DIVERSITY MAKES THE WORLD MORE BEAUTIFUL NOW

Insects are the most diverse creatures alive. There are over 950 thousand different known species of insects on this planet -- about 80% of the world's species. But some estimate there are as many as 30 million species yet to be identified.

It’s a good thing insects are diverse, because at any one time, it is estimated that there are some 10 quintillion (10,000,000,000,000,000,000) individual insects alive. That’s over 200 million insects for each human on the planet!

IGOR SIWANOWICZ

It’s also a good thing that many species of insect are stunningly beautiful. Polish photographer, Dr. Igor Siwanowicz, who works at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, has a remarkable way of highlighting their beauty.

Siwanowicz specializes in photographing invertebrates. He developed an early interest in studying the beauty of living things thanks to his parents who were both biologists. As a child, he grew up surrounded by illustrated biology/zoology textbooks.

He holds a masters in biotechnology and a PhD in structural biochemistry.

As a diversion from his serious scientific studies and pursuits, Siwanowicz began to dabble in digital photography. Once he added a macro lens and a few other accessories, his interest in photographing tiny insects bloomed. 

Siwanowicz has won numerous prestigious awards for his insect photography, including Nikon Small World, Olympus Bioscapes, and other important competitions.

Siwanowicz is prolific. He has developed quite an obsession for taking photos, constantly seeking to capture new species in their diverse glory. 

Siwanowicz hopes that people who see his work, not only appreciate it for its beauty but that they also come to appreciate the diverse benefits insects bring to life as a whole.

Check out more of Siwanowicz’s incredibly diverse insect photos in his book, Animals Up Close. 

And check out even more of Siwanowicz’s gorgeous insect portraits on his site and Facebook page. 

Read more about Beautiful Diversity as it relates to Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact including 10 Beautiful New Books Celebrating the Beauty of Diversity Now.

Want more stories like this? Sign up for our weekly BN Newsletter, Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr. Join our BeautifulNow Community and connect with the most beautiful things happening in the world right now!

Do you have amazing photos? Enter them in this week’s BN Photo Competition. We run new creative competitions every week! Now, it’s even easier to enter with the new BeautifulNow App!

Plus check out the rest of our App’s beautiful features. It’s free to download here.

IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: by Igor Siwanowicz. Frontal section of Phalangium opilio (Harvestman/Daddy longlegs) eyes.
2. Image: Igor Siwanowicz. Praying Mantises.
3. Image: by Igor Siwanowicz. Male diving beetle leg - fragment.
4. Image: by Igor Siwanowicz. Barnacle appendage.
5. Image: by Igor Siwanowicz. Moth proboscis. Median (inner) side of a gray moth's proboscis, covered in mechano- and chemosensory hairs.
6. Image: by Igor Siwanowicz. Death's head moth caterpillars.
7. Image: by Igor Siwanowicz. The Chinese Comet Moth Caterpillar.
8. Image: by Igor Siwanowicz. Iridescent polychromatic jewel mimicking Stink Bug.
9. Image: by Igor Siwanowicz. Rhinoceros Beetle.
10. Image: by Igor Siwanowicz. An Eupackardia Calleta (Calleta Silk Moth).
11. Image: by Igor Siwanowicz. Brahmin Moth Caterpillar.
12. Image: by Igor Siwanowicz. Praying Mantis.
13. Image: by Igor Siwanowicz. Praying mantis.
14. Image: by BN App - Download now!
15. Image: by Igor Siwanowicz. Cerura vinula.