Macro Photography // Geoff Rankin: photography, graphic design, music, writing, illustration, art + more

Macro Photography
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In a world where bigger is often seen as better, it's the small things in life that often go unnoticed. So I’m making small things seem bigger so they get noticed. That makes them better, right?

Step into (but not onto) a world of bugs, creepy crawlies, buzzy things, and creatures you'd rather not see this big for real. But it's all for real, just a little smaller. So get ready to see things you may have never seen before. Go "Wow!" Go "That's amazing!" Go "Gross!" Go "That's truly beautiful!" And possibly all over the one photo:)

Macro is a world of micro-adventures & I love adventures, big or small!

NOTE: All critters here (except the Phasmids) are in their natural environments as I discovered them. All are wild & not pets (pests maybe), nor have I caught them to photograph. The shots haven’t been orchestrated in any way. I haven’t refrigerated any of them to keep them really still (which is fairly common in macro photography). And I haven’t sprayed anything with a water bottle for extra effect. This is pure wildlife photography on a macro level - nothing else - just the way I like it.

Australian Native Stingless Bee

Australian Native Stingless Bees are tiny but incredible things, working tirelessly to make the world a better place, for them and for us. The perfect mascot for the Aussie Battler. Go you good thing!

Natural light, handheld

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Greetings From Planet... Ummm...???

Me: “Excuse me, but are we from the same planet?”

It: “Uhuh. You just don’t know this planet well enough!”

Natural light, handheld

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Graphic Flutterer

Four wings? Check. Groovy spots? Check. Cool name? Check!!! Yes, Graphic Flutterer is the real name of this type of dragonfly. Honestly!

Natural light, handheld

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Poised, Ready To pounce!

Have you ever walked through a park or somewhere and had the feeling you were being watched? Chances are you were, eight times, by one of these:)

This Green Jumping Spider - yes, that's what this one is actually called - is ready to jump on me/my camera. It's happened before... "Oh, where did the spider go? Oh, there it is on my camera!" This one is female. You can tell as she has a green head - males have a black head. And that's not lipstick, folks. They're her fangs!

Natural light, handheld

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Eastern Sedgefrog

Very cool little dude. It looks like it could be carved out of stone. So gorgeous!

Natural light, handheld

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Mini Smaug

This flying dragon (Australian Tiger Dragonfly) is almost big enough to be breathing fire. I hope there isn’t a mini Lake-town on Hinze Dam, because if there is it better look out!

Natural light, handheld

Hinze Dam, Queensland, Australia

Mosquito Meltdown

"I can't believe it's not fancy dress. I feel like such a doofus. I can't believe it. Can't believe it. Can't believe it. Can't believe it. Can't believe it. Can't believe it. Can't believe it. Can't believe it. Can't believe it. And the party is tomorrow. I need to get myself a diary!"

Natural light, handheld

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Orchard Swallowtail Caterpillar

Somehow this lemon-leaf eating-machine will transform into a beautiful black and white butterfly. It's not sure how or why, but it eats so it can be who it's created to be. But it can't do that without our citrus trees.

If you see one of these beauties and don't want it eating your citrus leaves, how about relocating it to a neighbour's tree? Your neighbour probably wouldn’t thank you for it, so don’t tell them, but you'll know you're doing your bit to help the environment and that's the most important thing, right? :)

Natural light, handheld

Ingham, Queensland, Australia

Passed Life

The old me
It's not what I want to be
Hard, empty, crusty
Thankfully I've been set free!
~ Geoff Rankin, 2019

Who knew spiders shed their skin?

I think we all don't want to be that person. We want to be new and improved, better and better day by day, leaving the old us behind. The old me is a hollow shell of what once was. The new me is alive, renewed, has moved out and has moved on! Hopefully :)

Natural light, handheld

Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

Grasshopper Dropping

“I didn’t eat any of the pink leaves. Honest!”

Perhaps it had just eaten a lot of beetroot. I think a few of us have been guilty before on that count. If it goes in one end, something's gotta come out the other. I guess grasshoppers are just like the rest of us after all.

Natural light, handheld

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

LHI Witchetty Grub

The Longicorn beetle (Agrianome spinicollis) is the largest of the beetles on Lord Howe Island. This is what it looks like when you wake one up from a really long pre-beetle snooze. Sorry.

