Tiny Lanterns on a Mossy Wall

It seems the forest wasn’t finished surprising me that day. After finding the tiny Mycena adscendens carrying that oversized droplet, we stumbled across another colony — same species, same walk, different tree. Only this time they were a little larger (a whole 2–3 mm!) and lined up in a perfect vertical row along a mossy trunk, like miniature lamps climbing their way toward daylight.

The challenge? Light. Or rather the lack of it. The forest was still wrapped in that wet, grey, sleepy atmosphere. Since my MP-E 65mm was already pushed to its limits earlier, I switched things up and used the Sigma 24–70mm Art on the Canon 5DsR. Shooting at f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 3200, I had to rely on every bit of available light — and a steady hand — to keep those microscopic caps sharp while letting the background melt into soft mossy texture.

What I love about mushrooms like Mycena adscendens is how easily they’re overlooked. People step over them every day without ever noticing the tiny worlds unfolding at their feet. But get close enough — really close — and you discover small universes: droplets clinging like glass ornaments, translucent stems glowing against dark bark.

Same forest, same species, same walk… and yet a completely different story.
That’s the magic of photography: the world doesn’t repeat itself unless you ask it kindly.

#MycenaAdscendens #PorcelainBonnet #Micromushrooms #ForestMicrocosmos #FungiFriday #TinyWorlds #MacroPhotography #CloseUpNature #Mycophilia #MushroomMagic #Canon5DsR #Sigma2470Art #LowLightPhotography #HandheldMacro #DarkForestMood #MossAndFungi #DutchNature #Kampina #Oisterwijk #ScientificCuriosity #FieldNotes #NatureDetails #SmallWonders #NaturalTextures #ForestWalks #FungiOfTheDay #MacroLife #MacroVision #NaturePhotography #PhotographyStorytelling #DepthOfField #BokehLove #ISO3200 #F28 #Shutter400 #ForestCreatures #NatureIsArt #ObservationIsKey #MindfulPhotography #ByMaikeldeBakker
The Language of Light and Leaf

Sometimes, beauty hides in the smallest and simplest things — like the way sunlight passes through a single leaf. During my walk in Surea, I noticed how the low morning sun lit the trees from behind, turning their leaves into glowing jewels of orange, yellow, and green. I raised my Canon 7D Mark II with the Sigma 100–400mm lens and focused on a single leaf, backlit by the warm sunlight.

But what you see here isn’t just colour — it’s chemistry in motion. When autumn arrives and the days grow shorter, trees start reclaiming the nutrients stored in chlorophyll — the pigment that gives leaves their green colour and fuels photosynthesis. As chlorophyll breaks down, other pigments emerge: carotenoids, responsible for yellows and oranges, and anthocyanins, which add red and purple tones. These pigments have been there all along — just hidden behind the green curtain of summer.

So, in a way, autumn is nature’s gentle way of revealing what’s always been there, waiting for the right light to be seen. Through my lens, it’s a reminder that endings can be beautiful too.

#AutumnMagic #BacklitBeauty #MacroNature #LeafArt #AutumnColors #NatureLovers #CanonPhotography #Sigma100400 #MacroShot #NatureMacro #LeafLover #BacklitLeaf #ForestMagic #LightAndColor #SureaForest #NatureInDetail #MacroPhotography #Canon7DMarkII #FineArtNature #AutumnVibes #ChlorophyllBreakdown #Carotenoids #Anthocyanins #ScienceInNature #NaturalWonder #SeasonChange #ForestWalks #DutchNature #NetherlandsNature #NaturePhotography #NatureArt #WildernessBeauty #ColorfulNature #ArtInNature #MacroDetail #HiddenBeauty #LightPlay #PhotoStory #ByMaikeldeBakker #ByMaikelPhotography

Reminiscing on my month long art residency and forest walks in Hämeenkyrö, Finland.

#Forest #ForestWalks #Trees #Finland #Hämeenkyrö #Nature #ArtResidency

Back on the trails in Braås! 🌳

Even a short walk is a huge victory after battling arthritis & diabetes. Soaking up the fresh air & peace. Small steps are smart steps!

Grateful for every moment. 🙏

#Braås #ForestWalks #ArthritisAwareness #DiabetesAwareness #NatureTherapy #Växjö