The Evolution of Insect Photography

In the early 1900s, capturing close-up photos of insects required a bulky, 20-foot long camera, a technological feat of its time. David Fairchild aimed to photograph living insects without harming them, leading to innovative techniques like using wax to secure them on leaves for photography. While some insects were used post-mortem to achieve clarity in photography, modern methods now involve techniques such as freezing live specimens temporarily for still shots. Historical figures like Robert Hooke have also contributed to this field, as he documented details of insects in his renowned work 'Micrographia' by illustrating details viewed through new lenses.