Natural light, handheld

Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, Australia

Bubble Tongue

Of all the strangish things
A photographer may see
A bubble on the tongue
Of a flying honey bee
~ Geoff Rankin, 2018

Natural light, handheld

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Ghostly Praying Mantis

I saw this ultra-tiny & translucent Praying Mantis on a wooden fence. Wow! We played cat & mouse for a while, although it was quite friendly & inquisitive.

It told me it loved me and needed money for an operation, but thankfully I could see right through it:)

Natural light, handheld

Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

What's The Time, Mr Caterpillar?

I photographed this Four O'clock Moth caterpillar at 3:58pm, so it was almost four o'clock and almost a moth. I'm not sure what's meant to take place at 4 o'clock - a leaf change perhaps? I waited until about 10 past but nothing eventuated.

Oh, I’m so daft... I bet something awesome happens at 4am, not 4pm! Ah, isn’t it always the way?

Natural light, handheld

Somewhere near Innisfail, Queensland, Australia

The Rarest Insects In The World!

Meet Bruce, Bernard, Bernice, Babs & Betty - the Famous Phasmid Five!

These flightless Lord Howe Island Phasmids were eaten into extinction 100 years ago on Lord Howe Island by introduced rats. I guess for rats they were a bit like all-you-can-eat churros. Remarkably they were rediscovered in 2001 on a nearby rock island and brought back from near extinction. They have been called the rarest insect in the world and are currently listed as Critically Endangered.

There's not really a famous phasmid five. But there should be. These ones are living in a glass enclosure, but as they are super-super-rare I thought I'd include them here even though they're not in their natural wild state, especially because Babs is smiling at me. Cutie :)

Unnatural light, handheld

Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, Australia

Robber Fly Lying In Wait

This Robber Fly is lying in wait for its next unsuspecting victim. Now where did I put my wallet and my keys? They were here just a moment ago.

Natural light, handheld

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Sand On Shell

A single grain of sand lies caught between the ridges of one of these pinky-orange-kinda shells. The wind blows. The grain of sand stays where it is. The wind blows. I think that at any moment the grain of sand will blow away, but it doesn't budge. The wind blows. I budge and continue on my way.

Natural light, handheld

Forrest Beach, Queensland, Australia

Grasshopper Smile

There was a knock on the door too faint to hear. I went to see who it was anyway. "Hello?" No answer. "Hello?" No answer. "Hellooo?" Still no answer. Hmmm... I bet it was that sneaky-looking grasshopper again.

Like most people I don't really have a thing for grasshoppers. I mean, who does? But I'm willing to make an exception for this one.

Natural light, handheld

Ingham, Queensland, Australia

Why Fly When You Can Drive

I found this teeny, tiny fly merrily perched on my car bonnet. I didn’t ask where it was going or wanted to be dropped off, but why walk when you can fly, and why fly when you can drive, I guess?

Natural light, handheld

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Moose On The Loose

"I'm gonna have to call back the repairman.
All I'm picking up is CountryFM again,
and Lee Kernaghan is driving... me... insane!"

I spotted this Feather-horned Beetle on a windy morning, hanging on to a rose petal. So yes, it is pretty small. And no, I don't know if it really could pick up CountryFM or not. Sorry. But I reckon it possibly could :)

Natural light, handheld

Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

Common Bluetail Damselfly

“You know, when I was your age my back didn’t hurt, my wings kept beat and everything didn’t cramp up when wanting to make a quick getaway. And the worst thing is, people stopping to take photos! I mean, I can handle the fact that I’m not in great shape & haven’t shaved for longer than I dare remember, but do you really have to take a photo first thing in the morning? It was a late night. A little too late. And whatever you do, don’t put it on the internet!”

Natural light, handheld

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Four Precious Jewels

Diamond: Hey, Emerald! What's the hold up?

Emerald: It's not me, mate! It's Sapphire.

Diamond: Why, what's he doing?

Emerald: Nothing. That's the problem.

Diamond: Hey Sapphire! Can we get a move on? My legs are cramping up.

Sapphire: What's the point? I mean what exactly is the point? I'm only a, you know, a beautiful and precious jewel like everyone else.

Ruby: I knew I should have gone first. Taxi!

These four male Hibiscus Harlequin Bugs were lined up ready for a photo. They are as they were - four bugs bunched up on the one little branch. Priceless!

Natural light, handheld

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Wasp With Mud

“Hey, kids, I've got Christmas sorted!”

Natural light, handheld

Hinze Dam, Queensland, Australia

Ladybird On The Line

I returned from a big day out one day to find this cutie on the clothesline.

