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A 1mm mushroom carrying an almost-as-big droplet

Sometimes nature hides its most extraordinary scenes in places most people never look. While walking through the Kampina near Oisterwijk with my wife Christel and my sister-in-law Hanneke — a birthday walk and lunch gift from last October — I noticed something no taller than a grain of rice. There, growing out of the lush green moss on a tree trunk, stood a tiny Mycena adscendens. Barely 1 mm tall, delicate as a whisper… and balancing a raindrop almost as large as its cap.

Photographing something that small is always a technical puzzle. Tripods were impossible on the tree bark, the light was miserable — wet, grey, and sleepy — and the mushroom itself looked like shiny plastic thanks to the moisture. So I relied on my Canon 5DsR paired with the MP-E 65mm, shooting handheld with a flashlight as an improvised lightsource.
1/250s, ISO 3200, and the fixed aperture of the MP-E — a setup that pushes both the photographer and the camera to their limits. At this magnification even your own heartbeat becomes camera shake.

But somehow, everything aligned. The droplet clung to the cap with perfect surface tension, turning the whole scene into a tiny physics lesson: cohesion, adhesion, and gravity negotiating their delicate balance on a 1 mm stage.

Moments like this remind me why I love macro photography — you don’t just take a picture; you discover a world that was already there, quietly waiting.

#MacroPhotography #MicroNature #TinyMushrooms #MycenaAdscendens #FungiFriday #FungusAmongUs #NatureCloseUp #ExtremeMacro #MacroWorld #MacroMagic #Canon5DsR #CanonMacro #MPE65mm #HandheldMacro #NatureIsArt #ForestFinds #DutchNature #Kampina #Oisterwijk #MossAndMushrooms #RaindropArt #WaterDroplet #SurfaceTension #MicroWildlife #NatureWalks #PhotographyJourney #StoryBehindTheShot #NaturalWonder #TinyLifeBigWorld #ForestMagic #NatureLovers #ScienceInNature #PhotographersOfPixelfed #MacroCommunity #HiddenWorlds #ByMaikeldeBakker

Among fallen leaves and chestnut husks, a beetle glimmers like a hidden gem, a quiet pulse of life beneath autumn’s fading breath.

#AutumnDetails #ForestLife #TinyWorld #NatureCloseUp #BeetleBeauty #WoodlandFloor #HiddenNature #AutumnMood

A shiny black beetle crawling over dry brown and yellow autumn leaves next to a chestnut husk.

All the small things...

#insectphotography #macroshot #naturecloseup #beetlesofpixelfed #wildlifeart #naturefocus #macroinsect #microcosmos #greenbackground #nikon

A close-up photo of a small orange-red beetle with long black antennae crawling along a thin green blade of grass. The background is softly blurred in pale green tones, creating a dreamy, minimalistic atmosphere.

Fungus Amongus. #mushroomphotography #fungiofinstagram #mycology #naturecloseup #forestfloor #naturephotography #forestfinds #golden #textured #wildlifephotography #earthfocus #smartphonephotography #photography

A highly textured, golden-yellow, round fungus (possibly a type of puffball or earthball) dominates the foreground, sitting low to the ground amongst blades of grass, moss, and dead pine needles. A dark, vertical crack splits the centre of the fungus. The background is a soft, blurry mix of dark greens and browns from the surrounding woodland foliage.

I can buy myself flowers. Or at least try to capture their uniqueness and let them be(e). 🌸🌺🌼

Sometimes photography and paying attention to the little things around me is all I need to disconnect and calm down.

#naturecloseup #landscapephotography #busybee #macrophotographylove #macrophotography #landschaftsfotografie #focus #panasonic #canon #naturephotography #travelphotography #naturliebe #cinematicvibes #kreativefotografie #storytellingphotography #fineartphotography #authenticphotography #moodygrams #photooftheday #landscape #selftaughtphotographer #photography #photographyenthusiast #blumenfotografie #flowersinframe_

Shellbound Traveler

#snail #macrophoto #wildlifephotography #naturecloseup #slowandsteady #helixpomatia #shelllife #earthcreature #macroshot #tinyworld

A close-up photograph of a Roman snail crawling slowly across a gravel path. Its large, brown, spiraled shell gleams in the sunlight, and its pale, textured body stretches forward with two antennae extended. The background is softly blurred, highlighting the snail’s details and the tiny green sprout in front of it.

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

An eye that has seen more than most travelers. The wild spark of nature and the strength of instinct captured in a single gaze.

