October 2023 – DIMENSIONFX

An Arresting Optic Nerve Tops the 2023 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition

A starburst like shape of small filaments in various colors

Hassanain Qambari and Jayden Dickson, rodent optic nerve head showing astrocytes (yellow), contractile proteins (red), and retinal vasculature (green). All images courtesy of Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition, shared with permission

One in five people with diabetes also suffers from retinopathy, a disease causing vision loss and blindness. Problems occur when high blood sugar causes cells to swell and leak, damaging the retina. Because symptoms aren’t always perceptible at early stages, though, many people aren’t diagnosed until the condition has already progressed.

Researchers like Hassanain Qambari and Jayden Dickson have been working toward visualizing the initial signs of retinopathy to aid in early detection, which they recently achieved in an electrifying image that won the 2023 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition. A starburst-like web of red and yellow fibers sprawl across the frame, which magnifies the intricacies of a rodent’s optic nerve and offers insight into its function. “The visual system is a complex and highly specialized organ, with even relatively minor perturbations to the retinal circulation able to cause devastating vision loss,” Qambari said. “I entered the competition as a way to showcase the complexity of retinal microcirculation.”

Other submissions to the 49th-annual contest include the venomous fangs of a tarantula, gelatinous slime molds, and spiky sunflower pollen stuck to an acupuncture needle. The 2023 competition garnered nearly 1,900 submissions from 72 countries, and you can see all of the winners on Nikon. It’s also worth taking a peek at the video segment of this year’s contest, which includes striking footage of neurons forming in an embryo.

a yellow creature with black spines, tiny black eyes, and two orange nose holes

Sébastien Malo, crab spider (Thomisus onustus)

Dr. Pichaya Lertvilai, coral (Acropora granulosa) fluorescing under blue light

two black fangs emerge from thin pink fibers

John-Oliver Dum, venomous fangs of a small tarantula

John-Oliver Dum, sunflower pollen on an acupuncture needle

a pink mass with a heart shape at the center

Malgorzata Lisowska, breast cancer cells

an orange speckled mass with red forms emerging from the bottom left

Raghuram Annadana, developing stamen and stigma inside a Hibiscus flower bud

bulbous and gelatinous globs top spindly stems

Timothy Boomer, slime mold (Comatricha nigra) showing capillitial fibers through its translucent peridium

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article An Arresting Optic Nerve Tops the 2023 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition appeared first on Colossal.

Southwest Alaska: Conservation Wins and Travel Awes

By Breanna Giovanniello (WWF Online Marketing Senior Specialist) and Katy Lai (WWF Director, Private Finance Sector Strategy and Engagement)

Our trip began in Homer, Alaska, also known as the “Halibut Capital of the World.” Homer is a small but vibrant fishing town perched on Kachemak Bay, near the bottom of the Kenai Peninsula. The town is surrounded by a large area of protected state land where the local community and its critical wildlife population of more than 100 bird species and a large local moose population coexist.

Hanging Out in Homer

They say that the weather in Alaska is predictably unpredictable, which we found to be very much true. On the day we were scheduled to fly in a bush plane over to Nat Hab’s Alaska Bear Camp, we were greeted with an unfortunate amount of fog and no way to land on the beach near camp. Although we were eager to spend as much time as we could with the bears, our delay allowed us to experience the wildlife and nature around Homer.

Small plane with people at Bear Camp, Alaska

We saw sea otters from our hotel balcony, bald eagles nesting with their chicks on a pole outside our hotel lobby, and sandhill cranes on our brief drive into town. During a short hike, we saw wildflowers, salt marshes and glaciers just across Kachemak Bay, and we heard stories about the wild neighbors that frequent these areas: moose and black bears. Such an abundance of nature before even setting foot at Bear Camp!

When we finally got the go-ahead to fly, we were elated. The diversity and grandeur of the landscape could only be truly appreciated from an aerial view: snow-covered volcanoes, massive glaciers, rivers running through meadows, lush forests and more. A surreal 45 minutes later, we touched down on a pristine beach right in front of Nat Hab’s Alaska Bear Camp. After a quick tour and a chance to drop our bags off in our tents, we set off for our first bear-viewing expedition.

Two WWF staff members standing in front of the Nat Hab Bear Camp sign in Alaska

Alaska Bear Camp at Last!

Bear Camp sits on private land, the site of a historic homestead on the ancestral land of the Dena’ina Athabascan people, surrounded by Lake Clark National Park, one of the world’s most renowned bear-viewing destinations. Johnny, one of our expedition leaders, toured us around the original homestead on the property. We learned more about the intrepid homesteader Wayne Byers, as well as how homesteading came to be an important part of Alaskan history.

