Millfield Photographer snaps up top A level grades with Groundbreaking Images

A Photography student is celebrating top A Level results after creating groundbreaking images of insects, worthy of “outstanding national and international recognition.”

Will Hutchison, from Somerset, meticulously produced highly detailed photos of beetles for his A level Art final project at Millfield School, after developing a unique form of focus-stacked macro photography. His work has been rewarded with an A* in A Level photography.

To create the piece, the budding conservationist and wildlife photographer combined knowledge he gained from A Levels in Geography and Biology, in which he achieved an A* and A, in his photographs of a variety of beetle species.

His work has received high praise from art teachers who state it is years ahead of his age and of a magnitude worthy of international recognition.

Focus stacking is a photography technique which combines multiple images taken at different focus distances to give a resulting image with a significant depth of field. To produce the incredible detail in his pieces, Will used a macro lens and combined many hundreds of images of each insect, each taken from a minutely differing angle and focus distance. The technique enables close examination of the intricate patterns and details found within the natural world often overlooked by the naked eye, a fascination that has guided Will’s photographic journey.

Will said, “I took inspiration from some amazing photo stacking photographers when I was originally planning the piece. I did not have access to the vast array of expensive and complex equipment they used or their extended time frames. However, considering I had restricted time and was using far less complex equipment, I’m very happy with high level of detail and colours I managed to capture. It took a lot of trial shoots to get it right.”

Millfield’s Head of Photography, Jennifer Turnbull, said “Will has created some beautifully detailed images of insects through focus stacking, the detail is phenomenally exquisite and at a level that it could be published. His work is already of degree quality and has the potential for outstanding national and international recognition. Will’s passion for conservation and the natural world shines through every aspect of his photographic work.”

Will’s work gained recognition earlier this summer when one of his wildlife photos, taken on a trip to Borneo, was chosen to be exhibited as part of the Somerset Film Young Photographers’ Showcase, which highlights the best work of young photographers from across Somerset.

Photography at Millfield became a unique opportunity for Will to combine his scientific interests with his creativity, producing projects that explored entomology, biology and geography. Alongside his final project, he produced striking ultraviolet photography revealing the hidden fluorescence of rocks, allowing him to communicate scientific concepts through creative imagery.

When it came to choosing his A Level subjects, Will selected Biology and Geography to support his ambition of pursuing a career in ecology and conservation. His third subject proved a more difficult decision.

Will said “Biology and Geography were clear choices because they matched both my interests and the career I wanted to pursue. Choosing between Chemistry, Psychology and Photography was much harder, but Photography clicked with me, and I haven't regretted the decision for a second."

“Photography has given me the freedom to combine my areas of interest while developing my creativity and independence. My projects focused on subjects I genuinely care about, from entomology and biology to geology and natural landforms. More than anything, I've enjoyed being able to dig deeper into those interests and turn them into creative projects.”

Will plans to spend the next year travelling through Central and South America, focusing on conservation and wildlife photography before beginning a degree in Conservation Biology and Ecology.