Beauty in the Beast64

Photographer Michael Kern has been drawn to reptiles, amphibians and arachnids since childhood – but he soon recognised that his passion was not one that everyone shares. ‘A lot of people are unable to get past their primeval fears,’ he says, ‘which begs the question: how do we conserve these fascinating animals?’

By experimenting with his images, Kern discovered that he could turn peoples’ fear into fascination. ‘First, I deconstruct my images to the most basic elements of form, colour, and texture,’ he says. ‘Then I create kaleidoscopic interpretations by cropping, mirroring, and rotating aspects of the original image. The result is a pair of portraits: one abstract, one reality. I use these images to show the beauty of the animals, without the form that creates fear and prejudice. I hope that by doing so, I can help people to appreciate the creatures themselves, and perhaps take a first step towards protecting them.’

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