The Horde

Nothing artistic about this, but nature photography has other uses, too. Even when nature is not so pretty, it’s still fascinating.

Ever see a shadow-like patch of mold on the ground, and then notice an hour later that it has moved? It’s probably a springtail migration -- thousands of insects so tiny that they look like dust or the mold that they eat. Those big leaves they are climbing in this photograph are the fuzzy-looking surface of fine moss. That "log" on the right side is a broken pine needle. These insects are interesting to watch, as the little launchers tucked under their tails suddenly propel them surprisingly long distances. Wider views are in the comment below.

Canon 50D
Sigma 150 mm. Macro + 1.4x TC (larger than 1:1)
1/125 sec. @ f/16; ISO 200; Flash on hot shoe + slave flash for back/side light
Camera and photographer resting on ground (and getting covered by the little jumpers).