The Incredible Macro Bug Portraiture of Thomas Shahan

	Macro Photography
	By Rob Wood (Admin)	/ September 27, 2009

When we stumbled on the photography of a Flickr user Opo Terser (alias, Thomas Shahan) we were frankly gobsmacked. This is among the most incredible macro photography we have ever seen and goes to show what specialization can do for a photographer. Thomas has graciously allowed us to host this collection at Light Stalking for our readers to enjoy!

Face of a Southern Yellowjacket Queen

Damsel Fly Head – (Argia vivida)

Eyes of an Adult Female Phidippus putnami Jumping Spider

Robber Fly – (Holcocephala fusca)

Crane Fly – (Tipula)

Black Soldier Fly Head – (Hermetia illucens)

Male Praying Mantis Head – (Stagmomantis carolina?)

Walking Stick Head – (Phasmatodea)

Brown/Tan Damselfly Face

Eyes of a Female Rabid Wolf Spider (Rabidosa rabida)

Damselfly Face

Dragonfly Head

Head of a Black Carpenter Ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus)

Tiger Crane Fly Head (Nephrotoma ferruginea)

Male Striped Horse Fly (Tabanus lineola)

Katydid Nymph Head – (Scudderia)

Blue Damsel Fly Face – (Zygoptera)

Skipper with Proboscis - (Hesperiidae)

Skipper with Proboscis – (Hesperiidae)

Ugly Fly

We think these are incredible. We hope you do too. If you would like to see more of Thomas’ photos, don’t forget to check out his Flickr Photo Stream. You can also read a great interview with him where he divulges a few of his tricks and ideas on macro photography of insects and bugs. And don’t forget to check out his own website about vintage guitars!

About Author

Rob is the founder of Light Stalking. His love for photography started as a child with a Kodak Instamatic and pushed him into building this fantastic place all these years later, and you can get to know him better here.
Rob's Gear
Camera: Nikon D810
Lenses: Nikkor 14-24 f/2.8, Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

24 Comments

Amazing photos

Amazing amazing amazing images! I love macro photography, but my camera can’t EVEN get that close.. You work is fabulous!

Than Q! I’m sure glad bugs are bug sized! Fab pics.

How do you get such good depth of field in these photos?

So you’re saying “photographer specialization is for insects?” (apologies to Robert Heinlein)

Thanks. I wasn’t scared enough of bugs.

All kidding aside, really fantastic work.

Absolutely amazing some of the best macro I have seen.

they are amazing! but why always bugs??? you can take something else with macro…

Oh! boy, if these bugs are everywhere, then where I am going to sleep? could be possible the people scrach their itchy skin for these bugs without know why the skin ithch?