Igor Siwanowicz has some questionable friends. As a scientist, he spends inordinate amounts of time around insects, amphibians, and reptiles. He’s gone on record to say he believes that small insects are underrated. If these photos are any indication, I think he’s right.

I was that kid. I spent loads of time peering at and playing with bugs. I once missed dinner (a cardinal sin in our house) because I couldn’t leave a cicada until it was done shedding its skin. The first pet I bought when I got a job was a boa constrictor, and my first tattoo was a dragonfly. Nonetheless, our man Igor has quite literally turned his creepy-crawly obsession into an art form. The acknowledged king of macro photography, he does lovely, lovely things with his underrated subjects. These images are unspeakably beautiful, and I hope you find them as magical as I do!

You can see all of Siwanowicz’s glorious photos on Photo.net.

All images property of Igor Siwanowicz.