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The Bear Camp Expedition Leaders are professional naturalists and bear experts. Johnny and Mike taught us so much about bear behavior and coached us in proper etiquette for respectful viewing, including how to navigate close (and exciting) bear encounters. It was extraordinary to be guests in the homes of these magnificent creatures and observe their daily lives without being perceived as a threat (or prey!).

The abundance of food in this area allows brown bears to gather in high densities without conflict. We saw bears digging for razor clams, grazing in sedge meadows, fishing for salmon and nursing their cubs. We were also able to witness the playful nature of mothers and their cubs wrestling on tidal flats, running through the woods, swimming in the rivers and snoozing in the sun—a truly remarkable experience.

Bear carrying salmon in Lake Clark National Park Alaska

Conservation Concerns and Victories

While bear-viewing, we’re reminded that our presence should not impact the bear’s behavior and that the animals should always be able to pursue their activities undisturbed. How does that translate to development in southwest Alaska?

Nat Hab’s Bear Camp sits just 70 miles away from the Pebble Mine project, a proposed open-pit gold and copper mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska. For more than a decade, the Pebble Mine project has threatened the rich wildlife, fish-fueled economy and bustling local communities of this southwest region of Alaska.

Last year, the Pedro Bay Corporation, which includes over 200 shareholders of Aleut, Yupik and Athabascan descent, protected their land by allowing the environmental nonprofit The Conservation Fund to purchase development rights on more than 44,000 acres of land as conservation easements that will restrict the development of the land in perpetuity. In early 2023, the EPA took another major step toward protecting this area by banning the disposal of mine waste in part of the Bristol Bay watershed.

Sticker seen on a boat in Alaska with a red slash through Pebble Mine

As we celebrate this momentous conservation win, WWF continues to work with the communities in Bristol Bay to ensure the economic and environmental sustainability of the region. Much like bear-viewing, WWF’s mission is for people to live in harmony with wildlife and nature, striving to ensure that human presence doesn’t negatively impact the behavior of these bears, sea otters, eagles, moose, caribou and many more incredible species.

The post Southwest Alaska: Conservation Wins and Travel Awes first appeared on Good Nature Travel Blog.

An Ambitious Series of Portraits by Uli Westphal Captures the Character of Every Edible Plant Seed

A composite image of 12 different seeds from edible plants.

Top row, left to right: Aronia melanocarpia (black chokeberry), Atriplex hortensis (orache), and Avena sativa (oat). Second row: Averrhoa carambola (star fruit), Basella alba (malabar spinach), and Beta vulgaris (beet root). Third row: Betula pendula (birch), Borago officinalis (borage), and Brassica juncea (brown mustard). Bottom row: Brassica oleracea (cabbage), Cajanus cajan (pigeon pea), and Calendula officinalis (marigold). All images © Uli Westphal, shared with permission

From the fuzzy casing of the levant cotton seed to the speckled scarlet runner bean to the star-shaped pod of the aptly named star anise, the minuscule sources of the world’s edible plants take center stage in photographer Uli Westphal’s newest project. Fascinated by food systems (previously) and the myriad ways we have adapted botanicals to our needs, the artist showcases the phenomenal diversity of plants, or in this case, their tiny origins. In the ongoing Seeds series, he creates a collective portrait of all edible plants, capturing incredible textures and colors in micro-photographic detail.

While other projects include amassing large quantities of produce, he started focusing on a collection of crop seeds during the pandemic, many of which he accumulated over the years. Currently, he has about 400 species, with a shortlist of 3,000 considered highly edible. Varying in shape, size, color, and texture, the specimens require a setup that allows Westphal to capture every minute characteristic.

Carica papaya (papaya)

Because the seeds are often so tiny they’re impossible to capture with traditional camera lenses, Westphal added high-resolving microscope objectives—the magnifying part of the microscope lens closest to the object—to his camera. The objectives have an extremely shallow depth of field, so he built a machine that moves the camera a few micrometers at a time, allowing him to take hundreds of images of each seed. These individual shots are used to create one composite image in which the entire seed is in focus.”It’s a time consuming but rewarding process that reveals a world that would otherwise remain invisible to the naked eye,” he says.

Westphal considers this body of work, in addition to others like the Cultivar Series, “infinite projects that I intend to pursue and expand for as long as I’m around…I believe we need this knowledge to raise awareness, celebrate, and safeguard this botanic cornucopia.”

