Macrophotography

SIX FEET ART

Hidden Worlds

Making the invisible visible. Precision, art and technology united in a single focus stack.

Cuckoo wasp in extreme magnification – shimmering red, green and blue

Lucanus cervusCetonia aurataCarabus auronitensCalopteryx virgoAcherontia atroposVespa crabroAglais ioOryctes nasicornisXylocopa violaceaMacroglossum stellatarumTrichodes alveariusAromia moschataChrysobothris affinisLucilia spec.Mantis religiosaLucanus cervusCetonia aurataCarabus auronitensCalopteryx virgoAcherontia atroposVespa crabroAglais ioOryctes nasicornisXylocopa violaceaMacroglossum stellatarumTrichodes alveariusAromia moschataChrysobothris affinisLucilia spec.Mantis religiosa

Thorben Danke holding a microscope objective between his teeth

About me

The Microcosm

SIX FEET ART. I don’t just photograph insects – I stage them. Following the motto see, know, value, protect, my images aim to draw attention to the dramatic decline of insects.

Publications

Featured in

All publications

Cover of GEO – Cover story “Danger Islands” · RTL Deutschland

Cover of Mikroskopie – Specialist microscopy journal · volume 11, issue 2 · Hachinger Verlag

Cover of National Geographic – Cover story “The End of Aging?” · National Geographic, Washington D.C., USA

Cover of MAKROFOTO – Issue 7 “Vintage macro photography” · image series on flies · Makro-Treff

Cover of NRW-Stiftung – Magazine “Natur Heimat Kultur”, no. 1 “Insects in NRW” · NRW Foundation

Cover of Unser Wald – Cover story “The Germans and the Forest” · German Forest Protection Association (SDW)

Cover of Chiiz – Volume 21 “Mountain Photography” · Chiiz Creations Pvt. Ltd, India

Cover of National Geographic – Cover story “The Quest for Supersilk” · National Geographic, Washington D.C., USA

Cover of MAKROFOTO Spezial – Special issue 001 “Focus Stacking” · including a portrait · Makro-Treff

Cover of Imagine5 – Volume 5 “Rewilding” · Imagine5, Copenhagen

Cover of Epsilon – No. 21 “Génération jeux vidéo” · Unique Héritage Média, Paris, France

Cover of Scholastic Science World – Special Earth Day issue · Scholastic, USA

Cover of Epsilon – No. 43 “+1.5 °C – Le début d’un nouveau monde” · Unique Héritage Média, Paris, France

Cover of Adventure Journal – Issue 40 · Adventure Journal, California

Instagram · @sagaoptics

News from the microcosm

On Instagram I often share new images first – along with behind-the-scenes glimpses, studio workflows and finds from nature. Come and have a look and follow along.

Follow @sagaoptics

Books, awards, projects

Insights

Von Angesicht zu Angesicht

Kosmos Verlag

Von Angesicht zu Angesicht

Our big insect book: 208 pages eye to eye with native insects – together with Thomas Hörren and Dominik Eulberg.

Stunning Portraits

Smithsonian Magazine · Winner

Stunning Portraits

These Stunning Portraits of Insects Reveal the Intricacies of an Amazing World.

40,000 images for Netflix

Netflix · Life on Our Planet

40,000 images for Netflix

Moving 3D stacks in Steven Spielberg’s series, narrated by Morgan Freeman. Episode 3: “Invasion of the Land”.

From mini to mega

KiKA · Tigerenten Club

From mini to mega

Insect photography on the children’s TV show Tigerenten Club – together with entomologist Thomas Hörren.

Science photo of the year

National Geographic · Nikon Small World

Science photo of the year

The sleeping cuckoo wasp: among National Geographic’s Favorite Science Photos and an “Image of Distinction” at Nikon Small World.

Finalist

BigPicture · National Geographic

Finalist

Finalist at BigPicture Natural World Photography – and featured in the National Geographic book “World from Above”.

Press

Honorable Mention

Olympus · Evident

Honorable Mention

Recognised at the Evident Image of the Year Award – featured in the South China Morning Post, among others.

Bayerischer Rundfunk

Abendschau on BR

Up to 1,000 stacked single images reveal the beauty of the smallest creatures.

Watch

ETH Zürich

The Insect Portraitist

The Biocommunication Group: Thorben Danke – inspired by insects, from art to technology.

SWR Fernsehen

Landesschau on SWR

Dominik Eulberg and Thorben Danke stand up for biodiversity.

Watch

Technique

Precision

Specialised optics, automated focusing rails and tailor-made lighting. Every image is composed of up to several hundred single exposures.

Microscope objectives
Focus Stacking
3D-Stacking
High-Res Print

Wing scales of a painted lady with a pollen grain, 40:1 magnification

Portfolio

Gallery

Posters, prints & licensing

Giant insect posters, art prints, merch – and image licences for print, web, TV and exhibitions.

Visit the shop Licensing