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

Snailing along

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#snail #snailphoto #snailphotography #naturephoto #naturephotography #landscapephoto #landscapephotography #landscape #landscapes #naturephotograph #forestcreatures

This Is What Climate Change Looks Like

There are two wildfires within smoke-drift of my home. One is contained, the other doubled in size in one day. Hundreds of people have had to evacuate, but so far no homes have been lost, so far as I know.

We have had very hot temperatures, minimal or no rain for weeks, and wind. We get lots of wind. Essentially, we have drought conditions. Also, because we are on an island, we have high humidity. If that all sounds contradictory to you, you are in good company. I don’t get it either. I had a heat pump technician explain it to me like I was five but I still didn’t understand.

Anyway, here is tonight’s sunset. And, if you get a chance, tell your local political representative that climate change is real, and it decimates forests, and it terrifies people, and it sometimes destroys homes. I don’t think they know this.

Also, I don’t know what happens to all the forest animals. Ask your politicians about that, too. Maybe they care about non-human animals.

#climateChange #drought #evacuations #forestCreatures #nature #Photography #politicians #smoke #sunset #VancouverIsland #wildfires

Alexa’s Elixir
📷 Canon Elan 7e | 🎞️ Fuji 200 (developed in Cinestill) | 📍Detroit Lakes, MN

They say forests have their own inhabitants. In Detroit Lakes, they happen to be giant wooden trolls with expressive faces and a better sense of purpose than most people I know.

I saw this trail, Alexa’s Elixir, in TIME’s list of 50 places to visit in 2025 and decided to check it out. Danish artist Thomas Dambo, eco-activist, created these trolls with help from hundreds of volunteers. All from recycled materials. The final task of the forest quest? “Don’t buy anything new today.” Naturally, it ends at a gift shop selling “I found the rabbit” t-shirts.

It was my first time in Detroit Lakes. Can’t say I loved the place. The town recently refused to fly the new Minnesota state flag - the one that finally doesn’t stereotype Native Americans. That tells you a lot. And if that wasn’t enough, the mile-long beach featured the entire Lord’s Prayer, displayed foot by foot along the sand. It felt less like a vacation and more like stepping into a lightly sanitized cult.

But the trolls? They were worth it. Playful, strange, slightly haunted. Like they know something we don’t. Like they’re watching us scroll through Amazon right after finishing the “don’t buy anything” quest.

Anyway, I found the rabbit. But I didn’t buy the shirt. Small wins.

#FilmPhotography #AnalogPhotography #35mmFilm #ShootFilm #BelieveInFilm #Fuji400 #CanonElan7e #FilmCommunity #TrollHunt #WoodenSculpture #Troll #Forest #Park #Fun #Travel #Vacation #EnvironmentalArt #AlexaElixir #ThomasDambo #Sculpture #Environent #Art #Minnesota #DetroitLakes #MNArt #ForestCreatures #Photo #Photography #mnastodon #mn

Who’s peeking out from the shadows?
Say hello to the American badger, nature’s little digger with a big personality!
Spotted emerging from its den, this fierce and fascinating creature is built for life underground, armed with powerful claws and a no-nonsense attitude.

#AmericanBadger #WildlifeSpotting #NatureLovers #AnimalEncounters #BadgerWatch #ForestCreatures #IntoTheWoods #DiggingExpert #FierceAndFuzzy #Montana #Photography #Travel #PhotosOfMastodon #マスト写真部 #pixelfed

Who’s peeking out from the shadows? Say hello to the #AmericanBadger, nature’s little digger with a big personality! #WildlifeSpotting #NatureLovers #AnimalEncounters #BadgerWatch #ForestCreatures #IntoTheWoods #DiggingExpert #FierceAndFuzzy #Photography

To get this tree bark look I use porcelain slip and sodium silicate #ceramic #sculpture #pottery #forestcreatures