How I Got the Shot
I was on a trip to Belize to photograph insects and other arthropods in the rainforest. This beetle had flown in and landed by a light near where I was staying. Due to the high humidity, I was having problems with lens fogging. The dark background is the blackness of the rainforest at night. I was using a diffused macro flash to shoot. I set up a flash behind the beetle to separate it from the dark background. After a couple of shots, the beetle decided to take flight. I was able to get the photo of it as the beetle got ready to takeoff.
What I Used
Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro Lens, Canon Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX, Canon Speedlite 430EX
About Me
I am a board-certified entomologist living in Lexington, Kentucky. My work in insect bio-diversity studies has taken me into the rain forests of South America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. My images have appeared in numerous national magazines, calendars, newspapers, textbooks, TV broadcasts and scientific guides. My images have won local, national and international awards. I am very active in youth and public education and have made hundreds of presentations to conferences, universities, public schools, scout troops, nature groups, clubs, civic groups and museums.
My Photographic Journey
As an entomologist, I have always been interested in the small stuff. I love being able to show others the beauty in the world of insects. I started shooting macro while an entomology student at Purdue University, having my first published photo appear in university extension publications. My interest in insect photography continued with more images published while I was attending graduate studies in entomology at Iowa State University. My entomology travels lead to other wildlife photography, first in the rainforest and then into the sensitive environment of the polar regions.
NANPA and Me
I am a Charter Member of NANPA and have attended nearly every Summit. I had images in the top 100 and top 250 in last year’s NANPA Showcase.
Learn More About Me
My NANPA portfolio is: https://nanpa.org/events/showcase/about-nanpa-showcase/2020-top-24-showcase-tom-myers/ or find him on Facebook.
