the minute details of these beautiful bugs. In the back, the photographer talks about the time and detail that went into each of these photographs, and it will blow your mind!

This is the sort of book I would love to have on a coffee-table some day. And when you look at these images, you can't help but be so amazed! To think that God packed so much detail into one tiny creature! I love the idea that there is so much hidden beauty just waiting for us to seek it out!

[Radu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The photography itself is simply stunning, typical of Levon Biss to go above and beyond to capture such incredibly detailed imagery. For "just" a photo book it really is exceptional, however from a naturalist point of view I would have appreciated more details on the specimens that were photographed: what ecological role do they have? where are they found? when was the specimen collected? The info panels do sometimes provide such information but it's usually the exception, not the rule (e.g. for the shield bug collected by Charles Darwin himself). It seemed like a missed opportunity to educate the reader who may have picked up the book only for its artistic value, something which have indeed been corrected in his follow-up volume "Extinct & Endangered". Aside from that it is an excellent collection of strikingly gorgeous photographs.

[Marilyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The pictures are pretty. I was really disappointed by the book. I want a little box that tells me when was the specimen collected (they are supposed to be Victoria specimens from the museum). I want another little box telling me what this bug is and where it was collected. I also want to know what the bug does on this planet. Not prose but a dorling kindersley take that does not detract from the gorgeous photos.

[Book Nibbler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful photography book. I will be using the colors as inspiration for my sci-fi coloring book. The photographer explains his process at the end of the book which was fascinating. He photographed the insect collection from the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. He mounted his camera on rails and used the microscope to capture images in increments of 10 microns, then compressed them in Photoshop.

There is a small paragraph with a detailed description about each insect.

[Alida · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!! Spectacular photographs and just the right amount of text. Not a bug person but the cover photo got to me and I just had to look inside and then just kept on reading until the last page. Amazing.

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the title suggests, portraits of insects; artistic, painstakingly detailed, out-of-this-world... The artistic director of the next aliens-invading Hollywood blockbuster should definitely have a look at this.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

absolutely incredible photographs, wish it included a bit more info on the subjects

[BVC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tutto molto bello, ma che i membracidi abbiano davvero un terzo paio d'ali è tutto da dimostrare.

[Phyllis M. Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not usually into bugs, but this was good photography!

[Bruce Irving · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful photos. Saw the original exhibit in Oxford.

[Mark Ferrara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible images!

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pictures in this book are exquisite and of high quality. More detail around each picture would have rounded it out.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous images! Each reveals fascinating features of an insect. Sometimes stunningly beautiful, other times great fodder for monster stories.
The photographer’s skill and labor is astounding.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating! Amazing photos, and unbelievably intense photo process to create them.

[David Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best insect picture book going.