Barry Webb’s extraordinary macro photography offers a rare glimpse into a world that’s usually invisible to the naked eye—a world filled with color, texture, and almost alien-like forms. His latest series, featuring 22 mesmerizing close-up photos of slime molds, reveals the stunning intricacy and otherworldly beauty of these overlooked organisms. Each image showcases vibrant shapes and delicate structures, turning the strange and slimy into something undeniably magical.
Webb’s fascination with macro photography began early in life, but it was a fungus foray in 2019 that truly changed his creative direction. Invited to photograph a Stemonitis slime mold—a species he had never encountered before—Webb found himself captivated. This moment sparked what he describes as an obsession, driving him to discover and document as many slime species as possible.
Capturing these enchanting images isn’t easy. Webb explains that finding a well-formed specimen in the perfect stage of development is the first challenge. Once located, the real work begins: selecting the right composition and background, and using a technique called focus stacking. This method involves taking 20 to over 100 shots at varying focus points and blending them to create one hyper-detailed image.
Through his art, Webb hopes to bring attention to the hidden universe of slime molds—tiny, often ignored life forms that, under his lens, become breathtaking, ethereal sculptures.
Scroll down and inspire yourself. You can check Barry’s Instagram account for more amazing photos.
You can find Barry Webb on the web:
#1. A single Arcyria denudata fruiting body that was seperate from the crowd behind
#2. Tiny mites reaching skyward on Physarum psittacinum. The Physarum are only about 1mm tall, which gives an idea as to the size of the mites.
#3. A Tangled clump of Cribraria rufa.
#4. Symmetrical Arcyria Cinerea
#5. An unusual view of raspberry slime mould, Tubifera ferruginosa, as it was perched on a pointed piece of pine. You rarely get to see the structure that’s normally underneath and out of sight.
#6. Lamproderma scintillans showing how they appear silver when wet. Once they have reached this stage of maturity they seem to be able to completely repel water. When the water evaporates they will return to being blue.
#7. Stemonitis with an unusual but attractive curved development.
#8. Pink Stemonitis with a hand!
#9. Some immature Stemonitis.
#10. Physarum psittacinum has got to be the most spectacular of all the Physarum species.
#11. Metatrichia vesparium starting to mature.
#12. Arcyria denudata.
#13. The ear-pick fungus (Auriscalpium vulgare), found while away on a short trip to the New Forest.
#14. One of three images shortlisted in three categories in this years Close Up Photographer of the year.
#15. Physarum album. Appeared on apple tree branches after exposure to heavy rain.
#16. A pair of Craterium minutum with a suspended water droplet. These two have lost their lids and are ready to disperse their spores.
#17. Dehisced Comatricha nigra fruiting bodies that still retain their beauty even after their colour and spores have gone.
#18. A bunch of Physarum fruiting bodies perched on a Beech Woodwart.
#19. Metatrichia floriformis as it goes through the process of cracking open to release its spores.
#20. Taken during a cold spell – a single Didymium squamulosum wearing an ice crown.
#21. Group of three Didymium squamulosum with the two Lamproderma scintillans perched on top.
#22. Tiny developing mycena.
