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    HomeGalleries- StoriesFeature Stories

    Beauty in the Beast64

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    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.’

    Download our full story PDF, including text, here.

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    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Greenbottle blue tarantula (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens) - see original image number 01482830 EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015
    01482829
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Greenbottle blue tarantula (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens) - see original image number 01482830 EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015
    Michael D. Kern / Greenbottle blue tarantula (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens), captive, from Venezuela
    01482830
    Michael D. Kern / Greenbottle blue tarantula (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens), captive, from Venezuela
    Michael D. Kern / Dart Frog Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Blue poison dart frog (Dendrobates auratus) EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015
    01471830
    Michael D. Kern / Dart Frog Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Blue poison dart frog (Dendrobates auratus) EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015
    Michael D. Kern / Green and black Poison Dart Frog {Dendrobates auratus} captive, from rainforests of Central America
    01194344
    Michael D. Kern / Green and black Poison Dart Frog {Dendrobates auratus} captive, from rainforests of Central America
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope image formed from photograph of Western green mamba (Dendroapsis viridis). EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015
    01499521
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope image formed from photograph of Western green mamba (Dendroapsis viridis). EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015
    Michael D. Kern / Western green mamba snakes {Dendroaspis viridis} captive, Eastern Africa
    01173472
    Michael D. Kern / Western green mamba snakes {Dendroaspis viridis} captive, Eastern Africa
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Panther Chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) scales. Restricted for Editorial use until December 2015
    01471818
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Panther Chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) scales. Restricted for Editorial use until December 2015
    Michael D. Kern / Panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) captive, from Madagascar
    01482823
    Michael D. Kern / Panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) captive, from Madagascar
    Michael D. Kern / Blue-and-yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna) feather against black background.
    01471792
    Michael D. Kern / Blue-and-yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna) feather against black background.
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Blue-and-yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna) feathers. EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015
    01471834
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Blue-and-yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna) feathers. EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Brazilian Pinkbloom tarantula (Pamphobeteus platyomma). See 1499518 for original. EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015
    01499522
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Brazilian Pinkbloom tarantula (Pamphobeteus platyomma). See 1499518 for original. EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015
    Michael D. Kern / Brazilian pinkbloom tarantula (Pamphobeteus platyomma) reflected on surface, captive occurs in Brazil.
    01499518
    Michael D. Kern / Brazilian pinkbloom tarantula (Pamphobeteus platyomma) reflected on surface, captive occurs in Brazil.
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Rainbow Millipede (Aulacobolus rubropunctatus) Restricted for Editorial use until December 2015
    01471816
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Rainbow Millipede (Aulacobolus rubropunctatus) Restricted for Editorial use until December 2015
    Michael D. Kern / Rainbow millipede (Aulacobolus rubropunctatus) captive
    01295835
    Michael D. Kern / Rainbow millipede (Aulacobolus rubropunctatus) captive
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Leaf Tail Gecko (Uroplatus lineatus) legs and tongue cleaning eye. Restricted for Editorial use until December 2015
    01471822
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Leaf Tail Gecko (Uroplatus lineatus) legs and tongue cleaning eye. Restricted for Editorial use until December 2015
    Michael D. Kern / Leaf tailed gecko (Uroplatus lineatus) captive from Madagascar
    01395955
    Michael D. Kern / Leaf tailed gecko (Uroplatus lineatus) captive from Madagascar
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Common iguana (Iguana iguana) - see original image number 01482835 EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015
    01482834
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Common iguana (Iguana iguana) - see original image number 01482835 EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015
    Michael D. Kern / Common iguana (Iguana iguana), captive, from Central and South America
    01482835
    Michael D. Kern / Common iguana (Iguana iguana), captive, from Central and South America
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Wagler's Temple Viper (Tropidolaemus wagleri) scales. Restricted for Editorial use until December 2015
    01471805
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Wagler's Temple Viper (Tropidolaemus wagleri) scales. Restricted for Editorial use until December 2015
    Michael D. Kern / Waglers Temple viper snake {Tropidolaemus wagleri} captive, occurs Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia
    01173495
    Michael D. Kern / Waglers Temple viper snake {Tropidolaemus wagleri} captive, occurs Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps) EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015
    01482833
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps) EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015
    Michael D. Kern / Bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) sticking out tongue, captive, occurs in Australia. Available for on-line use only.
    01484490
    Michael D. Kern / Bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) sticking out tongue, captive, occurs in Australia. Available for on-line use only.
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Peruvian blonde tarantula (Lasiodora polycuspulatus) - see original image number 01482832 EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015
    01482831
