A spider’s intricate eyes, the delicate wings of a damselfly and the unsettling appearance of an insect overtaken by fungus are among the extraordinary sights captured by Nigerian Canadian photographer and recently announced Rainforest Alliance Ambassador, Dara Ojo. Based in Edmonton, Ojo specializes in extreme macro photography, revealing the colours, textures and behaviours of creatures that often go unnoticed. What began as a personal interest during the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved into an internationally recognized career, with his work appearing in National Geographic, BBC, CNN, PBS and other major publications. His debut photography book, Tiny Titans: The Silent Keepers of Our Ecosystem, brings together six years of exploration and approximately 120 photographs from around the world. Ahead of the book’s November 10 release and a December 2 appearance in Toronto, we spoke with Ojo about the challenges of photographing miniature wildlife, the surprising discoveries he’s made and how his images are changing people’s relationships with nature.

Discovering an Entire World Through Photography

Ojo’s journey into macro photography began in China in 2020, when the pandemic encouraged him to explore his immediate surroundings with a camera.

“I had recently picked up a camera, and with everything happening around the world, photography became a way to explore my immediate surroundings,” he recalled.

As he began paying closer attention to the insects and spiders around him, he discovered intricate patterns, unexpected colours and fascinating behaviours that had previously escaped his attention.

Growing up in Nigeria, Ojo had never imagined that these creatures would become the focus of his career. Like many people, he had regarded insects and spiders as animals to avoid or remove from his surroundings.

Photography changed that perspective.

“Initially, I was simply interested in capturing beautiful photographs. The conservation aspect developed as I started learning about the creatures I was photographing and sharing those discoveries with others.”

What started as an artistic pursuit gradually became a form of environmental storytelling. As his audience grew, people began sharing stories about how his photographs had changed their attitudes toward wildlife.

Some who had previously feared spiders began finding them fascinating. Others started noticing insects in their gardens or taking an interest in creatures they had never considered before.

“We can’t expect people to protect what they don’t understand or appreciate. Sometimes, all it takes is one photograph to make someone curious enough to look closer.”

The Extraordinary Lives of Tiny Creatures

Over the past six years, Ojo has travelled across several continents documenting small wildlife, from the forests of Costa Rica to the gardens of Alberta.

Yet some of his most memorable encounters have happened close to home.

While photographing a damselfly at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden in Edmonton, he noticed the insect carefully grooming itself.

“It was fascinating watching this tiny creature carefully clean different parts of its body. The movements were incredibly deliberate, and through my macro lens, I could observe details that would be almost impossible to appreciate with the naked eye.”

Footage of the encounter was later selected among National Geographic Your Shot’s top ten Pictures of the Year for 2025.

For Ojo, the recognition was particularly meaningful because it demonstrated that remarkable wildlife encounters do not necessarily require travelling to remote destinations.

“People often imagine that extraordinary wildlife encounters require travelling to remote rainforests or exotic destinations,” he explained. “There’s an entire world of remarkable behaviour happening around us every day. Most of the time, we’re simply moving too quickly to notice it.”

The Challenges of Extreme Macro Photography

Capturing these extraordinary images requires far more than pointing a camera at an insect.

At extreme magnifications, even the slightest movement can ruin a photograph. Subjects may be only a few millimetres long, and the portion of an image that remains sharply focused can be incredibly small.

Ojo works primarily in the field, photographing animals in their natural environments using specialized macro lenses, external flashes and lighting diffusers.

Much of his photography is handheld, sometimes requiring him to crouch in vegetation, lie on the ground or maintain awkward positions while carefully approaching his subjects.

One of his most challenging experiences involved photographing a tiny planthopper nymph in Costa Rica.

These insects can have elaborate waxy strands extending from their bodies, creating an almost otherworldly appearance.

Finding one is difficult enough. Photographing one presents an entirely different challenge.

“Planthopper nymphs have this frustrating habit of turning away whenever you approach with a camera. You move slightly to one side, and they turn in the opposite direction. It’s almost as though they know exactly what you’re trying to do!”

The insects can also jump away before a photographer has time to capture an image.

To overcome the extremely shallow depth of field, Ojo often uses focus bracketing, a technique involving multiple photographs taken at slightly different focus distances. These images can then be combined to reveal more of the subject in sharp detail.

But this process becomes particularly difficult when photographing a living creature that refuses to remain still.

“You have to manage your lighting, camera position, focus and the animal’s behaviour, all while trying not to disturb it.”

For Ojo, understanding wildlife is just as important as understanding camera equipment.

He spends considerable time observing animals before attempting to photograph them, learning how they move and respond to their surroundings.

Early mornings are particularly productive because insects tend to be less active, sometimes appearing covered in tiny droplets of dew. Night photography reveals an entirely different collection of creatures.

“You can own the most expensive camera in the world and still struggle to photograph these creatures if you don’t understand their behaviour.”

Patience is essential, and not every outing produces a successful image.

“Sometimes I spend hours in the field and come home without a photograph I’m particularly happy with. That’s simply part of the process.”

Nature’s Most Surprising Relationships

One of the most fascinating aspects of Ojo’s work is his ability to reveal biological relationships that can seem almost unbelievable.

While photographing wildlife in Costa Rica, he encountered a leafhopper infected by Metarhizium, a parasitic fungus that attacks insects.

The fungus can grow inside its host, eventually killing the insect before producing spores that allow it to spread.