If you’re in The Netherlands, you can see some of the images in the exhibition Spacefarming at the Evoluon in Eindhoven, which continues through March 2024. Westphal is currently working on a project site to accompany the series, but in the meantime, you can explore some of his other projects on his website, and follow updates on Instagram.

Illicium verum (star anise)

Photographs of various seeds of edible plants.

Top row, left to right: Opuntia ficus indica (prickly pear), Origanum vulgare (oregano), and Oryza sativa (rice). Middle row: Panicum miliaceum (millet), Papaver somniferum (bread seed poppy), and Passiflora edulis (maracuja). Bottom row: Passiflora quadrangularis (giant granadilla), Pastinaca sativa (parsnip), and Pennisetum americanum (pearl millet)

Centaurea cyanus (cornflower)

Cucurbita ficifoli (fig leaf gourd)

Gossypium herbaceum (levant cotton)

Elettaria cardamomum (kardamon)

Ribes rubrum (redcurrant)

A photograph of a scarlet runner bean seed.

Phaseolus coccineus (scarlet runner bean)

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article An Ambitious Series of Portraits by Uli Westphal Captures the Character of Every Edible Plant Seed appeared first on Colossal.

An Ambitious Series of Portraits by Uli Westphal Captures the Character of Every Edible Plant Seed

Carica papaya (papaya)

Illicium verum (star anise)

Centaurea cyanus (cornflower)

Cucurbita ficifoli (fig leaf gourd)

Gossypium herbaceum (levant cotton)

Elettaria cardamomum (kardamon)

Ribes rubrum (redcurrant)

Phaseolus coccineus (scarlet runner bean)

Ikebana Connects Creative Traditions in ‘Common Ground,’ a Ceramic Project Tying People Together Through Earthen Materials

a small ceramic pot with a sprawling floral arrangement shot against a blue backdrop

“Massachusetts.” Photo by Joshua White. All images courtesy of Inventory Press, shared with permission

“Before there was America the country, or the individual states and the ensuing territorial identities and resulting politics, there was the land that America occupies,” writes artist Adam Silverman about Common Ground. Born in 2019, the ongoing project is ambitious and optimistic, seeking to connect people separated by ideology, geography, and culture through the shared land we occupy.

While its goal is lofty, the premise of Common Ground is simple: Silverman harvests clay, water, and wood ash from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and the five occupied U.S. territories—Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands—and then blends the materials together so that the substances and their origins are indistinguishable. That mixture is the basis of the artist’s ceramic vessels, which encompass two series of tableware and ceremonial pots. He explains about the latter: “The forms are not subtle, and although they stand on strong feet or foundations, they are battered, scarred, leaning over, showing the processes that got them here. The tops are open, symbolically ready to receive.”

A new book published by Inventory Press celebrates Silverman’s ceremonial pots, which are paired with sweeping arrangements made by ikebana students and teachers. Common Ground: Adam Silverman + Sogetsu Ikebana Los Angeles documents the artist’s process and explores the impulse behind the project, particularly as it bridges American and Japanese making traditions. Spreads are full of diagrams explaining differences in materials, images of Silverman collecting and preparing his substances, and photos of the completed collaborative works that show myriad Ikebana creations emerging from the vessels.

Common Ground: Adam Silverman + Sogetsu Ikebana Los Angeles is currently available from Bookshop, and you can explore more of the project on its site.

“Maryland.” Photo by Joshua White

“Pennsylvania.” Photo by Joshua White

“Louisianna.” Photo by Joshua White

“West Virginia.” Photo by Joshua White

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Ikebana Connects Creative Traditions in ‘Common Ground,’ a Ceramic Project Tying People Together Through Earthen Materials appeared first on Colossal.

Ikebana Connects Creative Traditions in ‘Common Ground,’ a Ceramic Project Tying People Together Through Earthen Materials

“Massachusetts.” Photo by Joshua White. All images courtesy of Inventory Press, shared with permission

Common Ground: Adam Silverman + Sogetsu Ikebana Los Angeles is currently available from Bookshop, and you can explore more of the project on its site.

“Maryland.” Photo by Joshua White

“Pennsylvania.” Photo by Joshua White

“Louisianna.” Photo by Joshua White

“West Virginia.” Photo by Joshua White

Vigur Island: Iceland’s Puffin Paradise

By Nat Hab Expedition Leader Eddy Savage

Nestled deep in Isafjordur Bay in the Westfjords region of Iceland lies a captivating little island, Vigur Island. Emerging only a few hundred feet from the sea, it is dwarfed by the surrounding mountains that rise approximately three thousand feet, their peaks dappled with snow. Positioned just a little north of 66 degrees latitude, the island experiences long, warm summers, though not warm enough to melt the remnants of the past winter’s snow. The landscape, dominated by tundra due to the northern latitude, hosts only a sparse population of trees, growing where they have been deliberately planted and nurtured. The cool waters of the North Atlantic moderate the temperature, ensuring it never becomes excessively hot, even when the sun graces the sky for nearly 24 hours at the peak of summer.