#wildnature #birdphotography #naturecloseup #wildlifeart #animalportrait #natureperfection #eyesofthewild #birdlovers #macroshot #explorethewild

#Herbstspaziergang #UrbanNature #StadtImHerbst #ZwischenBetonUndBlättern #NaturInDerStadt #Herbstpoesie #Verblühen #StilleMomente #Wildblüte #UrbanWild #AutumnVibes #CityWalk #GoldenSeason #FadingBeauty #BotanicalMood #NatureWhispers #EverydayPoetry #HiddenNature #SoftFocus #AutumnInTheCity #UrbanCalm

Damselfly Resting in Morning Dew

#damselfly #macrophoto #insectphotography #naturecloseup #wildlife #backlight #morningdew #macroart #naturebeauty #lightandshadow

Guess Who’s Not Facing the Camera

#canadagoose #wildbird #birdphotography #naturecloseup #avianbeauty #wildlifephoto #birdwatching #natureart #featheredfriends #wildlifecloseup

Close-up photograph showing the back of a Canada Goose’s head and long black neck. The bird is facing directly away from the camera, with its dark feathers highlighted by two distinct white cheek patches on either side. The background is a smooth green blur, creating a soft contrast that emphasizes the shape of the goose.

Dans la douceur d’un souffle violet, ces fleurs éclatent comme de minuscules constellations terrestres. Chaque filament semble une étoile fragile, tissant un ciel secret au creux du jardin. La nature se fait cosmos, et l’œil devient voyageur d’un univers miniature.

🇬🇧
In the softness of a violet breath, these blooms burst like tiny earthly constellations. Each filament shines like a fragile star, weaving a secret sky within the garden’s heart. Nature becomes cosmos, and the eye turns into a traveler of a miniature universe.
🌿
#macroflowers #proxyphotography #purpleflowers #flowerdetails #floralperfection #naturecloseup #macro_captures #naturemacro #botanicalbeauty #petal_perfection #flowerphotography #floralart #macro_perfection #colorsofnature #macrolove #flowerdetailsmacro #wildflowerphotography #natureloversgallery #poeticnature #all_beauty_flowers

Mycena Mushroom Releasing Spores

I had long wanted to make the distribution of spores visible. Today, I succeeded. I used my headlamp as a backlight and took the photo with a Nikon Z8 and a 105 mm macro lens at F8.0.

#mushroomphotography #fungiart #mycena #forestmagic #mushroomlove #sporeprint #naturecloseup #macrofungi #wildmushrooms #hiddenforest

Close-up photo of a delicate pale mushroom with a thin stem and pleated gills, likely from the genus Mycena. Spores are visibly drifting away in a mist-like cloud illuminated against a dark, bluish background, creating a starry-night effect.

Nature’s chandelier and its tiny guest

#snail #macrophoto #wildfennel #naturecloseup #spiralsofnature #wildlifephotography #plantandanimal #natureart #smallwonders #earthdetails

Dew-Kissed Ladybird

#macro #ladybird #ladybug #insectphotography #naturemacro #closeupshot #buglife #greenery #macroshot #wildlifephotography #naturecloseup #springvibes #tinyworld #gardenlife #macronature #leafdetails #dew #morninglight #insectlovers #nature_focus

Tiny Explorer of Liquid Worlds

#duckling #wildlifephotography #birdlovers #naturecloseup #waterlife #birdphotography #animalportrait #wildlifeplanet #birdwatching #naturemagic

Close-up of a mallard duckling swimming forward on water, its yellow face and dark downy feathers wet with droplets. The duckling’s beak is breaking the water surface, creating a splash of clear ripples and bubbles, with its bright eye catching the light.

Met this Bumblebee today 🐝

#naturecloseup #landscapephotography #bumblebees #macrophotographylove #macrophotography #landschaftsfotografie #focus #panasonic #canon #naturephotography #travelphotography #naturliebe #cinematicvibes #kreativefotografie #storytellingphotography #fineartphotography #authenticphotography #moodygrams #photooftheday #landscape #selftaughtphotographer #photography #photographyenthusiast #animalphoto

Canada Goose in Morning Light

#canadagoose #waterfowl #birdphotography #goldenlight #birdlovers #naturecloseup #wildlife #wildlifephotography

A Canada goose stands in a misty field, captured as a dark silhouette against glowing golden morning light. The blurred background enhances the serene and atmospheric mood of the scene.

Grace in Golden Light

#muteswan #swan #waterbirds #birdlovers #naturecloseup #avianbeauty #wildlife #wildlifephotography

A mute swan rests on the shore with its head gently curved downward. The soft white feathers glow in warm sunlight, while sparkling water bokeh in the background creates a dreamy golden atmosphere.

There are photos that may not be as spectacular as a bird of prey in flight, but still mean a lot to me. For example, this mouse, for which I lay on the forest floor every day for almost a week with a wide-angle lens and a remote shutter release.

#bankvole #wildlife #wildlifephotography #smallmammals #naturecloseup #forestlife #animalportrait #naturephotography

#NatureCloseUp

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