When Joshua White was growing up in southeastern Indiana, he would lie in his backyard for hours observing ants and june bugs. He encountered the little creatures with a sense of wonder and struggled to understand the mysteries of the natural world. He captured his entomological discoveries in pickle jars, Styrofoam cups, or his hands.
White grew up to become an artist. He recently moved to North Carolina, where he still spends considerable time much as he did in childhood: walking near his house and carefully looking at his surroundings.
What has changed is that he now captures his tiny subjects with a smartphone camera that allows him to interpret them artistically and share them with viewers beyond his backyard.
His lifelong fascination with the natural world is embodied in his project “A Photographic Survey of the American Yard.” Its sepia-toned photographs and design layout resemble the elegant, hand-drawn scientific catalogs of species of the 19th century.
Though Charles Darwin traveled great distances to observe and sketch plants and animals that existed in nearly inaccessible locations, White documents the plants and animals that are abundant in everyday life but are rarely considered noteworthy.
“You don’t have to travel to exotic locations to make an interesting picture,” he contends. “Beauty is around us all the time.”
White is convinced that most of us don’t think often enough about the world we inhabit “or what goes on under our feet.”
The photographs he shares—on Instagram and Tumblr as well as in museums and art galleries—gently demand that attention be paid to beings that are, in many ways, the bedrock of the physical ecosystem.
Though these creatures are often regarded as inconveniences or pests, White’s images ask us to recognize not only that they’re here but also that they’re crucial.
James Estrin is a senior staff photographer for the New York Times. He is also a founder of Lens, the Times‘s photography blog and has been its co-editor since it went online in May 2009.
Related Topics
You May Also Like
Go Further
Animals
- This ‘saber-toothed’ salmon wasn’t quite what we thoughtThis ‘saber-toothed’ salmon wasn’t quite what we thought
- Why this rhino-zebra friendship makes perfect senseWhy this rhino-zebra friendship makes perfect sense
- When did bioluminescence evolve? It’s older than we thought.When did bioluminescence evolve? It’s older than we thought.
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
- This pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilienceThis pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilience
Environment
- This pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilienceThis pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilience
- Listen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting musicListen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting music
- This ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrificeThis ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrifice
- U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?
History & Culture
- Séances at the White House? Why these first ladies turned to the occultSéances at the White House? Why these first ladies turned to the occult
- Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?
- Beauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century SpainBeauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century Spain
- The real spies who inspired ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’The real spies who inspired ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’
- Heard of Zoroastrianism? The religion still has fervent followersHeard of Zoroastrianism? The religion still has fervent followers
Science
- Here's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in spaceHere's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in space
- Not an extrovert or introvert? There’s a word for that.Not an extrovert or introvert? There’s a word for that.
- NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
- Can aspirin help protect against colorectal cancers?Can aspirin help protect against colorectal cancers?
Travel
- What it's like to hike the Camino del Mayab in MexicoWhat it's like to hike the Camino del Mayab in Mexico
- Follow in the footsteps of Robin Hood in Sherwood ForestFollow in the footsteps of Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest
- This chef is taking Indian cuisine in a bold new directionThis chef is taking Indian cuisine in a bold new direction
- On the path of Latin America's greatest wildlife migrationOn the path of Latin America's greatest wildlife migration
- Everything you need to know about Everglades National ParkEverything you need to know about Everglades National Park