Microsculpture: Portraits of Insects by Levon Biss

Microsculpture is a unique photographic study of insects in mind-blowing magnification that celebrates the wonders of nature and science.

"You will never look at a beetle or a moth the same way again." --WIRED
"Art meets science to dazzling effect." --Guardian
"You have never seen insects in such astounding detail before." --New Scientist

Award-winning photographer Levon Biss's work captures in breathtaking detail the beauty of the insect world and are printed in large-scale format to provide an unforgettable viewing experience. Each image in Microsculpture is created from approximately 8,000 individual photographs. Segments of the specimen are lit and photographed separately using microscope lenses, then "stacked" to maintain sharp focus throughout. These images are then combined to create a single high-resolution file. From start to finish, each portrait takes approximately four weeks to create.

Dr. James Hogan, entomology department curator of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, writes in his foreword, "This collection of photographs is a celebration of nature and photographic art, but it also shows how science and art can be effectively combined to produce something new and exciting."

The vivid colors, unusual features, and never-before-seen details of the insects in this unique oversize coffee table book capture the true wonders of nature and science.


Levon Biss is an award-winning British photographer. His work has been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums over the world. Biss lives in London.

Harry N. Abrams

Pub Date: October 10, 2017

0.9" H x 12.0" L x 10.2" W

144 pages

hardcover