Buried Beauty | FUJIFILM Exposure Center – USA

Exposure Center
Photo 2021 © Chris Linder | FUJIFILM GFX50S and GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro, 1/30 sec at F32, ISO 400

7 minute read

Buried Beauty

As hordes of cicadas emerge from strange subterranean surroundings, Chris Linder explores the uncanny allure of nature’s most enigmatic insect

Spring, Maryland, 2021. For the first time in 17 years, billions of bugs are swarming and singing throughout the Old Line State. The connotations are practically biblical, the scale immense. The culprits? Cicadas. Abnormal, reclusive creatures, they’ve existed in a thriving underground bio network for almost two decades. Now ‘Brood X’ has been unleashed onto an unsuspecting public, misunderstandings are widespread.

Specializing in scientific photography and the extremities of nature, Chris Linder is quick to dismiss the rumors. “Completely harmless,” he reassures. “They don’t bite, sting, or cause itchiness – they’re just innocuous little bugs. They might be completely eccentric, but they’re totally gorgeous, too.” Emerging from an interest in oceanography, Chris has carved out something of an unorthodox pathway into photography. “I didn’t pick up a camera until my late twenties. I went to the United States Naval Academy in Maryland, which is a military college. I studied oceanography at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, before returning to the Navy. I guess my background is somewhat unusual in that regard.” As his enthusiasm grew, Chris paired a passion for education with a keen interest in image creation. It’s this zeal for learning that characterizes his outlook and approach. Making complex scientific processes accessible to the public, Chris’s photos are a clear, digestible means of imparting knowledge. With his GFX50S, he was able to highlight the idiosyncrasies of these insects in startling detail.

Two cicadas on wooden fence

Photo 2021 © Chris Linder | FUJIFILM GFX50S and GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro, 1/150 sec at F9.0, ISO 200

“This project was the first in my backyard, and only the second I’ve ever shot without having to take a plane to a separate location,” he explains. “News reports covered the surfacing of these cicadas, which is obviously a huge deal here in Maryland. I hadn’t seen these insects since kindergarten! Lo and behold, I soon realized that my neighborhood was at the epicenter of their arrival.” Recognizing the opportunity for a compelling story, Chris contacted his editor at Audubon magazine. All international travel had been canceled, and like the rest of America, he was stuck in the middle of a dull, protracted lockdown. “It would turn out to be something of a false hope, but as the US was starting to reopen, I found that we shared a parallel with these creatures as they re-entered the world. It was also an ideal opportunity to play with the kit I’d accrued over the years. I took a lot of photos at night, lighting these bugs in cool, unusual ways. It was this fascinating ecological occurrence that cascaded across the entire system. Mammals and birds undergo a massive population surge because of this tremendous food source.” Until they materialize above ground, cicadas exist in a buried environment, tunneling and feeding off tree sap. Millions of eggs are laid in thin branches, and then in August, nymphs burst out of the bark, fall to the ground, and burrow once more. “They’re a lot like salmon. Out of sight for most of their lives, until they need to mate. Most of them don’t even make it. Only a tiny fraction survive.”

Two cicadas on tree with peeling bark

Photo 2021 © Chris Linder | FUJIFILM GFX50S and GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro, 1.8 sec at F16, ISO 100

Group of cicadas on tree with peeling bark

Photo 2021 © Chris Linder | FUJIFILM GFX50S and GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro, 28 secs at F18, ISO 100

Using the GFX50S, these were Chris’s first steps into the world of mirrorless image creation. “It was a little weird at first,” he laughs. “But I soon warmed to its accuracy and precision. The focusing was dead-on every time. With traditional DSLRs, that’s not always the case – but this camera was great. The detail in that 51.4-megapixel sensor captures every aspect of these bugs, and it’s amazing to behold.” Indeed, these images expose the microscopic features of the cicadas, underscoring intricacies that could never be perceived with the naked eye. “Working with one lens was very meditative for me. It was single focal length, and very sharp, even when stopped down to F22,” he recalls. As the cicadas scurried onto the stems of neighboring trees, Chris became more aware of his lighting requirements, and discovered just how vivid and camera-friendly the bugs could be. “Once they’re in the branches, you need to be cognizant of the wind, so I used a variety of techniques – flashlights, strobes, and different LEDs. I think these bugs are incredibly photogenic. When they emerge and begin to enter the winged phase, their bodies harden as their shells become accustomed to the environment. During that time, they’re relatively calm and motionless. When I went into the garden at night, they honestly looked like Christmas tree ornaments, dangling up high. Their bodies are so white and translucent, they practically sparkle in the dark. Since I knew I would be working in low light, I needed a sensor that would perform well at high ISOs.”