I inquired, "Are you lost?"

It replied, "No, I'm just hanging out."

I enjoyed its dry sense of humour.

Natural light, handheld

Ingham, Queensland, Australia

Native Teddy Bear Bee In Flight

I love the challenge of capturing bees while flying (them not me). It's one of those things I never really thought I'd do. This Teddy Bear Bee (yes, that's what they're called - honestly) is one of the many varieties of Australian native bees that regularly pop into our gardens, whether we've ever noticed them or not. I'm glad I do macro photography as I see things I'd otherwise miss. And now I've a soft spot for native bees of all kinds, especially the cuddly ones.

Natural light, handheld

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Small Yellow Butterfly

"How was that? Did you get the shot? I didn't blink, did I? Good, good. We could try the other side too, if you like, but this side's always been my best. Shareen is gonna love it, although she hasn't been answering any of my calls of late. Do you think I should have combed my hair?”

Natural light, handheld

Mt Barney, Queensland, Australia

Quietly Praying Mantis

Many of us pray for peace at times. This praying mantis looks like it's praying that I leave it in peace. I'm still amazed that I saw it. Peace, dude.

Natural light, handheld

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Gold Creek Damselfly

I found this aptly-coloured damselfly sitting on a stem of grass at Gold Creek Reserve. Pretty cool seeing that most damselflies you see are either blue or black.

Natural light, handheld

Gold Creek Reserve, Queensland, Australia

Spotty Muncher

"Sorry, mate. I'd love to stay and chat but I've got to finish this leaf, actually the whole shrub, by next Thursday."

Natural light, handheld

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Tiny Tiny Native Bee

Of the 1700 different species of Australian native bees this has to be one of the smallest. It’s noticeably smaller than a stingless bee and so much prettier!

It's the smallest bee I've ever photographed - about the size of an ant. Apart from the Western Honey Bee (the type of bee most people think of when they think of a bee), all bees in Australia are native, so keep an eye out for them, though one eye is probably not going to be enough:)

Natural light, handheld

Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

Damsels In... Delight

These two Common Bluetail Damselflies are getting better acquainted. And the world can always do with more Damselflies!

Natural light, handheld

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Sunbaked Sea Snake

It’s never normally safe to get anywhere near this close to a sea snake. And who’s ever seen one anyway? This snake was washed up on a beach in Lucinda, Nth QLD.

Natural light, handheld

Lucinda, Queensland, Australia

Dance Of Death

It was fascinating watching this spider perform the dance of death with a fly between the lower petals of a beautiful white rose. The spider was definitely doing most of the leading. It’s a tricky thing to take a sharp macro image in the middle of a waltz on a bouncing dance floor but thankfully it happened. When your time is up I expect it’s arguably one of the more pleasant places to be (on a rose that is, not on a dance floor, or in the arms of a hungry, trained killer!).

Natural light, handheld

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Salty Winter Wonderland

While people were having fun down south with snow, I was having just as much fun up north with salt. Almost. But it looks similar & if you don’t look too hard you can almost imagine yourself in a salty winter wonderland. Or not. Next time I might build myself a saltman, or saltwoman (possibly Lot’s wife?). Just remember, as with snow, the same ground rules apply: Don’t eat the yellow salt!

Natural light, handheld

Wunjunga, Queensland, Australia

Born Again Bug

Some people need to come out of their shell to find who they were created to be. So do some bugs. This Gum Tree Shield Bug is in fact up a gum tree and is proving that it's what's inside that counts. Unfortunately it won't stay this colour for long. The coolest thing is the temporary harness wires that hold it in place - allowing it to come out of the old shell horizontally while it still can't use its legs - though they're fairly loose now that its legs are out. Unbelievable!

Natural light, handheld

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Desert Beetle

I noticed this beetle enjoying dessert at The Pinnacles. The little rocks are coarse grains of sand. It might be some sort of cockroach, but seeing as I don't like cockroaches much, perhaps it isn't:)

Natural light, handheld

Nambung National Park, Western Australia, Australia

Sticky Spider

This is one of those times you can't assume something is what it looks like. The suspicious thing for me was that it was a small floating twig, and you don't see too many of them - normally. So, it turns out this is actually a spider. The web is barely visible. You're looking at the underside of the spider here - for the keen observer you might be able to spot the webby-spinning bit under the ".com".

