Famous Insect Photographer Alex Wild Speaks at UC Davis

One of the nation’s best known insect photographers will speak Wednesday, Oct. 26 at the University of California, Davis.

Illinois-based Alex Wild, an evolutionary biologist turned full-time science photographer, will speak on “How to Take Better Insect Photographs” from 12:10 to 1 p.m., in 122 Briggs Hall in a seminar sponsored by the UC Davis Department of Entomology.

Wild  received his doctorate in entomology from UC Davis in 2005, studying with ant specialist Phil Ward, professor of entomology. His visual explorations of insect natural history appear in numerous magazines and textbooks, on websites, and in museum exhibits.

Wild also runs photography workshops, teaches entomology and beekeeping at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and blogs for Scientific American.

His work has been showcased in the New York Times, National Geographic and Scientific American, among others.

"I am aiming this talk specifically at graduate students," Wild writes on his blog, Myrmecos, derived from the ancient Greek word forant). "Because scientists use images in many applications--from lab websites to posters and presentations--and because cameras are so available and inexpensive, I think basic photography should be as much a part of academic training as learning to assemble a poster or a conference talk. Thus, 50 minutes on simple tips for taking better photos.”

"I do hope those of you within easy travel distance can attend," he adds.

Entomology professor James R. Carey plans to webcast the lecture for the UCTV research seminars.