Though short-lived, this iridescent phase left a lasting impression on Chris as he documented the transition. “The next day, they’re back to being these clumsy bugs that make a lot of racket. But at the peak of that emergent phase, you’re presented with something strangely beautiful. I couldn’t believe it. It was like an alien invasion,” he laughs. “I was deliberately underexposing by about three stops, because I wanted the blackness in these images to really affirm that metaphor.”

Cicada hanging from web against black background

Photo 2021 © Chris Linder | FUJIFILM GFX50S and GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro, 10 secs at F22, ISO 100

Using the GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro, Chris was able to utilize the close-focusing, mid-telephoto lens for unparalleled detail. “A lot of the pattern shots were done with that lens. It was great for capturing specifics. I became utterly obsessed with my neighbor’s birch tree – it was so evocative as it peeled away to reveal these creatures. The textures of that bark were incredible, and the GF120mm really helped in those instances.” Capturing these settings and surroundings was something that Chris deemed integral. Studies of the cicadas were obviously something he wanted to share with the world, but not at the expense of a varied, dissimilar selection of images. “I approach every project like a movie. I include wides, close-ups, everything. I never want to restrict myself to just one or two beauty shots. I want to be thorough and comprehensive – a whole package. I planned out the shots in my mind. As I was standing there, they even crawled up my body. If you aren’t bug tolerant, this certainly isn’t the material for you! There were so many… moulting inside my camera bags, my softboxes, you name it.”

Often derided as creepy and unappealing subjects for photography, Chris speaks to the idea of subverting expectation. With this project, a stereotypically ugly subject morphs and mutates, revealing an atypical beauty – much like the cicadas themselves. It’s this transformative quality that makes the photographs so engaging. “It’s something I’ve done my whole life. As my specialty is physical oceanography, I never really got to interact with anything conventionally appealing. Dolphins and coral reefs were never on my agenda! For hours on end, I’d work with water samples, retrieved from the depths. From a scientific perspective, it’s fascinating, but certainly not charismatic megafauna. These were things that didn’t make the news. It was great in certain ways, as it provided me with my own niche, and the stories were always phenomenal.”

Group of cicadas on green leaves against black background

Photo 2021 © Chris Linder | FUJIFILM GFX50S and GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro, 30 secs at F15, ISO 200

As conversation moves to conservation, Chris reminds us of the importance of preserving natural habitats – especially when considering the devastating repercussions for these creatures. “We should try to consider how many billions of these bugs have died under parking lots and newly erected architectural structures. They’re wiped out if their environment is paved over. You don’t even think about the scale of death and destruction. There’s this whole ecosystem existing underground that we practically annihilate through deforestation. That needs to change.”

CREATE/SEND/SHARE

see your image on our Social Channels

Share your image and story with us for a chance to be featured.

Success.
Please select an image
What would you like to share about this image and why would you like to share it?

Consumer Submission Terms and Conditions:

MY FUJIFILM LEGACY MEMORY
1. AGREEMENT TO THESE TERMS AND THE FUJIFILM PRIVACY POLICY: BY UPLOADING A SUBMISSION (as hereafter defined) AND CLICKING YOUR AGREEMENT TO THESE TERMS ON THE SITE, YOU ARE AGREEING TO BE BOUND, WITHOUT LIMITATION OR QUALIFICATION, TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND THE PRIVACY POLICY, AVAILABLE AT https://www.fujifilm.com/privacy_policy/?_ga=2.188005036.507021620.1563365952-1582032552.1552994675. Any information contained in a Submission, including image, contact information such as physical address and email address, and any other personal information submitted, will be used in accordance with FUJIFILM North America Corporation’s (“FNAC”) Privacy Policy and these Terms & Conditions. Each Submitter acknowledges that submission pursuant to these Terms and Conditions constitutes the necessary and proper permission for FNAC’s use of his or her Submission pursuant to these terms and the Privacy Policy. In addition, by uploading a Submission on the Site, each Submitter represents and warrants that he or she is at least 13 years of age. Yes, I’d like to receive more information regarding FUJIFILM products and services via e-mail (e.g. by newsletter or other marketing communication). I also agree that FUJIFILM North America can use my contact data in accordance with its Privacy Policy to inform me about FUJIFILM products and services by e-mail.

