Tartes ended his studies in Nõo Secondary school in 1982 with a gold medal and graduated from University of Tartu in 1989 with cum laude as biologist-zoologist. He became Doctor of Philosophy in 1995 with a thesis "Respiration Rhythms in Insects".^[1]

Since 1989 he worked in Estonian Institute of Zoology and Botany. Between 1996 and 2004 he served as the director of the institute. Between 2005 and 2010 he was a professor in Estonian University of Life Sciences. From then on, he continued as a freelance nature photographer and writer.

He was the recipient of the Fourth Class of Order of the White Star in 2001.^[2]

In 2009 he won Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year in the category "Animals in their Environment" with a photo of a springtail on a snowflake.^[3]

• Bioloogia gümnaasiumile (part III), Eesti Loodusfoto. 2001. ISBN 9985830466.
• Legendiloomad, Varrak. 2008. ISBN 9789985317822.
• Loodusfoto lugu ja lumm, Varrak. 2009. ISBN 9789985319901.
• Putukad õhus, maas ja vees, Valgus. 2012. ISBN 9789985682692.
• Eesti päevaliblikad, Varrak. 2014. ISBN 9789985329993.

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  Hemaris fuciformis
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  Allacma fusca
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  Vipera berus
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  Anemone hepatica

• Official website