Insect Portraiture

What if insects dropped by the mall for a photo shoot?

Praying Mantis by Thomas Shahan

Robber Fly by Thomas Shahan

Phidippus Mystaceus by Thomas Shahan

No, those aren’t 3D renderings. And they’re not dead bugs. Thomas Shahan’s incredible photographs are taken of live insects — usually in their natural environment.

Photo by Sam Martin

His willingness to comb through grasses and turn over logs pays off in a big way. The combination of strange insect features and brilliant, colorful backgrounds creates images so alien they’d make NASA jealous.

Jumping Spider by Thomas Shahan

Tabanus Horse Fly by Thomas Shahan

Check out Thomas’s Flickr photo stream for tons and tons and tons more amazing insect shots and videos (just be prepared to lose a few hours).