It’s amazing how much detail is hidden in something as small and ordinary as a coin.

For this series, I captured a collection of eight macro images using my Canon 5DS R paired with the Canon MP-E 65mm. At this scale, coins transform from everyday objects into intricate landscapes of engraved lines, textures, and symbols.

One thing that stood out to me is how often Queen Elizabeth II appears. Across many countries and decades, her portrait has been one of the most widely circulated faces in the world. Not surprising when you consider the historical reach of the United Kingdom. Interestingly, while the Netherlands has a long royal history as well, Dutch monarchs are rarely seen on foreign currency.

Beyond portraits, coins tell stories through symbols. Animals, plants, and national icons appear everywhere—tigers, blossoms, even an opossum. Others feature architecture or tools like compasses, each reflecting something meaningful about a country’s identity.

From a technical perspective, extreme macro reveals the physicality of minting: tiny ridges, micro-scratches, and the depth of engraved metal. What feels smooth to the touch becomes a rugged terrain under magnification.

A small object, carrying history, identity, and craftsmanship—all in the palm of your hand.

#MacroPhotography #MacroWorld #CanonMPE65 #Canon5DSR #CoinPhotography #Numismatics #CloseUp #ExtremeMacro #DetailPhotography #Texture #MetalTexture #Currency #Coins #HistoryInObjects #QueenElizabethII #RoyalPortrait #Symbolism #DesignDetails #HiddenDetails #MicroWorld #PhotographyTechnique #StudioPhotography #CreativePhotography #ExploringDetails #Magnification #ArtInDetails #WonderingLens #ByMaikeldeBakker #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #PixelfedPhotography

Old paper money, seen from a different world.

For this series, I explored an idea using my Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens—diving deep into the details of historical banknotes. A friend kindly brought part of his collection, and this is one of the first results: a Belgian 100 franc note, captured at extreme magnification.

At first glance, you might think you’re looking into the eyes of a lady. But look again—this is actually part of a bearded man. When isolated like this, reality shifts. Scale changes perception.

What fascinated me most are the physical details: the thickness of the ink, the tiny fibers of the paper, and the precision of printing techniques from the early 2000s. These notes were not just currency—they were carefully engineered objects designed to resist forgery through complexity at both visible and microscopic levels.

Captured with my Canon 5DS R and Canon MP-E 65mm.

#MacroPhotography #MacroWorld #CanonMPE65 #Canon5DSR #CloseUp #ExtremeMacro #DetailPhotography #Texture #PaperTexture #InkDetails #Banknote #BelgianFranc #OldMoney #CurrencyArt #HiddenDetails #OpticalIllusion #AbstractPhotography #Perception #VisualIllusion #FineDetails #PhotographyTechnique #StudioPhotography #CreativePhotography #ExploringDetails #Magnification #MicroWorld #ArtInDetails #MoneyArt #HistoricalObjects #DesignDetails #WonderingLens #ByMaikeldeBakker #MaikeldeBakkerPhotography #PixelfedPhotography #LightAndLife #VisualStory #AbstractView #PhotographyArt #HiddenWorld #MacroShot

Microworld, a small feather adorned by pearls of dew, hugging a plantain (plantago). #microworld #plantago #nature

Frozen dew geometry melts into drops of water. #microworld #nature #plantphotography #nottingham #winterscenery

A miniature forest on slate cliffs. #moss #microworld #nature #yorkshire

Close encounter with a forest master beetle

Meet Trypocopris vernalis, also known as the spring dor beetle — one of the true “masters” of the forest floor. Yesterday, while exploring a beautiful larch and pine forest near Rijen and Oosterhout (the Surea area) with my wife, I spotted this little armored worker quietly making its way through the moss. The day was grey and moody, but a brief ray of sunlight broke through — just enough to bring out that deep black sheen that makes these beetles so mesmerizing up close.

This shot was taken with my Canon 7D Mark II and the Canon MP-E 65mm super macro lens at 5× magnification — a lens that truly lets you dive into another world. At this distance, even a beetle’s face feels monumental. You can see the fine texture of its exoskeleton, this time no grains of forest soil clinging to it, and even the subtle reflection of the forest canopy above.

Scientifically speaking, Trypocopris vernalis plays a vital role in the ecosystem. It’s a dung beetle — recycling nutrients, aerating soil, and quite literally keeping the forest clean. A quiet little hero beneath our feet.

#TrypocoprisVernalis #BeetlePhotography #MacroPhotography #SuperMacro #Canon7DMarkII #CanonMPE65mm #ForestMaster #MacroWorld #WildlifeMacro #NaturePhotography #ByMaikelPhotography #DutchNature #Oosterhout #Rijen #Surea #MossForest #LarchForest #InsectPhotography #MacroDetails #CloseUpPhotography #WildlifeLovers #EcoPhotography #Biodiversity #DungBeetle #NatureStory #InsectWorld #MicroWorld #CanonMacro #NaturalBalance #WildlifeConservation #InTheForest #MacroArt #NatureCloseUp #PhotoStory #NatureLovers #FieldPhotography #MacroMagic #WildlifeMacroPhotography #CanonEurope #ForestEcosystem #TinyWorld

A small, black and reddish insect.
#Insect, #Fly, #Diptera, #Bug, #Macro, #Nature, #GreenLeaf, #PlantLife, #SmallInsect, #Entomology, #Wildlife, #CloseUp, #TinyCreature, #Garden, #Outdoor, #Fauna, #Arthropod, #LeafTexture, #VibrantGreen, #NaturalWorld, #InsectsOfInstagram, #BugLife, #MicroWorld, #Pest, #BeneficialInsect, #Ecosystem, #Ecology, #Summer, #Spring, #MacroPhotography, #Details, #Pattern, #Veins, #Foliage, #Botany, #Horticulture, #Diurnal, #FlyingInsect, #CuteBug, #Critter

Macro shot of a fuzzy green plant stem covered in sparkling water droplets (dew or guttation), highlighting the intricate details of the plant's trichomes and the surface tension of the water
#Macro, #Photography, #Nature, #Plant, #Stem, #Fuzzy, #Hairy, #Trichomes, #Water, #Droplets, #Dew, #Guttation, #Green, #Closeup, #Detail, #Natural, #Beauty, #MicroWorld, #Botanical, #Flora, #Outdoor, #Garden, #Moisture, #Wet, #Sparkling, #JewelDrops, #Focus, #ShallowDOF, #Texture, #Organic, #Growth, #Life, #Ecosystem, #Biology, #Science, #Fresh, #Morning, #SmallWorld, #Abstract, #PhotographyArt, #MacroPhotography, #NaturePhotography, #PlantLife, #Botany, #MacroShot, #WaterDrops, #MacroLovers, #IncredibleNature, #NatureLover, #GreenLife, #Macro_Captures, #TinyWorld, #Surface, #Velvet, #Capillaries, #Xylem, #Stomata, #Wilderness, #Forest, #GardenLife, #MorningDew, #Horticulture, #Zoom, #CloseUpShot, #Aesthetics, #Vibrant.