Situated more than a mile from the mainland, the island has remained uncolonized by Iceland’s only “large” predatory mammal, the Arctic fox. This lack of predation has allowed a flourishing wildlife population, including approximately more than 100,000 puffins, 7,000 common eiders, 1,700 Arctic terns and 2,000 rare black guillemots to nest here comfortably. The eastern shores of the island boast a shallow rocky reef, a favored haul-out spot for the locally endangered Atlantic harbor seals, which can often be spotted basking in the sun’s rays during lower tides.

Vigur Island, settled since at least 1194, has seen diverse uses, including a sheep farm, an eiderdown farm—operated without harm to the common eiders—and, more recently, a stopover for visitors keen to explore the island’s exceptional biodiversity. Today, a family of three manages all the island’s operations, running a gift shop stocked with puffin-themed items and Icelandic artisan creations. A simple restaurant serves traditional lamb soup and a delectable homemade rhubarb cake, aptly named “Happy Marriage Cake.” Accompanied by coffee and tea, these light meals perfectly fuel afternoon explorations of this unique sanctuary.

Vigur Island, as seen from the water, once served as somewhat of a central hub, hosting government officials on occasion.

The island is a breeding ground for 100,000 Atlantic puffins. The steep hills and cliffs form the ideal “jump site” for clumsy and heavy puffins.

A black guillemot and an Arctic tern share a patch of beach. The breeding birds form dense clusters, a sight not commonly observed in many other parts of the world.

Beyond the birdlife, the island offers breathtaking scenery. Möngufoss waterfall cascades out of a hanging valley, plummeting two hundred feet before meandering a quarter mile to the sea.

Atlantic puffins are the main attraction. These heavy diving birds buzz around the island in all directions. Capturing them in flight is challenging but rewarding!

The sea surrounding Vigur Island is often dotted with resting puffins as far as the eye can see.

The front lawn by the restaurant serves as a tranquil resting spot. This black guillemot seemed undisturbed by our presence.

The island hosts 7,000 breeding common eiders. For decades, farmers have collected down shed by the chicks, replacing it with hay to maintain the nest’s insulative properties before processing and selling it globally. Iceland’s common eiders contribute to 90% of the worldwide eider down supply.

Harbor seals find solace on the shallow rocks along the southeastern shoreline, with up to two dozen seals occasionally seen resting.

In all, Vigur Island dazzles the senses, offering abundant wildlife, a unique history and serene surroundings. Every visit to the island promises to be a memorable experience.

The post Vigur Island: Iceland’s Puffin Paradise first appeared on Good Nature Travel Blog.

In ‘Doom & Bloom,’ Lisa Ericson Illuminates the Surreal Impacts of Rising Sea Levels

a snake wraps around a branch and monarchs surround it

“Extinguish.” All images courtesy of Corey Helford Gallery, shared with permission

Magical, surreal companionship characterizes Lisa Ericson’s hyperrealistic paintings in acrylic, which depict unusual pairs of species in easy coexistence. The Portland-based artist (previously) is known for illuminating flora and fauna and emphasizing the impending impacts of the climate crisis, particularly rising sea levels that in many of her latest works, encroach on her subjects’ environments. She shares about her chiaroscuro-style works:

I use the black background to create the drama of the spotlight on my chosen subject. It singles them out, exposes their every tiny detail, and creates a void of the unknown around them. In that way, each piece becomes an intimate portrait. I think of the animals in my paintings as simultaneously representing the natural world and also reflecting our own human struggle and emotion. I like to draw parallels between the two.

On view this month at Corey Helford Gallery, Ericson’s solo show Doom & Bloom features six portraits of animals that accentuate the devastating effects of a warming planet. In “Chariot,” a turtle carries an entire ecosystem across the road, while “Edge of Night” portrays a fox trapped on a tree stump blossoming with pink coneflowers. Each painting harnesses the intrigue of vivid color to draw the viewer in while also serving as a poignant reminder of what’s at stake, and the title of the exhibition suggests that gloom isn’t the only option amid such heartbreaking circumstances.

