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The Beautiful Illusions of This Image

Writer: Jesse JacquesJesse Jacques

I recently got to be a part of a project where I photographed several natural specimens of butterflies, moths, etc. While researching each one to develop specific concepts, it was fascinating to learn about their beauty, mythology, real-life superpowers, and how they fit into the ecosystem. Although I can't post all the photos, I want to briefly dive into one I did post to showcase its transformative lightwork.


The winged species in the picture below belong to Chrysiridia rhipheus, aka the Madagascan sunset moth, which is native to the east African country. What's interesting is that besides it most likely being the world's most beautiful moth that flies during the day, all of the colors you see on the wings don't have any pigment. Manipulations/reflections of light give the wings a perception of color. Isn't that wild?


Simply put, without getting into the physics/optics of the why, the wings have a ribbon-like structure of scales. They are multi-layered and curved in a way that reflects wavelengths of light at different angles, which gives the wings that colorful metallic-like appearance without actually absorbing the light the way living organisms do to produce melanin. For example, people around the world closer to the equator, where the sun shines intensely year round, developed darker skin that absorbs the benefits of light while protecting them in that environment. In contrast, people further away from the equator developed lighter skin for those colder environments with less sun where they could still absorb the light. But like the colors of a peacock's tail, the sunset moth and others are real-life Lightworkers divinely mirroring the universe's light through beautiful colors of reflection.


Jesse Jacques Photography Madagascan Sunset Moth Shot on Kodak Portra 800

Bonus: Try this trippy game of color below.


Color can look different depending on its neighboring hue.



❤️‍🔥🌊🌙



*I was watching Coneheads the other day and forgot this fire song "Soul To Squeeze" was in the movie when Ronnie (Chris Farley) was on his date 😂🔥. The music video sparked some new ideas too.


 
Jesse Jacques Photography

JesseJacquesPhoto.com specializes in the timeless art of classic film photography, expertly blending vintage aesthetics with a modern flair to create striking imagery captured on medium and large format film. Known for a strong sense of style and creativity, Jesse approaches each project with fresh vision and adaptability, transforming concepts into art that resonates across genres and perspectives. Jesse’s work is driven by curiosity and a commitment to creating images that linger in the mind- each frame offering a fresh perspective and room for deeper reflection.

 

Professional Film Photographer

Denver ~ Los Angeles ~ Worldwide

하나님으로부터, 우연이 아니라

De Dios no por casualidad

© Jesse Jacques
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