23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Artistic
The Alchemy of Light — Portrait of a Stag Beetle

This photograph captures a male Prosopocoilus savagei stag beetle, reimagined through the transformative power of creative lighting. Naturally deep brown and orange, the beetle’s colors and background were artistically altered using precisely positioned speedlights to reveal the intricate sculptural form of its mandibles and exoskeleton. Through controlled flashes and reflected hues, the image transcends traditional macro photography—merging scientific observation with artistic expression. The lighting not only enhances the beetle’s evolutionary elegance but also demonstrates how illumination can redefine our perception of nature, turning a common insect into an ethereal, almost cosmic entity.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 02.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: United Kingdom
Camera: ILCE-7RM4
Copyright: © Irina Petrova Adamatzky