Everyone has something to contribute to this world -- Ian Lane started from his own back garden by photographing insects.
The Beaty Biodiversity Museum’s new exhibition, shutterbug, showcases Ian Lane’s story as a self-titled amateur photographer whose meticulously recorded photo collection of insects has made a valuable contribution to science. Running from March 11 – September 16, the exhibition features some of the most detailed and beautiful images out of Ian’s 10,000 photographic slides donated to the museum’s Spencer Entomological collection.
“The museum is about people taking a look around them and appreciating the beauty of biodiversity. This was a gentleman that did exactly that," said Yukiko Stranger-Galey, exhibits manager for the museum. "He wasn’t formally trained but he loved the natural world, and he spent so much of his time and energy celebrating that. It’s exactly what Beaty wants to inspire others to do."
In one section is a series of time lapse photographs of a moulting dragonfly, a particular favourite insect of Lane’s. Another section explores his greatest discovery as a natural photographer in 1999, when he made the first breeding record of the petal tail dragon fly on Cypress Bowl. Given that many of these images were taken over hours or even days of observation.
“It’s truly a testament to his patience and dedication that he just got soaked with mud coming up to his knees for two hours and took the time lapse photo. Time lapse is something that people do but they usually just leave the camera, or they do it at home. It just shows his dedication and passion," said Stranger-Galey.
Interactive tables are integrated into the exhibition to welcome visitors to take part in hands-on activities that include sketching a dragon fly, playing a game of ladybird bingo and making origami bugs. There is also a station to dress up as a bug and take a selfie to share on social media with #beatybug.
Over 100 people attended the March 10 opening night of shutterbug, and many of Lane’s family and friends, along with museum staff, guests and community partners, were amazed to see the scale of his work and contributions to organizations like Nature Vancouver.
Many of the featured insects in shutterbug are from the lower mainland, which inspires visitors to take a closer look at the natural life around them and rediscover biodiversity in their everyday life from a different lens.
The exhibition is part of the Capture Photography Festival, an annual photography festival that features photographers in exhibitions all over Vancouver.
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