Natural light, handheld

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Moth On Leaf

I love this photo. It's not the most extraordinary or breathtaking but it's one of my favourites. I also love the idea of camouflage. I literally go right up to trees and plants and stare at them for a few seconds just in case something like this is waiting for me. It's missed otherwise. So if you're ever in a park and see a guy go up to a tree and stare at it intently then another tree then another tree, it's probably me. Oh, and I don't tend to talk to trees. That would be weird :)

Natural light, handheld

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Fiery Skimmer

A female Fiery Skimmer dragonfly takes a rest between fiery skims. Nice.

Natural light, handheld

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

No Nose Bug

Sometimes when you're out and about you get thrown a curly one. What the heck is this? I've asked a few people but no one nose. My guess is that it was a regular type of bug, then one day while flying distracted it missed a turn, hit a tree and has been too embarrassed to admit it ever since. Good theory, and I'm sticking with it.

Natural light, handheld

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Potter Gold

I was chatting to some tourists, actually I was also a tourist, on a hot afternoon in Tannum Sands, when this humungous Potter Wasp started buzzing us. It sure scared the others. (I'm pretty brave so only ran half as far away as they did.) But being a hot day all it wanted was a drink so landed by a near-by water-filled dog bowl. It was almost as big as a poodle so it didn't look too out of place. I think I might have even heard it bark as it took off :)

Australia doesn't have any hornets. Although most people would call this a hornet, all Australian 'hornets' are actually wasps, even if they're massive. So there you go.

Natural light, handheld

Tannum Sands, Queensland, Australia

Nice Assassin

This Assassin Bug really has a lovely bum. It’s leafy wings and tail section look very cool. I’m not sure where it does its shopping but more insects should shop for outfits where this one does.

Natural light, handheld

Mt Barney, Queensland, Australia

Crane Flies When You're Having Fun

If you see these giant 'mosquitoes' flying around and think to yourself, "Gee, I hope one of those doesn't bite me," you can now rest assured knowing that these massive 'mozzies' are actually crane flies, not blood suckers after all. So it's ok if they go ahead and make a few more.

Natural light, handheld

Gold Creek Reserve, Queensland, Australia

Figgy Pudding

Two amorous beetles atop a fig. Well, one is atop another atop a fig, and only a cherry on top could possibly top that.

"Hey, Maude, can you give me a lift to the shops? I need to do my Christmas shopping."

"No problems, Mal, but I won't go until I get some. I won't go until I get some...".

Natural light, handheld

Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

Dry Wasp

I noticed this wasp kicking back on an old clothesline. I'm not sure what its fascination with it was but it seemed to be enjoying itself so I took a quick photo and left it to do whatever it was it was doing.

Natural light, handheld

Ingham, Queensland, Australia

New Year's Dragonfly

It was dawn of New Years Day and I suspect we were the only two up. Let's just say that New Year's Day in Bunbury, just after sunrise, is a very quiet place. It certainly wasn't quiet overnight! I expect he’d had a bigger night than me.

Natural light, handheld

Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia

A Call To Pray

The Christmas Eve service of prayer, readings & carols had just concluded. Flying in to greet me outside the church’s front door was a Praying Mantis - a reminder to continue praying for those without peace, both near and far. Will you allow this praying mantis to be a reminder for you too? 24 Dec 2017.

How many times do you see a praying mantis at night? Like never. And this one flew right up to me and landed right in front of me. Then it posed. I guess it was meant to be.

Natural light, handheld

Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

Moth? What Moth?

This is one of those insects you're really lucky to notice. It looks to me like it's hoping beyond hope that I haven't spotted it. I can’t look at it without guessing what it was thinking… “I’m keeping still but I think he might have seen me. He’s looking right… into… my… No, he’s gone. Camouflage - 1, Photographer - 0.”

Natural light, handheld

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Richmond Birdwing

This male Richmond Birdwing butterfly has no idea about the fascination of photographing it. Or if it does, it doesn't show it. Such a cool looking creature. And such tatty wings!

Natural light, handheld

Lamington National Park, Queensland, Australia

Fig Tree Lurker

This spider is really quite small and is perched atop a baby fig tree. Boring description but pretty cool photo.

Natural light, handheld

Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

Inquisitive Lizard

This Common Garden Skink is pretty cute, but also pretty shy. I tried to get a photo but he kept ducking off. Look, hide. Look, hide. Look, hide. Eventually I took this one - look.

Natural light, handheld

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

So which one was your favourite?