He Spent 3 Years Photographing Insects to Show How Expressive and Beautiful They Really Are

While most of us walk past insects without a second thought, British photographer Rory J Lewis invites us to stop and look closer—much closer.

In his three-year project Reverie of the Unseen, Lewis set out to reveal the hidden charm and personality of invertebrates. From the antlered elegance of a stag beetle to the iridescent wings of a dragonfly, his images showcase creatures many of us overlook, fear, or dismiss entirely. But through his lens, they become something else entirely—majestic, tender, even oddly relatable.

Photographed alive and unharmed in their natural environments, each subject is captured during quiet, intimate moments—often while sleeping or just waking at dawn. This gentle approach allows for vibrant portraits that seem to capture emotion: a ladybird appearing to wave, a moth tilting its head in quiet curiosity.

Lewis uses nothing more than lighting, creative angles, and carefully placed backgrounds to elevate these insects without disrupting them. For him, ethics are just as important as aesthetics. Every image is a celebration of life at its smallest scale—a visual invitation to see beauty where we least expect it.

And maybe, after seeing these images, you’ll never look at a bug the same way again.

Visit All About Photo to view the full solo exhibition.

More info: all-about-photo.com

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