Microorganisms on the cut surface of felled tree trunks

In the forest near my home, large tree trunks can be seen stacked by the side of the road. Depending on the season, the logs are either freshly felled trees or ones that have been stacked along the forest path, waiting to be picked up. Others lie forgotten in cleared sections of the forest, where they rot away. Some of these logs are covered in fascinating patterns created by microorganisms, including bacteria, mosses, lichens, moulds and fungi. These patterns are most visible on the cut surfaces of felled trees. To the uninformed observer, wood left to decay may seem like a waste of resources. However, the communities that inhabit these forgotten tree trunks and branches serve as useful indicators of biodiversity and the natural condition of forest ecosystems. Through my photographs, I aim to highlight the beauty of these microorganisms on felled tree trunks — a beauty which is often overlooked despite the organisms' diverse and interesting shapes.