In my back garden I have an old sundial which I bought over twenty years ago when I first moved in to my house. Most folk might scrape or scrub off the lichen and moss which grows on it, but I love the effect it gives. It gives it more of a rustic charm, and it kind of has its own micro ecosystem going on atop of it. This is Wall Screw-moss (Tortula muralis) in extreme close up at the limit of my macro lens, and it is often found growing on old walls, concrete and roof tiles, including base-rich rocks. It kind of reminds me of a miniature forest, with trees, shrubs and grasses. Please click images for higher quality resolution.
January 2017, rear garden, Staffordshire. ยฉ Pete Hillman 2017. Camera used Nikon D7200 with Sigma 105mm macro lens.
Just fantastic — in every sense of the word. The last photo reminds me of our ball moss, which has an almost-invisible little flower that I’d never seen until I began photographing the world. The ball moss flower has the same sort of long stem, which you’d never notice until you have a bit in your hand.
LikeLiked by 6 people
Thank you, Linda ๐ I find it amazing even after all these years of interest in the natural world abound, at once you get to focus on something, especially things which we may pass by on our busy routines every day, how really interesting and beautiful things can be. It would be nice to see what your ball moss looks like.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Let me dig through my photos later and see if I still have one of the photos. I badly need to do some tagging and categorizing!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I will look forward to seeing them if you can find them! I don’t tend to tag or catergorize myself. I just keep them all in year then month order, with various folders in each.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful macros of this micro world, Pete!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you so much, Indira ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great View!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Dwight ๐
LikeLiked by 2 people
Agree!! Fantastic
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s beautiful. It would be very sad to scrape it off!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you ๐ No, it is certainly staying ๐
LikeLiked by 2 people
Pete, you captured your miniature forest so wonderful. The light, warm colours, composure… I know from my own experience that it is not easy to photograph them so beautiful!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you very much, Greta ๐ They can be quite a challenge, especially deciding which ones to focus on on this scale.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Gorgeous series of captures, Pete! Thank you so much for sharing, and warm greetings from Montreal, Canada. ๐
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for your lovely comment and greetings, Linda ๐ Warm greetings from England!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love it that you let the moss grow. I would too! These shots are wonderful.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you very much, Melissa ๐
LikeLiked by 2 people
Beautifully shot. It does look like a miniature landscape.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Belinda ๐
LikeLiked by 2 people
Quite pretty to look at Pete. I see why you let it grow.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Peggy ๐ I believe it has been growing there for quite some years now.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wonderful photos and great thinking outside the box to think of photography the macro forest.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, David ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Superb images and just the kind of subject which I find most interesting. Its amazing what nature reveals when we take the time to get down low and really see the tiny details.
Most people see nothing but inanimate objects around them.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Vicki ๐ Yes, I agree with you. We need to stop, look and focus our attention more on the beauty in nature around us.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow they are simply gorgeous ๐ Wonderful clicks Pete! I really liked them!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you friend ๐ I am pleased you like them so ๐ Sunday now, enjoy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
How beautiful, I really like this macro forest:)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you very much, Inger ๐ It is a different world at that scale ๐
LikeLiked by 2 people
beautiful capture of mundane everyday world. Uplifted my spirits.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you ๐
LikeLike
Wow!! Fantastically
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s so beutiful
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, and thank you for all your likes ๐
LikeLike
This is spectacular! Loved it immensely ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you ๐
LikeLike
I love nature and the creative arts. It feels refreshing to be connected to your blog (my first nature connection in this space.) Beauty is here!!
LikeLike
Thank you ๐
LikeLike
Exquisite photographs Pete.
Alison
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Alison ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful Photography!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you ๐
LikeLike
Very original shots! I like the idea of a little forest ๐ณ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Federica ๐ I really love the macro world, for it takes me to new realms which I might never have visited.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too, I need to practice a little bit of macro in manual. Which lenses are you using for this kind of shots?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I use a Nikon D7200 camera body with a Sigma 105mm macro lens, handheld. At this scale and this close I found only manual will do, so had to teach myself ๐ Practice and experimentation will win over if you keep at it ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely! But also having a good camera and lens like yours can help to make great shots. At the moment I can’t afford a new lens and I am trying to practice with what I have (Nikon D2500 + 18.0-55.0 mm) in manual. Thank you for the inspiration anyway ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have the kit lens like you have and that is pretty good and sharp. It took me years to come out the compact age into the DSLR age, and since then, and especially after getting a macro lens which is my real passion, I have never looked back ๐ You started good, and will do real good! ๐
LikeLike
Hi Pete,
Many years ago I did a whole series of “Micro Landscapes” involving mosses and lichens. As a kid, I well remember lying in the woods with my eyes (that could focus closely then!) close to patches of mosses and exploring the tiny world it held. Lovely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi John, and thank you ๐ I enjoy this magical world of the macro.
LikeLike
Love these photos! At first glance looks like watercolour! Yes, I think mosses and lichens are very beautiful and its made me very happy to find these lovely images.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much ๐ Glad to make you happy!
LikeLike
Wonderful blog about this small world . Keep sharing .
I also have website http://www.ansnetwork.in
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brilliant photos!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Roland ๐
LikeLike
lovely collection you have here! really nice work!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
my pleasure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
๐
LikeLike
So pretty! You even managed to capture one with an offspring. Well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Aspaai ๐ I always find this micro world amazing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey lovely images! ๐ I’ve got a similar photo of a Bryophyte on my blog.
The above look like paintings!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much, Aishwarya ๐ I have seen your Bryophyte, and it is wonderful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha Thank you so much!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome!
LikeLike
The color combination that came out from nature is unique and pleasing to the eyes. Beautifully done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you ๐ Nature is such the artist.
LikeLiked by 1 person
wow its amazing how you captured these simple essence of macro forest . soo ethereal .
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the tiny ecosystem idea. Moss is fascinating to me. Wonderful photos.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lisa ๐ Moss is indeed quite something!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fascinating! Very nice work ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much ๐
LikeLike
Tudo lindo! Parabรฉns pelo seu trabalho!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Obrigado ๐
LikeLike
U have described it so well along with the pics…..awesome
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
So beautiful and soothing to the eyes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice to look at some of the oldies … your photos, not you.:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ๐ Thank you, Ark ๐
LikeLike
It looks great.. I’m glad you did not remove it. Your pics are wonderful..To me it almost looks like little flames.. xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Elisa ๐ They do look like little flames as you say. It is the way the light catches it.
LikeLiked by 1 person