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SEE CREATURES IN NEW BEAUTIFUL LIGHT

“Colourful Spiny Caterpillar (Gonimbrasia zambesina) Under UV Light,” Image: by Paul Bertner. Udzungwa National Park, Tanzania.
Image: by Paul Bertner. “Colourful Spiny Caterpillar (Gonimbrasia zambesina) Under UV Light.” Udzungwa National Park, Tanzania.

PAUL BERTNER

Paul Bertner has a passion for finding beauty in places most of us never see. He’s traveled to remote jungles to meet up with exotic creatures. And while their unique magnificence captivated him at “hello,” he was driven to see them in a whole new light --- in a different spectrum.

by Paul Bertner. “Leaf Mimicking Katydid (Cratioma borneense) Under UV Light.” Mt. Kinabalu, Sabah.
Image: by Paul Bertner. “Leaf Mimicking Katydid (Cratioma borneense) Under UV Light.” Mt. Kinabalu, Sabah.

Focusing mainly on insects and other creepy crawlers, Bertner found a new level of appreciation by photographing in ultraviolet (UV) light.

by Paul Bertner. “Stick insect Under UV Light.” Photo taken in Kinabalu National Park, Borneo.
Image: by Paul Bertner. “Stick insect Under UV Light.” Photo taken in Kinabalu National Park, Borneo.

With a background in cell biology and genetics, Bertner is fascinated by how these organisms function and fit in the web of life.

by Paul Bertner. “Stick insect Under UV Light.” Photo taken in Kinabalu National Park, Borneo.
Image: by Paul Bertner. “Stick insect Under UV Light.” Photo taken in Kinabalu National Park, Borneo.

It began with Peruvian Amazon where, in 2004, Bertner first became smitten (and bitten) by  bugs. Since then, he has been traveling to rainforests around the world in search of pristine, untouched beauty.

by Paul Bertner. “Butterfly Chrysalis Under UV Light.” Gunung Leuser National Park, Indonesia.
Image: by Paul Bertner. “Butterfly Chrysalis Under UV Light.” Gunung Leuser National Park, Indonesia.

“Being surrounded by the natural biota has led to me to diversify my interests into zoology, rainforest ecology,and the interesting yet challenging disciplines of tropical systematics and taxonomy.”

by Paul Bertner. “Millipede Under UV Light.” Andasibe National Park, Madagascar.
Image: by Paul Bertner. “Millipede Under UV Light.” Andasibe National Park, Madagascar.

Scorpions, geckos, caterpillars, katydids, millipedes, chameleons and other critters that might make your skin crawl if you were to encounter them, are astonishingly beautiful when viewed in the UV spectrum.

by Paul Bertner. “Leaf-mimicking Katydid Under UV Light.” Vohimana Reserve, Madagascar.
Image: by Paul Bertner. “Leaf-mimicking Katydid Under UV Light.” Vohimana Reserve, Madagascar.

To create his images, Bertner exposes the creatures to UV light for up to 30 seconds. The main challenge is finding subjects that can stay still for that long.

by Paul Bertner. “Harvestman Under UV Light.” Mindo Cloud Rainforest, Ecuador.
Image: by Paul Bertner. “Harvestman Under UV Light.” Mindo Cloud Rainforest, Ecuador.

Even a slight movement will result in unacceptable blur. Bertner has to take many shots to get one good, clean result.

by Paul Bertner. “Ground chameleon (Brookesia superciliaris) Under UV Light.” Madagascar.
Image: by Paul Bertner. “Ground chameleon (Brookesia superciliaris) Under UV Light.” Madagascar.

Focus on the beauty of living things has also helped Bertner in his journey to health. Recently diagnosed with stage III testicular cancer that had metastasized to his lungs and spine, Bertner spent months undergoing a regimen of chemotherapy and surgeries and now, he is traveling again. His quest for beauty has helped him to put those hard months of recovery behind him.

by Paul Bertner. “Scorpion Under UV Light.” Angkor Wat, Cambodia.
Image: by Paul Bertner. “Scorpion Under UV Light.” Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

Read more about Rainbows all this week on BeautifulNow. And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Wellness, Impact, Nature/Science, Food, Arts/Design, and Travel, Daily Fix posts.

by Paul Bertner. “Scorpion Under UV Light With Prey.” Udzungwa National Park, Tanzania.
Image: by Paul Bertner. “Scorpion Under UV Light With Prey.” Udzungwa National Park, Tanzania.

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by Paul Bertner. “Caterpillar Under UV Light.” Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
Image: by Paul Bertner. “Caterpillar Under UV Light.” Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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