2. IMAGE AND PHOTO DESCRIPTION SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
A. Each photo submission (each, along with the required submission form and any provided description, a "Submission") that you as the Submitter determines to submit to FNAC must be uploaded to the submission website at http://www.fujifilm-x.com/en-us/ShareMyFujifilmLegacy (the “Site”) and accompanied by a fully completed submission form located on the Site. Each submitted photo may be no larger than 10 MB, no longer than 2000 pixels in the longest dimension, and it must be formatted as a JPEG, TIFF, GIF, PNG, or BMP. Any description you provide relating to the image may be no more than 1500 characters, including spaces. The Submission may reflect any topic or subject matter, but must be the original work of the providing Submitter, and must depict an original photographic creation. The Submission must have been captured using a FUJIFILM X Series camera and lens (i.e. any FUJIFILM XF or XC lens) or GFX System camera and lens (i.e. any GFX lens).

B. No commitment is made by FNAC to review, consider or post any Submission, and FNAC reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to deem any Submission as inappropriate, unworthy, or unsuitable for posting for any reason, and at any time with no obligation to inform, explain, or justify its reasoning


C. The Submission(s) must not infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, rights of privacy, publicity or other intellectual property or other rights of any third party person or entity, and by uploading a Submission you represent and warrant that: (a) the Submission is your personal, sole, and original creation and has not been derived from, reproduced, or copied in whole or in part from any work by a third party person or entity; (b) the Submission does not violate or infringe any intellectual property right of any kind, including but not limited to any copyright, trademark, trade name, publicity right, or other proprietary right of any person or entity; (c) the Submission is your personal, sole, and exclusive property; (d) any person(s) depicted in the image has given his or her approval for the submission; and (e) no person or property depicted in the image is depicted in a misleading, misrepresentative, or false fashion;


D. The Submission(s) and its title and description are subject to the following content guidelines, and may not, in any instance, in FNAC’s judgment:


(i) Contain, depict, reflect, promote or endorse nudity, profanity, obscenity or pornography; content that is sexually explicit or suggestive, violent, derogatory, disparaging, or defaming; or potentially hazardous content, behavior or activities;

(ii) Contain, depict, reflect, promote or endorse the sale, distribution, possession, use, or abuse of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, firearms, knives or other weapons; or any particular social or political agenda, issue or message;

(iii) Appear to duplicate or replicate a previously received Submission;

(iv) Contain, depict, reflect, promote or endorse any third party owned trademarks, logos, copyrights, images, or trade dress (such as clothing bearing a distinctive logo, a third party’s artwork, or materials from movies or published in other media) including third party products;

(v) Contain, depict, or reflect any identifying information relating to any person depicted, (such as license plate numbers, personal names, email addresses or street addresses), and including any likeness or other information of famous individuals (such as past or present celebrities or public figures, or individuals impersonating them);

(vi) Contain, depict, reflect, promote, endorse or communicate content inconsistent with the reputation and corporate image FNAC and/or FUJIFILM Corporation wish to communicate; and/or

(vii) Violate any law, or reflect, advocate or promote any activity that may violate any law.

Submissions determined by FNAC to violate any of the above content guidelines are subject to rejection. FNAC reserves the right to take all necessary measures to remove any given Submission as it deems appropriate in any given instance, and/or to change any Submission title or description provided at any time and for any reason.


E. If the Submission(s) contains, reflects or incorporates any materials, content or elements that are subject to the rights of third parties, the Submitter is responsible for obtaining, prior to providing the Submission, any and all releases, permissions and consents necessary to permit the use and posting of the Submission by FNAC and its parent and affiliate companies (including without limitation, FUJIFILM Corporation). This includes obtaining the written release, permission and consent to use any name, image, likeness or property of any person who, or items that appear in or are identifiable in the Submission(s). Where a minor appears in or is identifiable in any given Submission, the Submitter is responsible to put a written release, consent and permission into place with the appropriate parent or guardian of such minor. FNAC reserves the right to request documentation reflecting these releases, permissions and consents from any Submitter at any time, and to undertake measures to remove the posting of any given Submission(s) pending receipt of such documentation.


