David Spears

Photography: Macro and Micro Photography

David Spears is a retired cameraman, producer and photographer. He is a Zoologist graduate from London University and holds two FRPS distinctions, an ASIS qualification from the RPS and is a Fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society.

His companies Science Pictures and Clouds Hill Imaging produced over 300 documentary programmes for BBC, C4, ITV, Discovery etc. Some won awards from Royal Television Society, British medical Association, and European Educational Association among others.

David delights in exploring the range of imaging techniques used by scientists and technologists and provides images that demonstrate that informative pictures produced for scientists do not have to be unattractive and badly composed.

The equipment in his studio includes 1967 Zeiss photomicroscope converted to LED lighting and mirror less digital cameras and a Zeiss LEO 430 scanning electron microscope. David has also been pioneering the focus stacking technology, building two different systems, working with mirror less cameras.

Published book: Unseen Companions: Big Views of Tiny Creatures (published by Last Refuge)

American Cockroach
Light Micrograph (LM): Longitudinal section showing xylem elements of Scots pine wood, (Pinus sylvestris)
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of a lower Epidermis of a Box leaf (Buxus sp.) showing Stomata
Human Head Louse
Human Hairs
Dinoflagellate, Ceratium
Tapeworm from shark
Yew Leaf
Light Micrograph (LM): Cells from a hair on the stamen of the common spiderwort (Tradescantia)
Human Head Louse
Brown Scale Insect
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of a straw of Wheat showing vascular bundle, cortex and epidermis
SEM: Grass Pollen
Rat Embryo
Leaf Cutter Ant
Common House Spider - male
Woodworm or Furniture Beetle
Water Measurer
Spectacle Moth hatching
False Scorpion or Pseudoscorpion
Human finger tip print
Light Micrograph (LM): Longitudinal section showing xylem elements of old sunflower stem (Helianthus sp.) showing spiral chloroplasts
Scanning Electron micrograph (SEM): Open Stoma of  Chrysanthemum plant leaf
Black-legged or Deer Tick
Bedbug
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of a stem of Clubmoss(Lycopodium sp.)
Light Micrograph (LM): A Tranverse section of a stem of a Common or European Ash tree (Fraxinus excelsior)
House Fly
Scanning Electron micrograph (SEM): Yew (Taxus baccata) Leaf
Cochlea of Guinea Pig
SEM: Human Ovum in Fallopian Tube : Magnification x 1,000 for A4 size print
Rat Embryo
Human embryo
Mosquito, Culex pipiens
Common House Spider - female
Four cell stage mouse embryo
Light Micrograph (LM): Longitudinal section showing xylem elements of old sunflower stem(Helianthus sp.) showing spiral chloroplasts
Light Micrograph (LM): Transverse section of a stem of Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus)
Crab larvae
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of a stem of Clover (Trifolium sp.) with an unidentified parasite attached.
Driver Ant
Light Micrograph (LM): A longitudinal section showing xylem elements of a Ribes sp. stem
Dinoflagellate, Ceratium
Human Ovum in Fallopian Tube
Gecko Claw
Cat Flea
Scanning Electron micrograph (SEM) showing stomata on a Yew (Taxus baccata) Leaf
Human Sperm
SEM: Stinging Nettle, Urtica dioica
Human Foetus
Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly
Bedbug
Tapeworm, Taenia solium
Rat Embryo
Rat Embryo
Earwig
Termite (woker)
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of a Dandelion stem (Taraxacum officinale)
Garden Spider-male
Human sperm
Rat Embryo
Micro-filarial worm
SEM: Human Red Blood Cells; Magnification x 6,500  for A4 size print.
Light Micrograph (LM): Tomato seed
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of a stem of Clubmoss(Lycopodium sp.)
Human Embryo
Amoeba
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section showing xylem of a root of Creeping Buttercup, (Ranunculus repens)
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section shows Vascular Bundle in Helianthus stem
Frog tongue
Light Micrograph (LM): Longitudinal section of stem showing xylem elements of Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia splendens)
