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Nocturnal Wildlife

Macro photography of nocturnal wildlife of the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia.

Locations: Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore.

Species: Insects, spiders, frogs, lizards, snakes, and more.

Dragonfly Dew, Singapore by Tim Plowden
Changeable Lizard, Singapore by Tim Plowden
Marbled Bent-toed Gecko (Cyrtodactylus quadrivirgatus) at night in tropical rainforest, Malaysia by Tim Plowden
Mating behaviour of the Norhayati's Flying Frog, Malaysia by Tim Plowden
Black-spotted Sticky Frog, Malaysia by Tim Plowden
Painted Bronzeback Tree Snake (Dendrelaphis pictus) at night in tropical rainforest, Malaysia by Tim Plowden
White-spotted cat snake (Boiga drapiezii) at night in tropical rainforest, Malaysia by Tim Plowden
Malayan Vine Snake, Singapore by Tim Plowden
Tropical Moths Mating, Malaysia by Tim Plowden
Tropical Caterpillar, Vietnam by Tim Plowden
Caterpillar of Arctiinae, Borneo by Tim Plowden
Caterpillar of Eudocima, Malaysia by Tim Plowden
Emergence behaviour of Jade Green Cicada in the tropical rainforest of Malaysia.
Mating Millipedes, Borneo by Tim Plowden
Huntsman Spider, Singapore by Tim Plowden

More info on photographing nocturnal wildlife in tropical rainforests

When the sun goes down over the tropical rainforest a chorus of frogs, geckos and insects ushers in the night watch. The ancient forests of Asia possess an astounding diversity of nocturnal wildlife and offer the chance to get up very close with some extraordinary if diminutive creatures.

Entering a rainforest at night is pregnant with possibilities for a macro photographer. The air is cooler and denser with the scent of the forest. Shining a torch into the undergrowth returns eye-shine, careful scanning of tree trunks reveals cryptic camouflage of geckos and spiders, calls and sounds from the undergrowth give away locations.

I use a variety of perspectives depending on what I want to achieve with the shot. Where possible I will explore an abstract composition and try to create something unique and visually striking.

My images from the tropical rainforests at night have been published in calendars, magazines and books, including Explanatorium of Nature by Dorling Kindersley. It’s an honour to be featured in such a groundbreaking visual reference for children which is sure to inspire inquisitive young readers with its its amazing close-up images that depict and explain the wonders of the living world around us.

Wildlife Photography

Editorial Stock

Image Licensing: Alamy, Rex

Theme: Rainforest Biodiversity

Publication Credits: Dorling Kindersley, Wildlife Photographic Magazine

Looking for editorial images of nocturnal wildlife?

Whether you need images for your website, social media, education materials, outreach campaign, presentation, annual report or magazine, our high quality stock images can help you achieve extra visual impact.

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