6.Photograph 26
He had never seen a wasp thus near-by. This striking picture most certainly shows a moment of great curiosity or surprise, showing an unplanned close encounter between a subject—probably human or animal—and a wasp. Perhaps closer than they have ever been, the picture freezes a split second where the subject finds themselves face-to–face with this little but powerful bug. Using “he” implies that the subject is male, and his response to this close-up view of the wasp most certainly defines the image’s focal point. This picture is a wonderful study of the junction between the frequently disregarded insect world and the human (or animal) one. Usually imperceptible to the unaided eye, it might draw attention to the minute features of the wasp’s anatomy and simultaneously capture the subject’s look of wonder, terror, or awe. Given the small size of the wasp and the very rapid reaction of the subject, the photographer’s ability to capture this brief moment is amazing. Viewers of this picture most likely experience a range of feelings, from sympathetic fear to fascination with the natural world, and might even be inspired to value the intricacy of even the tiniest species in our surroundings.