Welcome to Scienceland! As an artist, you are kinda doing science most of the time but this was full on science and It was incredible. Feel free to scroll past all my nerdy lab images for the actual TEM (transmission electron microscope) images of this wicked cool beetle.

Working through my MFA in photography at Louisiana Tech University, I found myself in the Micro manufacturing building learning how to use the FSEM (scanning electron microscope) and the confocal laser scanning microscope to look at Morpho butterfly wings. I am completely obsessed with structural color and how humans interpret what we perceive. This beautiful beetle has my attention and is inspiring me to learn more about the physical properties of light.

The LSU Department of Entomology is a constant resource for continuing my education in understanding light. Sounds bananas right!!!! Insects and photography and a microscopy lab, how do those connect? THEY JUST DO…..

John and Mary welcomed me into the microscopy lab at the University of Georgia (UGA), they taught me how to make my own samples for imaging with a transmission electron microscope(TEM). BTW! The University of Georgia in Athens is the most beautiful college campus I have walked across, in case you were curious. I’m sharing a few images from the trip. Enjoy what inspires me to make art and learn more about photography.

Thanks to Joe and Nathan for letting me look through the UGA Entomoloy collection. The UGA Museum of Natural History has very beautiful Morpho butterflies.