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of a stem of a Marrow (Cucurbita sp.)
A foot of Pholcus Spider
Dust Mite
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section shows Xylem in Helianthus stem
Light Micrograph (LM): Transverse section of a leaf of Marram Grass (Ammophila sp.)
Amoeba protective shell 'test'
Woodboring Weevil
Spider Eggs
Tapeworm from shark
Merchant Grain Beetle
Light Micrograph (LM): Longitudinal section showing xylem elements of Mahogani (Swietenia mahagoni)
Human Skin with Hair Follicles
Rat Embryo
Death Watch Beetle
Human Skin
Termite
Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM): Silk fabric material
Driver Ant
Light Micrograph (LM): Transverse section of a leaf of Marram Grass (Ammophila sp.)
Megalop
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of a stem of Common Lime tree (Tilia europaea)
Common Clothes Moth
Chigoe Flea
Jumping Spider
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of a stem of Whisk Fern (Psilotum nudum)
Scanning Electron micrograph (SEM) showing stomata on a Yew (Taxus baccata) Leaf
Light Micrograph (LM): Filaments of fungi Endotrophic Mycorrhiza live within cells of a root
Seven-Spot Ladybird
Bluebottle
SEM: Human Ovum in Fallopian Tube : Magnification x 1,000 for A4 size print
Megalop
Villi in human intestine
Wood-boring Weevil
Eye facets of a House Fly
Light Micrograph (LM): transvers section shows Parenchyma Ground Tissue in Buttercup stem
Gecko foot hairs
SEM: Human Ovum in Fallopian Tube : Magnification x 1,000 for A4 size print
Tapeworm from shark
Human Foetus
Human Embryo
A human Ovum  being fertilized
Praying Mantis
Earwig
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of an aerial root of Orchid (Dendrobium sp.)
Black Garden Ant
Diatom
Human vein showing red blood cells
Common Centipede
Human White and Red Blood Cells
Nerve cells grown in a culture
Light Micrograph (LM): Transverse section of Lilium Anthers with Mature Pollen
Leaf Weevil
Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM): cotton bedsheet  showing skin flakes
Rat Embryo
Light Micrograph (LM): Cells from a hair on the stamen of the common spiderwort (Tradescantia)
Springtail
Leather or Hide Beetle
Pholcus Spider - female
Rat Embryo
SEM: Stinging Nettle, Urtica dioica
Fruit Fly
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of a stem of a Horsetail Fern (Equisetum sp.)
Black Aphid
Crane Fly or ‘Daddy-Long-Legs’
A Mouse Ovum being fertilized
Cat Flea
Eggs of Green Lacewing
Backswimmer
SEM: Stinging Nettle, Urtica dioica
Calanus
Crab larvae
Human Retina
Light Micrograph (LM): Transverse section shows Sclerenchyma Ground Tissue in Helianthus stem
Human Retina
Human Foetus
Rat Embryo
Silverfish
Groundsel Pollen
Red Admiral Butterfly’s Wing Scales
Human Foetus
a gut tumour
Cheese Mite
Light Micrograph (LM): transverse section shows Sclerenchyma Ground Tissue in Helianthus stem
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of a leaf of Tasmanian Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus)
A Mouse Blastocyst
SEM: Cactus Pollen
Deathwatch Beetle
Tapeworm from a blue shark
Light Micrograph (LM): A longitudinal section showing xylem elements of a Ribes sp. stem
Wood Boring Weevil
Crane Fly or ‘Daddy-Long-Legs’
Rat Embryo
Black Aphid
Amoeba
Human Skin with Hair Follicles
Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM): Peony Pollen
Light Micrograph (LM): A Tranverse section of a stem of a Common or European Ash tree (Fraxinus excelsior)
Black-legged or Deer Tick
A human Ovum  being fertilized
Light Micrograph (LM): Onion skin cells
Wood-boring Weevil
SEM: Human Ovum in Fallopian Tube : Magnification x 1,000 for A4 size print
Common Clothes Moth
Oriental Rat Flea
Wasp Sting
Rat Embryo
Scanning Electron micrograph (SEM) showing stomata on a Yew (Taxus baccata) Leaf
Crab larvae
Varied Carpet Beetle
Light Micrograph (LM): Longitudinal section showing xylem elements of Scots pine wood, (Pinus sylvestris)
stigma of a lily
Human Crab Louse
Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM): Silk fabric material
Human Crab Louse
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of a leaf of a Cherry (Prunus sp.)
Sleeping Sickness Parasite in red blood cells
Confused Flour Beetle
