Dangerous Beauty

Since retiring from combat photography for the U.S. Navy, Aaron Ansarov, has been photographing — among other things — the Portuguese Man o’ Wars that wash up on his local beach in Florida. While Man o’ Wars are typically avoided due to their venomous sting, Ansarov carefully gathers these jellyfish–like orbs and quickly photographs them on a customized light table in his studio. They are then delivered safely back into the ocean.

Ansarov has shed light on the startling complexity and beauty of the Man o’ War, and with a new series of symmetrical images he calls Zooids, has given photography enthusiasts — as well as naturalists and hobbyist marine biologists — an incredible work of art.

This video exposes these unique and feared creatures in remarkable detail.

All images © copyright Aaron Ansarov.

Zooid, #1668, symmetrical interpretation of the Portuguese Man-of-War © Aaron Ansarov

Zooid, #1594, symmetrical interpretation of the Portuguese Man-of-War © Aaron Ansarov.