Lithuanian macro photographer Eugenijus Kavaliauskas took a shocking close-up photo of an ant that stunned onlookers.The photo, which was originally sent in as a submission to Nikon’s Small World microscopy competition, zoomed into the little bug’s face to reveal a menacing, monster-like mug.People all across the internet freaked out over the results — with many social media users reacting in awe and terror at the viral photo.TERRIFYING CLOSE-UP OF AN ANT’S FACE GIVES HORROR MOVIE MONSTERS A RUN FOR THEIR MONEYIn an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital, Kavaliauskas said that Nikon’s contest “created a miracle” for him. “I have won a number of competitions, but I have never experienced and received this kind of attention before,” he said in comments to Fox News Digital.A close-up of an ant’s face captured by Dr. Eugenijus Kavaliauskas of Taurage, Lithuania, as a submission for Nikon’s Small World Competition. (Nikon Small World/Eugenijus Kavaliauskas)”In fact,” he said, “it is more surprising than the ant portrait.”placeholder(The intricate snapshot of the ant that has stirred up so much conversation and shock on social media didn’t place in the Small World competition.)GOOD LUCK OMENS! WHY THE PRAYING MANTIS, BUTTERFLY AND LADYBUG ARE THOUGHT TO BRING GOOD THINGSAs a photographer and an artist, Kavaliauskas detailed the ways in which he aims to unveil the “unseen” in his work.placeholder”I am looking for the unseen angle,” he said. A close-up of a flea in black and white, as taken by Lithuanian photographer Eugenijus Kavaliauskas. He revealed his goals for these photos to Fox News Digital.A close-up of a flea in black and white, as taken by Lithuanian photographer Eugenijus Kavaliauskas. He revealed his goals for these photos to Fox News Digital. (Eugenijus Kavaliauskas)”It doesn’t matter if it’s a portrait of a human being or an ant — it’s only the angle of view and the light that is emitted,” he said.PHOTOS THAT STUN: 23 AMAZING PIX OF OUR LIVING WORLD FROM NIKON’S MICROSCOPY COMPETITIONplaceholderThe artist explained that a photo has the potential to be “banal and uninteresting” without the “play of light,” just as the light manipulated the ant’s appearance.A friendly aelurillus spider appears to be waving. (Eugenijus Kavaliauskas)”When the ant’s eyes entered the shadow zone, everything immediately changed and people’s imaginations immediately woke up,” he said. “People are frightened by the unknown, the new and the hidden,” he also said.placeholderDO SPIDERS SLEEP AS HUMANS DO? EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON NEW STUDY SUGGESTING THEY MIGHTWhen he first began photographing the micro world, Kavaliauskas acknowledged that people were scared by his work — which eventually developed into a greater appreciation for nature, he said.
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