Category Archives: ecology

02.01.2023 Part of the balance of nature

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Steve Gingold

I came across this video today about the Cordyceps fungus. I’ve seen other videos of the behavior exhibited by the fungus including from David Attenborough in one of his Life on Earth videos but haven’t found it to share. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Closeup Photography, ecology, Fungi | Tagged Cordyceps, ecology, flower longhorn beetle, fungus, fungus ecology, insect, insect ecology, mushroom, nature's balance, New England, western massachusetts | 17 Comments

04.11.2022 Promise you’ll never let me go

Posted on April 11, 2022 by Steve Gingold

Hemlock and Black Birch seem very compatible in these woods near Dean Brook. I’ve seen them joined like this in other spots nearby. As more is learned about the ecology of forests and soil in general it is becoming more … Continue reading →

Posted in Black and White, ecology, Intimate Landscape, Landscape, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Black and White photography, Black Birch, Dean Brook, Hemlock, intimate landscape, joined tree roots, Massachusetts, native plant, New England, roots, Sand Hill Road, Shutesbury, western massachusetts | 34 Comments

03.08.2022 Gneiss Swirls

Posted on March 8, 2022 by Steve Gingold

It’s hard to sense just how hot the core of the earth is and what it is like where two tectonic plates meet, one subducting below the other. The heat so intense that rock melts and swirls into patterns such … Continue reading →

Posted in Abstract, ecology, Intimate Landscape, Landscape, Nature Photography, Patterns in Nature, Western Massachusetts | Tagged abstract, geological formation, geology, Glacial Potholes, gneiss, intimate landscape, landscape, Massachusetts, New England, pothole, rock swirl patterns, Shelburne Falls, swirled rock, water, western massachusetts | 35 Comments

03.07.2022 Nice Gneiss

Posted on March 7, 2022 by Steve Gingold

Yesterday some friends invited me to meet up in Shelburne, MA and visit the Glacial Potholes. I had visited the location a long time ago…read 40+ years…and was happily surprised to see color and patterns which I did not recall. … Continue reading →

Posted in ecology, Landscape, Nature Photography, Patterns in Nature, Waterfalls, Western Massachusetts | Tagged cascade, colorful rocks, Deerfield River, Glacial Potholes, intimate landscape, landscape, Massachusetts, New England, New England Waterfalls, Salmon Falls, Shelburne Falls, water in motion, waterfall, western massachusetts | 33 Comments

01.05.2022 Spalted Wood as Art

Posted on January 5, 2022 by Steve Gingold

Spalting occurs when wood rot fungus attacks a tree or, in this case, fallen branch. I posted some from this shoot a few years back, here and here, but hadn’t worked on this composition until now. It’s a prized bit … Continue reading →

Posted in Abstract, Closeup Photography, ecology, Fungi, Intimate Landscape, macro photography, Nature Photography, Quabbin | Tagged abstract, intimate landscape, Massachusetts, New England, Quabbin, Quabbin Park, spalted wood, western massachusetts, wood rot fungus | 25 Comments

06.28.2021 A darling of a darkling

Posted on June 28, 2021 by Steve Gingold

Guess I reached a bit for a cute title. Most gardeners wouldn’t consider this beetle a darling but a pest. They chew the bases of vegetable plants and do cause some damage. That I saw this one at all was … Continue reading →

Posted in Amherst, Closeup Photography, ecology, Insect Behavior, Insects, macro photography, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts | Tagged Amherst, Capnochroa fuliginosa, coleoptera, Darkling Beetle, insect, Massachusetts, New England, Polyphaga, Tenebrionidae, western massachusetts | 15 Comments

09.07.2020 Spalted Wood as Abstract II

Posted on September 7, 2020 by Steve Gingold

Yesterday I really didn’t have anything special in mind as I headed out so drove over to Quabbin Park. It is not opening until 7 now so a sunrise there was not possible but the sky was mostly overcast so … Continue reading →

Posted in Abstract, Closeup Photography, ecology, Fungi, macro photography, Nature Photography, Patterns in Nature, Quabbin, Western Massachusetts | Tagged abstract photography, macro photography, Matsucoccus resinosae, natural pattern, Nature Photography, Pinus resinosa, Red Pine Scale, Red Pines, rot pattern, spalted wood, wood abstract, wood decay, wood rot | 19 Comments

11.19.2019 Golden Pholiota

Posted on November 19, 2019 by Steve Gingold

Going back a few weeks to September 21, I found a log being broken down by a couple of healthy colonies of Pholiota aurivella, commonly known as Golden Pholiota or Golden Waxy Cap along the road in the Federated Women’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Closeup Photography, ecology, Fungi, Mushrooms, Nature Photography, Quabbin | Tagged Federated Women's Clubs State Forest, fungus, Gate 36, Massachusetts, mushrooms, New England, North Quabbin, Petersham, Pholiota aurivella, Quabbin | 32 Comments

10.10.2019 Living in the Past

Posted on October 10, 2019 by Steve Gingold

Yikes, we just came back from Acadia and here it is one third of October passed already. I know I grouse about the speed of passing time a lot, but there you go, a week and a half gone. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Abstract, Closeup Photography, ecology, Intimate Landscape, Landscape, National Parks, Nature Photography, Patterns in Nature, sunset | Tagged Acadia National Park, Cadillac Mountain, colorful clouds, colorful sky, intimate landscape, Jesup Path, landscape, lichens, Maine, New England, sunset | 19 Comments

09.24.2019 Spalted Wood as Abstract

Posted on September 24, 2019 by Steve Gingold

While looking around a spot in Quabbin Park, I happened upon a fallen log that had some spalting which is caused by fungus activity. Many woodturners and makers of small decorative boxes use the wood to advantage as it can … Continue reading →

Posted in Abstract, Closeup Photography, ecology, Intimate Landscape, Nature Photography, Patterns in Nature, Quabbin | Tagged abstract, decay's beauty, decaying wood, fungal effect, intimate landscape, natural abstract, natural patterns, Quabbin, Quabbin Park, spalted wood | 26 Comments