Photographer Levon Biss was looking for a new, extraordinary subject when one afternoon he and his young son popped a ground beetle under a microscope and discovered the wondrous world of insects. Applying his knowledge of photography to subjects just five millimeters long, Biss created a process for shooting insects in unbelievable microscopic detail. He shares the resulting portraits — each comprised of 8- to 10,000 individual shots — and a story about how inspiration can come from the most unlikely places.
Check out more TED Talks:
The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more.
Follow TED on Twitter:
Like TED on Facebook:
Subscribe to our channel:
Comments
24 responses to “Mind-blowing, magnified portraits of insects | Levon Biss”
inspirational
From Darwin to today it is 186 years and from today another 186 years perhaps a chip can be placed in a living insect brain to reveal its perceptual and thought world – and to communicate with us.
Indeed, Allah is not timid to present an example – that of a mosquito or what is smaller than it. And those who have believed know that it is the truth from their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, they say, "What did Allah intend by this as an example?" He misleads many thereby and guides many thereby. And He misleads not except the defiantly disobedient.
Al Quran chapter 2 verse 26.
I honestly wish the pictures weren’t so dark
enda kenny was on the cover of Time haha
Charles Darwen would realized the magnificent of the bug and flush all his evolution thoughts. This can't be something else but intelligent design.
Just look at most Rappers
working with this guy wouldve been a childhood dream!
Impressive
Das sind natürlich immer alles montierte Fake-Fotos, wegen der geringen Tiefenscharfe der Makrofotografie.
Does the bug on the right in the thumbnail make you think "Aunt Sponge" or is it just me?
Trabalho de Deus, o homen maravillado com a criação. Parabéns! Amei a sua dedicação e o amor pelas crianças!
clicked on this to see bugs, not hear someone i never heard of narcissistically rag about how important and privileged they are. why is that necessary?
I , I , I , ME , ME , ME , ….. wow! what a celebrity! ….. why dont you showcase the bugs instead of yourself …. no one really cares about you , maybe appreciate your work …. imagine if you had to sit thru this with products like cars , a gourmet meal , etc.
The people are fascinated by the one who discovered and filmed, how about the One who created and fashioned?
Very interested, I like to use some of the insects in my website. excellent job.
Remarquable votre travail Monsieur, vos photos sont extraordinaires et nous permettent de voir en chaque petit insecte a la base ordinaire sa veritable beaute …..merci a votre fiston sans lequel nous n'aurions pas pu profiteret decouvrir cette biodiversite sublime.
👏 from France.
i lover micro/ macro photography.
one day i will make my own book/ prints!
Beautiful beings yet i wish you'd given more attention to them as art while they live amongst us. Once they are killed their beauty fades. Is it possible to show their mastery, beauty, magnificence without killing them? Sorry as i was excited to watch this yet seeing these tiny dead beings photographed reminded of hunters with their larger kill of bengs like Cecile… As humans we really need to stop the killing & manipulating of living beings for our research as our desire to study, dominate, control… is why we are where we are now in 2020. There must be a way… Live and Let Live.
Mind-blowing? Wat wea, ¿dont you have another palabra mejor? TED is more vendido than the chuch. Lujo Insects by the way.
He needs to do a TEDx in Boca Raton, Florida
''Indeed, Allah is not timid to present an example – that of a mosquito or what is smaller than it. And those who have believed know that it is the truth from their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, they say, "What did Allah intend by this as an example?" He misleads many thereby and guides many thereby. And He misleads not except the defiantly disobedient'' Quran 2:26
Sorry, its micro, not photo. Great, no question. The border is the best imaginable human eyesight. Whenever you cross this border, you leave the ground of what the term of photography means.
no impressed, he killed beautiful bugs for hobby, go home and hide little man