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Welcome

I’m Alex McCarthy, a wildlife photographer based in Wales

The fascinating and interconnected world of insects and the small creatures that sustain our environment is the major concern of this website. I will also stray towards photographing amphibians, reptiles, fungi and microorganisms.

I’m an environmentally conscious macro photographer, treating my subjects with respect. I therefore frown on killing or freezing insects in order to gain more control over macro shots. Insects are living organisms and their well-being comes before any photographic consideration.

I update the blog section every month and this is a good place to visit for the latest articles.

I hope that the images in this website help highlight the beauty and importance of insects and the environment on which we all depend.

Gallery

View my work in the galleries below

Profile

Wildlife Macro Photographer, Naturalist & Conservationist

I have always had a passion for wildlife and this has been a constant inspiration throughout my work as an illustrator and photographer. From the illustrations of sea animals in my children’s book, In Search of the Blue Whale; to my photographs of the tiny creatures that make up 99 percent of animal life visible to the naked eye, no creature is considered too big or too small for admiration.

I work out of my home studio in the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales, where I live with my wife, daughter, fox terrier and french bulldog. When not working in my studio I will ride my motorbike to nature reserves, with rucksack full of camera gear balancing precariously on my back! When I’m not out with my camera stalking insects I volunteer in wildlife conservation projects run by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. I hope that the images in this website will help highlight the beauty and importance of insects and the environment on which we all depend.

Latest Articles

Here are some of the latest entries from the blog section.

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Moth Monitoring at Kenfig Nature Reserve

Volunteers are essential to the management of Nature Reserves. Kenfig Nature Reserve has two groups...
November 30, 2023
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Primordial Soup

Whenever I visit Kenfig Nature Reserve’s waterlogged terrain during the early spring months, I’m reminded...
April 28, 2023
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A Question of Life or Death

Green wings give excellent camouflage against vegetation, making Brimstones difficult to spot against leaves. So...
March 29, 2023
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Is it ethically acceptable to kill and preserve insects?

I know of many photographers who have no qualms about killing and freezing insects in...
January 30, 2023
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: The images on this website are the exclusive property of Alex McCarthy and are protected under international copyright laws, images and text are not to be copied, reproduced, manipulated or used in any way without prior permission from the photographer.