Beetles! Behind-the-scenes photography at the NHM.

Hello! I spent yesterday at the Natural History Museum, lending my photography skills to the Coleoptera section of the Terrestrial Invertebrates Division (which roughly translates as ‘beetles department’). I was presented with a jewel box of Tanzanian beetles, and was asked to take close-up portraits for their beetle database and. I was also given free reign to take as many ‘arty’ shots as I liked! Let’s just say I was in heaven. Most of the ‘literal’ shots will end up on the NHM Beetles and Bugs Flickr page, so I’ve mostly included creative photos here. Enjoy!

From this angle, it looks like a tiny dragon! (‘You arty people love your weird angles, don’t you!’)

I couldn’t help but create a pattern out of these gorgeous, flame-hued beetles.

I love the subtle variations in shape and pattern. Nature is just too cool.

Real entomologists wear beetle earrings.

Pins and forceps: Tools of the trade.

A very small section of the collection: Green lockers full of trays and trays of specimens.

Below are two examples of amazing antennae.

As you might already know, I studied biology at university back in the day, and I have a massive weakness for any project with a scientific edge. I’ll be going to the museum once a week for the foreseeable future, so watch this space (as well as the NHM Coleoptera Flickr Photostream) for more photographs!