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Stunning images show insects covered in raindrops which appear like crystal balls

Mesmerising photographs show expressive wildlife along the banks of the Po river in Italy

Sophie Finnegan
Tuesday 17 December 2019 14:01 GMT
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These mesmerising photos show a host of insects surrounded by tiny droplets of rain after an early morning shower.

The tiny creatures and surrounding flowers are perfectly reflected by the raindrops which appear like crystal balls in this series of close-up images.

Photographer Alberto Ghizzi Panizza was up at the crack of dawn to catch an early burst of rainfall in forest near the stunning Po river in Italy.

In the images, big rain droplets are scattered across the insects as they bathe in the morning light.

“These are all insect that I find between the flood areas and the riverbanks of the Po river, not far away from my house," Mr Ghizzi Panizza said.

Ghizzi Panizza: 'It takes a lot of perseverance, passion and precision to be able to better capture these small subjects'

“The important thing is to go out before dawn to find sufficiently firm subjects.

“What is equally important is to find cold and humid days to find insects covered with droplets.”

Mr Ghizzi Panizza uses macro photography – a technique which allows a photographer to take extremely close-up photographs of their subjects.

This way, he can capture the most intricate details in his images – even from the tiniest insect.

He continued: “I love almost all kind of photography but macro photography is one of my passions.

“It's not easy and I often do trips without being able to photograph anything.

Ghizzi Panizza: 'Damselflies are my favourite to photograph – they have two big rounded eyes and they look so funny'

“With macro photography it takes a lot of perseverance, passion and precision to be able to better capture these small subjects.

“Wind, movements of the subject and vibrations are often the cause of failure.

“Until a few years ago it took a few minutes to make perfect sequences of shots, now several machines have automatisms and functions that allow you to take sequences of images in a few moments.”

Mr Ghizzi Panizza from Parma, Italy, has been photographing insects for about 15 years and said his favourite to capture are damselflies.

He added: “Damselflies are my favourite to photograph – they have two big rounded eyes and they look so funny.

“My favourite picture is the one of the two damselflies next each other. They seems like two friends that share the same leaf.”

SWNS

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