In pictures: 'Unseen alien world' of bugs captured

  • Published
SpiderImage source, Lee Frost
Image caption,

Lee Frost said he likes showing the 'alien world' of insects

A self-taught photographer has been capturing the "alien world" of insects.

Lee Frost, from Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, said he liked taking the macro images "of what's just around us".

"As soon as I took my first photo I was just hooked," he said.

"It's just like an alien world, an unseen world that not many people see."

Image source, Lee Frost
Image caption,

This image of a cellar spider helped net him a British Photography Award

Image source, Lee Frost
Image caption,

A damselfly is pictured covered in morning dew

He often shoots insects at night to catch them sleeping, he said.

In November, he was awarded overall winner of the macro category of the British Photography Awards for his image showing a cellar spider carrying her egg sacks.

Mr Frost, a butcher, had gone into his garage to find tools when he spotted it.

"Safe to say I ditched the tools and grabbed the camera and on the third day I went back in and I actually got the shot I wanted," he explained.

Image source, Lee Frost
Image caption,

He captured this image of an iridescent rosemary beetle

Each photograph can be made up of 80 images stacked and edited together.

"I've taken multiple images of different focal planes and I'm using stacking software so you get one sharp overall image all in focus," he explained.

Image source, Lee Frost
Image caption,

His photographs are made up of many layered images

Image source, Lee Frost
Image caption,

A roosting bee is among the stunning images in his collection

He shares his images with thousands of followers on Facebook, external and Instagram. , external

His dad, Mark Frost, said his son was "absolutely dedicated" to the craft.

"I mean there's not many people who would get up at 4am and go out taking photographs," he added.

All images are subject to copyright.

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, external, Twitter, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk

Related internet links

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.