A Gaithersburg, Maryland, photographer is making a name for himself by utilizing a lesser-known photo technique, which he mainly uses to capture bugs in his neighborhood.
Meet Benjamin Salb, who has garnered an online following of hundreds of thousands using a method called “focus stacking.”
It’s something Salb said he really got into after six years in the Navy. A marriage, two kids and one pandemic later, he told WTOP’s Matt Kaufax that he’s realized: you don’t need to go somewhere exotic to capture the perfect shot.
Salb won first place in a global competition last year put on by The Nature Conservancy, for a focus-stacked photo of a “Wolf Spider Mama” and her babies.
While some may find it creepy, Salb said he’s trying to expose people to the beauty that’s all around us, particularly when it comes to insects, which he believes can often be misunderstood.
So what exactly is focus stacking? And how do Salb’s finished photos turn out? Come along with him and Matt in today’s episode of “Matt About Town,” where the two went hiking in Salb’s natural habitat.
You can follow him and learn more about his photography on his website.
Salb is also hosting a workshop this Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Quince Orchard Road Trailhead, where he’ll demonstrate his process to find, photograph and identify insects and spiders. Anyone interested in attending can RSVP online.
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