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Peruvian blonde tarantula (Lasiodora polycuspulatus) - see original image number 01482832 EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015
    Michael D. Kern / Peruvian Blonde tarantula (Lasiodora polycuspulatus), captive female.
    01482832
    Michael D. Kern / Peruvian Blonde tarantula (Lasiodora polycuspulatus), captive female.
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates tinctoruis) EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015
    01482828
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates tinctoruis) EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015
    Michael D. Kern / Two Dyeing dart frogs (Dendrobates tinctorius) against background, captive occurs in Guiana, Suriname, Brazil, and French Guiana. Available for on-line use only.
    01484489
    Michael D. Kern / Two Dyeing dart frogs (Dendrobates tinctorius) against background, captive occurs in Guiana, Suriname, Brazil, and French Guiana. Available for on-line use only.
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of an Eyelash viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015
    01471828
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of an Eyelash viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015
    Michael D. Kern / Eyelash Viper (Bothriechis schlegelii), captive, from Central and South America
    01395832
    Michael D. Kern / Eyelash Viper (Bothriechis schlegelii), captive, from Central and South America
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Johnstons Chameleon (Chamaeleo johnstoni) face and legs. Restricted for Editorial use until December 2015
    01471823
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Johnstons Chameleon (Chamaeleo johnstoni) face and legs. Restricted for Editorial use until December 2015
    Michael D. Kern / Johnstons Chameleon (Chamaeleo johnstoni) Uganda
    01173380
    Michael D. Kern / Johnstons Chameleon (Chamaeleo johnstoni) Uganda
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Spiny Flower Mantis (Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii), pink form. Restricted for Editorial use until December 2015
    01471811
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Spiny Flower Mantis (Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii), pink form. Restricted for Editorial use until December 2015
    Michael D. Kern / Spiny flower mantis (Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii) captive, from South and East Africa.
    01482821
    Michael D. Kern / Spiny flower mantis (Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii) captive, from South and East Africa.
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius) tail feathers. Restricted for Editorial use until December 2015
    01471815
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius) tail feathers. Restricted for Editorial use until December 2015
    Michael D. Kern / Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius) tail feather.
    01501720
    Michael D. Kern / Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius) tail feather.
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Popes Tree Viper (Trimeresurus popeorum) scales. Restricted for Editorial use until December 2015
    01471817
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Popes Tree Viper (Trimeresurus popeorum) scales. Restricted for Editorial use until December 2015
    Michael D. Kern / Pope? tree viper (Trimeresurus popeorum) captive occurs in Asia. Small reproduction only.
    01501718
    Michael D. Kern / Pope? tree viper (Trimeresurus popeorum) captive occurs in Asia. Small reproduction only.
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Veiled Chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) scales and face. Restricted for Editorial use until December 2015
    01471808
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Veiled Chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) scales and face. Restricted for Editorial use until December 2015
    Michael D. Kern / Veiled Chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) captive, from Saudi Arabia and Yemen
    01482819
    Michael D. Kern / Veiled Chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) captive, from Saudi Arabia and Yemen
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Iguana (Iguana iguana) spines. Restricted for Editorial use until December 2015
    01471824
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Iguana (Iguana iguana) spines. Restricted for Editorial use until December 2015
    Michael D. Kern / Common iguana (Iguana iguana) albino, captive, from Central and South America
    01395867
    Michael D. Kern / Common iguana (Iguana iguana) albino, captive, from Central and South America
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria) crest feathers. Restricted for Editorial use until December 2015
    01471806
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria) crest feathers. Restricted for Editorial use until December 2015
    Michael D. Kern / Feather of Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria)
    01482818
    Michael D. Kern / Feather of Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria)
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope image formed from photograph of Bush viper (Atheris squamigera). See 01499520 for the original. Restricted for editorial use until December 2015.
    01499519
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope image formed from photograph of Bush viper (Atheris squamigera). See 01499520 for the original. Restricted for editorial use until December 2015.
    Michael D. Kern / Bush viper (Atheris squamigera) captive, occurs in West and Central Africa.
    01499520
    Michael D. Kern / Bush viper (Atheris squamigera) captive, occurs in West and Central Africa.
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of head and legs of Abbot's Angle Headed Lizard (Gonocephalus doriae). EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015
    01471837
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of head and legs of Abbot's Angle Headed Lizard (Gonocephalus doriae). EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015
    Michael D. Kern / Angle headed lizard (Gonocephalus doriae) captive, occurs in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand.
    01482827
    Michael D. Kern / Angle headed lizard (Gonocephalus doriae) captive, occurs in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand.
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Centipede (Chilopoda sp) EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015
    01471831
    Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Centipede (Chilopoda sp) EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015
    Michael D. Kern / Centipede (Chilopoda sp) showing legs as it climbs over wood. Available for on-line use only.
    01484491
    Michael D. Kern / Centipede (Chilopoda sp) showing legs as it climbs over wood. Available for on-line use only.
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