During our morning video call, macro-photographer Dara Ojo tells me he’s been up since 3:30 a.m. snapping pics of bugs in the green space by his house.
According to Ojo, shooting this early has two benefits: “You get to find bugs with dew and, of course, they’re sleepy, so most times they’re relatively calm.”
If you look at his Instagram, you’ll find shots of wolf spiders, mayflies, wasps and even stink bugs. From China to Costa Rica and now Canada, Ojo’s obsession with insects has taken him all over and has even taken him to a United Nations conference on biodiversity.
But since moving to Canada, Ojo has spent a good chunk of time over the last two years exploring parks and greenspaces, searching for a longhorn beetle. It’s the same kind of bug which he shot a viral image of in Jiaxing, China, in 2021.
“When I moved to Canada, I was like, ‘I need to find something similar.’”
While he often goes out and shoots before work, over the past seven weekends, he’s been at the University of Alberta’s Botanical Gardens, where he finally found the critter he’d been hunting.
“I was just there Friday, unpacked my bags. I was just trying to settle down to get ready for shooting for the weekend, and I just saw the thing slam on my window!”
The bug in question was a species of longhorn beetle called the Spruce Sawyer, which is different from big black ones found in China. Ojo had no idea they even lived in the area.
“He just climbed up, up on the tree. And he was patient enough for me to take a photo.”
In a caption on Instagram, Ojo talks about how these Spruce Sawyers play a crucial role in eating and breaking down dead plants to recycle their nutrients back into the ecosystem.
Along with getting people to see them up close in crystalline detail, Ojo hopes to debunk myths about bugs and help people understand just how important they are.
“That’s my purpose,” Ojo says. “Apart from the fact that I see the beauty in them, I also want to advocate for [them.]”
Ojo’s work will be on display at the U of A Days event U of A unveiled: That’s Cool in the CCIS building (September 19 to 22). You can hear him speak about his work at the St. Albert Photography Club (September 18) and purchase his prints through his Instagram page, @explorewithdara.