3. LICENSE FOR FNAC TO POST AND POSTING GUIDELINES: Upon submitting a Submission, each Submitter grants to FNAC, its parent and affiliate companies, a royalty free, irrevocable, perpetual and worldwide right and license (but without any right of sublicense) to modify, adapt, and reproduce the Submission, and to use and display the Submission, in whole or in part, either (i) on the FNAC Instagram (@fujifilmx_us), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/FujifilmXUS), or Twitter (@FujifilmX_US) Account, as a social media post; or (ii) on a FNAC or parent/affiliate company website (such as, without limitation, www.fujifilm-x.com), including without limitation, as a homepage banner. Submitter understands that any use made of the Submission will be commercial in nature, and may be in connection with the promotion of a FUJIFILM branded product. This right and license is granted in return for FNAC’s review and consideration of the Submission and in return for the potential opportunity for publicity resulting from FNAC’s posting and tagging of the Submission, and without any right or expectation of the Submitter to receive any further compensation (directly or indirectly) of any kind. FNAC and its parent and affiliate companies shall have no obligation to provide further notice to, or to obtain any further approval from, the Submitter. All Submission postings to be made by FNAC will be subject to the following posting guidelines:


A. If FNAC posts any given Submission, FNAC will use commercially reasonable efforts to credit the Submission on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by tagging the Submitter’s handle as provided to FNAC through the Site. FNAC will credit each Submission on the FNAC website with the Submitter’s first name and last initial, and Instagram handle if and as applicable. If city and state information is provided, FNAC may reference that information as well in connection with any given Submission posting. Note that FNAC does not guarantee that any given Submission will be posted.


B. FNAC is not responsible for any unauthorized third party use of any Submission. Without limitation, this includes any copying, reproduction, distribution, re-postings, forwarding, linking to, or re-publication made by any third party at any time.


C. FNAC shall have the right to modify each Submission, including but not limited to, altering, and editing any provided description. By uploading a Submission, each Submitter agrees that he or she shall have no right of approval, no claim to additional compensation and no claim (including without limitation, claims based upon invasion of privacy, defamation, right of publicity or copyright) arising out of any use, alteration, modification, editing of any or all of the Submission.


4. FUJIFILM SITE CONTENT AND PROPERTY: The trademarks, service marks, trade names, logos, designs, images, and content at any time displayed on the Site, including but not limited to FUJIFILM, INSTAX, FinePix, BUILD YOUR LEGACY, any other trademarks, logos, designs, and intellectual property and the FNAC posted content and images, shall at all times be the sole property of FNAC and/or its parent and affiliates, or shall be the property of third parties (such as any given Submitter) used by FNAC with any necessary and proper permissions in place. Nothing contained on the Site should be construed as granting, by implication, estoppel, or otherwise, any license or right for any Submitter, or any third party, to use any trademark, service mark, logo, design, trade name, product name, content or image displayed on the Site without the prior written permission of FNAC. For absolute clarity and without limitation, no Submitter or third party is permitted to post, display, publish, forward, link to or re-publish any images of FNAC or any Submission(s) of any other party unless specifically authorized to do so in writing by FNAC. Neither FNAC nor its parent or affiliate companies are sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or otherwise affiliated or associated with, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or any other social media platform.


5. NO REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, AND LIMIT OF LIABILITY:

A. FNAC DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS RELATING TO THE SITE AND TO ANY IMAGES OR CONTENT POSTED ON THE SITE, EXPRESS AND IMPLIED, TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. FNAC ALSO ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY, AND WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR, ANY DAMAGE TO, OR VIRUSES THAT MAY INFECT, ANY SUBMITTER’S OR SITE VISITOR’S COMPUTER EQUIPMENT OR OTHER PROPERTY, OR FOR ANY LOSS OR CORRUPTION OF ANY MATERIALS, IMAGE, CONTENT, OR DATA ON ACCOUNT OF ACCESS TO, USE OF, OR BROWSING IN THE SITE, OR RELATING TO OR BY REASON OF A SUBMITTER’S SUBMISSION OF ANY MATERIALS, IMAGE, CONTENT OR DATA TO THE SITE.

B. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING OR OTHERWISE ANY OTHER PROVISION HEREOF, IN NO EVENT SHALL FNAC'S TOTAL LIABILITY TO ANY SUBMITTER OR SITE VISITOR FOR ALL DAMAGES, LOSSES, CLAIMS, LIABILITIES AND CAUSES OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) EXCEED THE AMOUNTS PAID BY SUCH SUBMITTER OR SITE VISITOR TO FNAC, IF ANY, IN CONNECTION WITH SUBMITTING MATERIALS, IMAGES, CONTENT OR DATA TO THE SITE, OR IN ACCESSING THE SITE, AS APPLICABLE. IN NO EVENT WILL FNAC BE RESPONSIBLE IN ANY INSTANCE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION LOST PROFITS, LOST OPPORTUNITIES, OVERHEAD OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES, LOSS OF USE, OR DAMAGE TO REPUTATION OR GOODWILL) EVEN IF APPRISED OF THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCH DAMAGES.


6. COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND TAKE-DOWN PROCEDURE: If you believe in good faith that any material, image, or content appearing on the Site infringes your copyright, then you (or your agent) may send us a written notice that complies with this provision, requesting that the applicable image, or content be removed. Note that by submitting this written notice, you acknowledge and agree that FNAC may forward your written notice (to include your, or your agent’s, personal contact information) and any related communications received by FNAC to the original Submitter of the allegedly infringing content. Furthermore, by submitting this notice, you acknowledge and agree that FNAC’s sole responsibility to you upon receipt of such notice will be to remove the allegedly infringing image or content, and you acknowledge and agree that you will have no further right or remedy against, or as to, FNAC for its original posting of the Submission on the Site, although you may have other rights and remedies as to the Submitter.
Your infringement notice must be sent to [email protected], and must include the following information:


A. A copy of your specific image or copyrighted work that you are claiming has been infringed;
B. identification of the FNAC posted image or content that is claimed to be infringing or the subject of infringing activity, and information reasonably sufficient to allow FNAC to locate such image or content on the Site;
C. the name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address of the complaining copyright owner;
D. a statement that the complaining party has a good faith belief that use of the image or content by the original Submitter is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law; and
E. a statement that the information in the notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that the complaining party is authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.
F. a physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner.
Within ten (10) business days of receipt of a written notice meeting the above-referenced requirements, FNAC will take down the allegedly infringing image or content, and notify the Submitter of such image or content of your claim / infringement allegation. FNAC will not re-post the removed, allegedly infringing image or content until it receives written notice from the complaining party that the dispute has been resolved. The process outlined in this provision is the exclusive process to be used to complain to, or otherwise advise, FNAC about any infringement of your rights by any Submitter or any Submitted image and/or content posted on the Site.
7. PRIVACY POLICY: Personal information contained in a Submission or otherwise communicated to FNAC will be used in accordance with FNAC’s Privacy Policy, which can be found here: [INSERT LINK TO PRIVACY POLICY]. In addition, and as stated above in Section 6, your contact information may be shared to a party complaining of infringement. By uploading a Submission, you hereby agree to the Privacy Policy.

8. MISCELLANOUS TERMS:

A. By uploading a Submission, a Submitter is communicating with FNAC electronically. Each Submitter consents to receive communications relating to the Submission from FNAC electronically, generally by email. FNAC may communicate by e-mail, or by other electronic methods such as through social media communications. Each Submitter agrees that all agreements, notices, disclosures and other communications that FNAC provides electronically satisfy any legal requirement that such communications be in writing.

B. All Submissions are administered by FNAC from its offices in Valhalla, New York, United States of America. These Terms and Conditions are governed and interpreted under the laws of the State of New York without regard to its conflict of laws provisions. Each Submitter agree that any claim or dispute against FNAC arising out of or relating to the use of the Site must be resolved by a court located in the Eastern District of New York, unless otherwise agreed upon by all parties. Any claim or cause of action arising out of or related to a Submission must be filed within nine (9) months after such claim or cause of action arose, regardless of any statute or law to the contrary. In the event any such claim or cause of action is not filed within such 9 month period, each Submitter specifically agrees that such claim or cause of action shall be forever barred.

C. These Terms and Conditions and the Privacy Policy, which are part of these Terms and Conditions and are incorporated herein by reference, set forth the entire understanding and agreement between the Submitter and FNAC with respect to a Submission. Each Submitter acknowledge that any other agreements between with respect to a Submission is superseded and of no force or effect. If any provision of these Terms and Conditions shall be determined to be unlawful, void or for any reason unenforceable by a court or other legal authority of competent jurisdiction, then that provision will be severed from these Terms and Conditions and will be deemed replaced by an equivalent enforceable provision that, as nearly as possible, reflects the intent hereof. The severance of any individual provision of these Terms and Conditions will not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions.

BY UPLOADING A SUBMISSION, EACH SUBMITTER AGREES
TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
AND THE PRIVACY POLICY.

  • Should be Empty:
    • Select Your Country Or Region