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The hidden world of slime mould is full of surprises, and photographer Barry Webb has made it his mission to show us what we cannot see with our own eyes. Using a high-powered macro lens, Barry takes close-up photos of slime moulds, which are tiny single-celled organisms. These creatures are so small that you would need a microscope or a special camera to see their details. Barry’s photos reveal the amazing shapes and colors of slime moulds, which can be found in many places, from forests to deserts. He often combines many pictures to create one detailed image, showing us a world that is usually hidden.

Barry’s work has been recognized with awards, including the people’s choice in the macro category of the British Photography Awards. His photos show slime moulds in many forms: some look like yellow balls on thin stalks, others have red and white heads with water droplets, and some even have tiny mites climbing on them. Barry once thought he had photographed dust on a slime mould, but when he looked closer, he saw two tiny mites reaching up. He encourages everyone to look for slime moulds in their gardens or compost heaps, as they can appear almost anywhere. Some slime moulds look like sponges, others like little men with their arms in the air, and some have frosty shells full of ice crystals.

Barry is a gardener by trade, but he became interested in slime moulds during the Covid lockdown in 2019. He started taking his camera to work, hoping to find new species. One of his photos, showing a woodlouse eating slime mould, won the Natural World category in the New Scientist Photography Awards. Barry explains that slime moulds are not plants, animals, or fungi. They are more closely related to amoebas and play an important role in the ecosystem by feeding on bacteria, algae, and fungi. To capture his images, Barry uses a technique called focus bracketing, where he takes many photos at different focus points and combines them using software. This process used to be very slow, but new technology has made it much easier. Barry hopes his photos will inspire others to explore the tiny wonders of nature.