The resulting appearance is both extraordinary and unsettling.

“The result can look like something straight out of a science fiction movie,” Ojo explained.

He compares the general concept to the fungal infections depicted in the television series The Last of Us, although the organisms involved are different.

Other encounters have revealed the remarkable abilities of jumping spiders, which possess sophisticated eyesight and, in some species, perform elaborate courtship displays.

For Ojo, these discoveries have fundamentally changed his understanding of the natural world.

“Before I started macro photography, I never really thought about insects and spiders having such fascinating behaviours, adaptations and relationships with other organisms.”

The more time he spends photographing these creatures, the more he realizes how much remains to be discovered.

Finding Extraordinary Wildlife in Canada

Although Ojo’s photography has taken him around the world, he believes Canadians can discover equally fascinating wildlife in their own neighbourhoods.

Gardens, parks and small patches of vegetation provide habitats for an enormous variety of insects and spiders.

Among the creatures he believes deserve greater appreciation are hoverflies, which are frequently mistaken for bees or wasps.

Despite their resemblance to stinging insects, hoverflies are harmless to people. Many species contribute to pollination, while the larvae of some species help control agricultural and garden pests such as aphids.

Jumping spiders are another favourite.

“I think jumping spiders are some of the best ambassadors for changing people’s perceptions of spiders. They have incredible eyesight, fascinating behaviours and, when photographed up close, surprisingly expressive faces.”

He also highlights primrose moths, striking pink and yellow insects that can sometimes be found resting inside evening primrose flowers.

For Canadians hoping to explore this miniature world, Ojo recommends visiting a garden or park early in the morning and examining flowers, leaves and tree trunks more carefully.

“What I wish more Canadians understood is that you don’t need to travel to a remote wilderness area to experience remarkable biodiversity.”

Even the most familiar insects can reveal extraordinary details when viewed through a macro lens.

Photography as a Tool for Conservation

For Ojo, the ultimate purpose of his photography extends beyond producing visually impressive images.

He wants people to reconsider their relationships with creatures they might otherwise fear, overlook or destroy.

His work has reached more than 600,000 people across social media, generating responses that suggest photography can influence how people interact with wildlife.

“I’ve received messages from people who used to kill every spider they encountered but now take a moment to observe them instead.”

Others have begun relocating spiders rather than killing them, while parents have shared stories of children becoming fascinated with insects after seeing his photographs.

“They’ll tell me their children are now searching for jumping spiders, beetles and other creatures in their gardens, asking questions about what they’ve found.”

These responses have become some of the most meaningful aspects of his career.

“It’s one thing for someone to appreciate a photograph. It’s another for that photograph to influence how they interact with the natural world.”

Ojo also believes photographers have a responsibility to protect the wildlife they document.

He photographs animals in their natural environments, avoids unnecessary handling and tries to minimize disturbance to surrounding habitats.

When a subject becomes difficult to photograph without interfering with its behaviour, he is willing to abandon the shot.

“No photograph is worth compromising an animal’s welfare.”

Tiny Titans: Six Years of Discovery in One Book

Ojo’s first photography book, Tiny Titans: The Silent Keepers of Our Ecosystem, represents the culmination of six years spent exploring and documenting the miniature natural world.

Published by Rocky Mountain Books on November 10, 2026, the book features approximately 120 photographs taken during his travels.

Selecting the images proved difficult.

Some were particularly meaningful because of their technical complexity, while others captured unusual behaviours or represented important personal experiences.

But Ojo wanted the final collection to communicate more than the beauty of individual animals.

“I wanted it to tell a story about discovery, curiosity and the important roles these creatures play in keeping our ecosystems healthy.”

One of the most personal elements of the book is its cover, which features a praying mantis photographed in Nigeria.

After years of travelling internationally and documenting wildlife in different environments, having an image from his home country selected for the cover carried special significance.

“As someone who grew up in Nigeria and now lives in Canada, having that connection to home on the cover of my first book means a great deal.”

The book also includes a foreword by Canadian entomologist and science communicator Dr. John Acorn.

Bringing the Tiny World to Toronto

Following the book’s publication, Ojo will celebrate with public events in Edmonton and Toronto.

His Toronto appearance takes place on December 2, 2026, at North York Central Library, where a free public launch will bring together perspectives on photography, entomology, pollinator research and native plant advocacy.

The event offers Toronto residents an opportunity to learn more about the extraordinary wildlife documented in Tiny Titans and the conservation message behind the images.

Ojo hopes readers leave with a greater appreciation for the insects, spiders and other small creatures that contribute to healthy ecosystems.

These animals pollinate plants, recycle nutrients, regulate populations of other organisms and provide food for countless species.

He also hopes his work encourages people to consider everyday actions that support biodiversity, from planting native flowers to reducing unnecessary pesticide use and protecting natural habitats.

“For me, conservation doesn’t always begin with a grand gesture. Sometimes it begins with something as simple as curiosity.”

And perhaps that is the greatest achievement of Ojo’s photography: encouraging people to stop, look closer and discover that some of nature’s most extraordinary wonders have been right in front of them all along.

Tiny Titans: The Silent Keepers of Our Ecosystem will be published by Rocky Mountain Books on November 10, 2026.

Toronto Book Launch: December 2, 2026, at North York Central Library. Event information and registration.

Photographer’s Website: explorewithdara.com

Instagram: @explorewithdara

All wildlife photographs by Dara Ojo. Images used with permission.