Aliens Among Us: Extraordinary Portraits of Ordinary Bugs

Over the course of his photography career, Daniel Kariko came to realize that many of his most stunning subjects could be found in his own subdivision in Greenville, North Carolina. Determined to show the rest of us that his experience is hardly unusual, Kariko utilizes a combination of a Scanning Electron Microscope and optical Stereo Microscope to achieve a portrait-like effect for insects and arthropods. Vibrant in color and surprising in personality, these images reveal such details as the glittering eyes of a horsefly, the strong legs of a centipede, and the fetching smile of a honeybee. Each photograph comes equipped with a full-body illustration from artist Isaac Talley, and fascinating character descriptions from entomologist Tim Christensen. Deftly blurring the lines of art and science, Aliens Among Us is the perfect guidebook for anyone interested in putting a face to the creepers under the couch.