The swarm of mayflies was so thick that at times José Antonio couldn’t see – insects pervading his clothes, mouth and ears.
Each year he stakes out this bridge over the River Ebro to await this mating frenzy. ‘It feels,’ he says, ‘as though you are in a gale, brushed by millions of silken wings’. This breath-taking spectacle of mayflies belies a tragedy. Drawn away from the river by the artificial lights, the mayflies make a tragic mistake. Just as natural light is polarised by the river’s water, the smooth, dark asphalt of the road polarises the light reflected from the streetlamps, causing the female mayflies to deposit their eggs in vain on its surface.
Spain
Jose Antonio is a photojournalist specialising in natural history and wildlife conservation. His projects aim to highlight some of the most amazing and least known creatures. He is the author of several books, and his images have been published in international magazines, including National Geographic.
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