Aina Tilups

Botany in particular, which I studied at the University of Guelph. One class in particular inspired my interest in microscopes and I subsequently worked for most of my career as an  Electron Microscopy Tech. I am fascinated by tiny things. At the time the microscopes still utilized negatives, and I processed the micrographs in the darkroom, adding to my love of alternate methods of photography. My parents taught me a deep love of the woods and I grew up foraging for wild mushrooms and other edible delicacies  found in the forest near our cottage. Much of my work focuses on the natural world, with concepts of biomimicry and animal intelligence. I am interested in our perception of reality and how it is different for each of us. Looking under a microscope has made me aware of the unseen beauty all around us, hidden just beyond our perception.