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Sam Jaffe | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> 2011 Caterpillar Gallery tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

2011 Caterpillar Gallery






2011 Caterpillar Gallery - Growing each week!:

Too few people ever realize the natural wonder that Massachusetts’ biological systems have to offer, instead they assume that real biological diversity only exists in the tropics or other far away places. Yet our native flora and fauna are diverse and anything but mundane. Since childhood I have sought to identify and catalog the many species that inhabit our green spaces, from the smallest vacant lots to the largest wildlife refuges. This quest has provided me with a unique education in the natural history of New England.

In the fall of 2008 I began photographing caterpillars. These larval insects demonstrate a diversity of morphology and behavior better than perhaps any other group of animals in this region, and yet, they remain relatively unknown to even the most dedicated of naturalists. Through my photography, and through documenting the life histories of the species I find and raise, I hope to share some of what I have learned about the quality of our native biome.

In ages of exploration, drawing and painting were important tools used to document new discoveries. Old illustrations of insects regularly depict the subject and its food source alone on a page, isolated from background distractions. However, the desire to visually record an insect’s behavior and life history often infused these images with life and motion, and many artistic and powerful compositions resulted. These classical natural history pieces are the source of my inspiration. Isolated against a black background, the caterpillars are conspicuous and sculptural. Further, each species is shown upon its native hostplant and each composition aims to tell a story about its subject’s unique natural history.







Prints for Sale

A selection of the images displayed below are available for sale as high quality, archival, Giclée prints. For orders or for additional information please feel free to contact me by email at spjaffe at gmail.com. Each photograph is printed by the artist and comes signed on the back along with the name of the insect pictured. *Pbase hosted images lack the intensity and saturation of the actual photographs - higher quality photograph examples available by request through email.

32x17 threeachemon/threeswallowtail archival Giclée print on Baryta Fine Art paper.

25x17" archival Giclée print on Baryta Fine Art paper.

19x13" archival Giclée print on Baryta Fine Art paper.


Copyright © Samuel Jaffe. All rights reserved.


Timing 15x22
"Timing" 15x22
Viceroy Caterpillar and hybernaculum
Viceroy Caterpillar and hybernaculum
Questionmark
Questionmark
Nematocampa resistaria - The Filament Bearer
Nematocampa resistaria - The Filament Bearer
Xlrg Aluminum Mounted: The Filament Bearer Pair
Xlrg Aluminum Mounted: "The Filament Bearer Pair"
Xanthotype - Crocus Geometer
Xanthotype - Crocus Geometer
Synchlora - Decorator
Synchlora - Decorator
Purple Pugs 15x22
"Purple Pugs" 15x22
Phigalia titea with emerging parasitoids
Phigalia titea with emerging parasitoids
Promethea Abstract
Promethea Abstract
Like Some Heavy Fruit 21x31
"Like Some Heavy Fruit" 21x31
Pachysphinx modesta - Big Poplar Sphinx
Pachysphinx modesta - Big Poplar Sphinx
Great Ash Sphinx
"Great Ash Sphinx"
 Life on the Leaf Edge - Etched 21x31
" Life on the Leaf Edge - Etched" 21x31
 Life on the Leaf Edge - Toothed 21x31
" Life on the Leaf Edge - Toothed" 21x31
Black-spotted Prominent
"Black-spotted Prominent"
Symmerista species - Red-hump Oakworm
Symmerista species - Red-hump Oakworm
Heterocampa obliqua - Oblique Heterocampa
Heterocampa obliqua - Oblique Heterocampa
Macurocampa
Macurocampa
Dagger 15x22
"Dagger" 15x22
Acronicta lepusculina - Cottonwood Dagger
Acronicta lepusculina - Cottonwood Dagger
Catocala badia
Catocala badia
Catocala badia
Catocala badia
Catocala badia
Catocala badia
Wellfleet 21x40
"Wellfleet" 21x40
Lithophane antennata eating Phigalia strigataria
Lithophane antennata eating Phigalia strigataria
Lithophane antennata eating Phigalia strigataria
Lithophane antennata eating Phigalia strigataria
Amphipyra pyramidea - Copper Underwing
Amphipyra pyramidea - Copper Underwing
Catabena lineolata
Catabena lineolata