Doom & Bloom is on view in Los Angeles from October 7 to November 11. Head to Instagram to glimpse Ericson’s process and how these paintings came to be.

a turtle carries an entire ecosystem of plants and animals across the road

“Chariot”

a fox is trapped on a tree stump with coneflowers growing around it

“Edge of Night”

a detail image of a fox's fur and pink coneflowers

Detail of “Edge of Night”

“Mother”

a snake in a roadway surrounds an ecosystem of plants, birds, and chipmunks

“Fortress”

a chipmunk stands in the middle of flowering succulents

Detail of “Fortress”

a spotted cat stands on the top of a tree stump blooming with flowers while the sea rises around it

“Territorial”

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article In ‘Doom & Bloom,’ Lisa Ericson Illuminates the Surreal Impacts of Rising Sea Levels appeared first on Colossal.

In ‘Doom & Bloom,’ Lisa Ericson Illuminates the Surreal Impacts of Rising Sea Levels

“Extinguish.” All images courtesy of Corey Helford Gallery, shared with permission

I use the black background to create the drama of the spotlight on my chosen subject. It singles them out, exposes their every tiny detail, and creates a void of the unknown around them. In that way, each piece becomes an intimate portrait. I think of the animals in my paintings as simultaneously representing the natural world and also reflecting our own human struggle and emotion. I like to draw parallels between the two.

Doom & Bloom is on view in Los Angeles from October 7 to November 11. Head to Instagram to glimpse Ericson’s process and how these paintings came to be.

“Chariot”

“Edge of Night”

Detail of “Edge of Night”

“Mother”

“Fortress”

Detail of “Fortress”

“Territorial”

Why Brown Bears Look Different: A Guide’s Photo Diary

By Nat Hab Expedition Leader Eddy Savage

The broad public perception of brown bears (Ursus arctos) is that they possess furry brown coats—hence the name—and that all brown bears generally resemble one another. After all, how often do you have the opportunity to compare the coats and features of multiple brown bears side by side?

But bear with me here: Brown bears rarely ever look identical. In fact, the only common features they share are 1) they’re furry, 2) they have a large muscular hump on their front shoulders, 3) their claws are long and scoop-shaped, and 4) they have rounded ears and a dish-shaped face, resembling a teddy bear.

Brown Bear Differences

Brown bears can vary dramatically in body size, coloration, facial features, claw colors and scarring. A bear that appears one color with its spring/summer coat may showcase a remarkably different coat come autumn. Some bears have ears set further apart, some have eyes closer together, some boast a longer nose and a taller forehead, others display a mismatch of patchy coloration all over their body, and some bear distinct scars.

Having worked as a bear-viewing guide for the past decade, I’ve come to recognize individual brown bears from a distance based on the aforementioned characteristics. I easily identify bears that I’ve seen year after year by their body proportions, facial features, scarring, fur colorations, and body movements. In fact, there are a few bears I can identify from half a mile away quite easily.

I hope you’ll enjoy this collection of brown bear photos from our Alaska adventures and appreciate each bear in all its individuality!

Meet Some of Alaska’s Brown Bears

This adult female is more than 20 years old. One of her most distinct features is her very blonde face.

This young adult male, with ears set quite far apart, exemplifies the brown bear’s dish-shaped forehead. Male bears reach their peak size around 12 to 17 years old. Judging by the size of this bear’s snout, he’ll likely grow quite a bit larger!

This adult female in her 20s undergoes immense fur color pattern changes from year to year. Her body shape and a tiny scar above her right nostril help us ID her each season.

This adult male, in his late teens or possibly early 20s, bears extensive scarring across his body and is missing an ear, the result of scuffles with other males during the breeding season while competing for or defending mating opportunities.

This image shows a relatively uniform brown bear. Note the thinner fur on the bear’s forehead. This is typical during springtime among most male bears, as they rub intensely on scent-marking trees in the area.

This young male brown bear’s fur takes on an almost golden hue in the sunlight. Again, observe the length of the snout—this bear still has some growing to do!

This young female brown bear was around 7 or 8 in this picture. I’ve watched her each year since she was a yearling cub. One of her distinct features is her eyes; she has much darker fur around the eyes, with very blonde hair on the rest of her face, making her easily recognizable.

This young bear is munching on Lyngby’s sedge—an important springtime food. It displays a uniform brown color, but the ears are slightly pointy and asymmetrical.

The dark “socks” on this bear will aid in identifying it in the future. This bear is roughly 3.5 years old. You can discern its youth, as the face still retains some cub-like proportions.

Lastly, we have some very young cubs of the year. These two were likely 3–4 months old and weighed around 20 lbs each. Their mother is the bear in image No. 1, and it’s already evident that she’s passed on her blonde facial fur to her cubs. Adorable!