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of a stem of a Tree Fern (Dicksonia antractica)
Anopheles Mosquito larvae
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of a root of Conifer (Pandanus sp.)
Gecko Claw
Diatom
Light Micrograph (LM): tranverse section shows Parenchyma or packing tissue from Cucurbita Stem
Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM): Peony Pollen
Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM): Silk fabric material
Human Cochlea
Light Micrograph (LM): Filaments of fungi Endotrophic Mycorrhiza live within cells of a root
Human White and Red Blood Cells
Human Embryo With Placenta
Bee Sting
Human sperm fertilizing egg (ovum)
Jumping Spider
Light Micrograph (LM): transverse section of Dehiscence Lilium Anther shows Filament and Vascular Bundles
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of a stem of Whisk Fern (Psilotum nudum)
Tapeworm from shark
Light Micrograph (LM): The transverse section of a stem of Norway Pine (Abies Excelsa) shows the resin passages
Bedbug
Froghopper (nymph)
Human sperm
Black Garden Ant
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of a straw of Wheat showing vascular bundle, cortex and epidermis
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of a stem showing vascular bundle, cortex and epidermis of Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)
Bluebottle
Light Micrograph (LM): Longitudinal section showing xylem elements of Mahogany wood, (Pinus sylvestris)
Light Micrograph (LM): plant cell chloroplasts - the site where photosynthesis takes place
Fungus Gnat
Human Cochlea
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of a leaf of a Tulip (Tulipa sp.) showing Stomata
Cat Flea
Follicle Mite
SEM: Human White and Red Blood Cells; Magnification x 21,000 for A4 size print
Light Micrograph (LM): transverse section shows Sclerenchyma Ground Tissue in Helianthus stem
Germination in Lilly
American Cockroach,
Anopheles Mosquito pupa
Crane Fly or ‘Daddy-Long-Legs’ lavae
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of a Helianthus stem
A foot of a House Fly
Lily Pollen
Pholcus Spider - male
Human finger tip print
Lavae of Woodworm or Furniture Beetle
Honeybee
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of a Fig leaf
Green Lacewing
Cat Hairs
Caddis Fly
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of a stem of a Pepper
SEM: Human White and Red Blood Cells; Magnification x 21,000 for A4 size print
A Mouse Blastocyst
Footman moth
Light Micrograph (LM): transverse section shows Parenchyma or packing tissue from Cucurbita Stem
Tapeworm from a teleost fish
Rat Embryo
Common Rough Woodlouse
Pharaoh Ant
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of a stem of a Monocot (Ruscus aculeatus)
Light Micrograph (LM): A light micrograph of the nuclei of plant cells
Calanus
Common Furniture Beetle
C elegans
Bumblebee
Human skin
Human Hairs - European
Scanning Electron micrograph (SEM) showing stomata on a Yew (Taxus baccata) Leaf
Human Public Hair
Light Micrograph (LM): transverse section shows Sclerenchyma Ground Tissue in Helianthus stem
Single cell stage mouse embryo
Tapeworm from a batoid fish
American Cockroach
Light Micrograph (LM): Transverse section of a leaf of Marram Grass (Ammophila sp.) showing Vascular Bundle;\
Human Ovum in Fallopian Tube
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of a stem of a Hedge Woundwort plant (Stachys sylvatica)
Flour Mite
Human Sperm
Rat Embryo
Scanning Electron Mirograph (SEM): Mycorrhizae Fungi on root
Rat Embryo
Cat Flea
A human Ovum  being fertilized
Lily Pollen
Rat Embryo
anther of a lily with pollen
Foraminifera
SEM: Human White and Red Blood Cells; Magnification x 21,000 for A4 size print
American Cockroach
Human Red Blood Cells
Chigoe Flea
Light Micrograph (LM): Longitudinal section shows Scalariform vessels of Fern
Ground Beetle
Termite (woker)
Light Micrograph (LM): Tomato seed
Two cell stage mouse embryo
Human skin
Human skin
Light Micrograph (LM): A transverse section of a leaf of a Tulip (Tulipa sp.) showing Stomata
Light Micrograph (LM): plant cell chloroplasts - the site where photosynthesis takes place
A Mouse Ovum being fertilized
Eight cell stage mouse embryo
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