Slime molds (Myxomycetes) are beautiful, weird, and amazing organisms. Often mistaken for fungi, they are actually single celled, yet they grow and efficiently move in search of food, can start and stop their life cycle based on environmental conditions, and even change colors several times during their brief life cycle. They can be beautifully colored, frequently iridescent, and can be ornately shaped. And better still, they can be found in much of the world - maybe even in your yard.
My guest today, Alison Pollack, is a renowned slime mold photographer and unabashed enthusiast of slime molds and their habitats. If you follow nature photographers on Instagram, perhaps you count yourself as one of her nearly 60,000 followers.
Today, Alison tells us what exactly a slime mold is - and no, it is not a mold or fungi. She tells us about their fascinating lifecycle, where they grow, and how to find them.
Alison then tells us about her astonishing macro photography of slime molds - both in the field and in her home studio. She walks through her process, technique, and equipment she uses to create her acclaimed photos. If you do nothing else, follow her on Instagram @marin_mushrooms, or check the photos below to get a hint of the beauty of the slime molds, and Alison's artistic skill in capturing them.
You can also find Alison on Facebook at AlisonKPollack, and on iNaturalist at alison_pollack.
FULL SHOW NOTES
Links To Topics Discussed
From Macro to Micro: The Art of Fungi Photography with Alison Pollack
Damon Tighe - was on Episode 36 talking Fungi
Nikon Small World Master of Microscopy
Slime Mold Identification and Appreciation - Facebook Group
All the Rain Promises and More by David Arora
Laowa ultra macro lens - there are models for each major camera manufacturer.
Myxomycetes - A Handbook of Slime Molds by Steven Stephenson
Olympus Tough TG-6 - this seems to be the most recommended pocket camera by naturalists of many types
Where the Slime Mould Creeps by Sarah Lloyd
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Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz Music
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Artist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com
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12/31/24 • 65 min
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Nature's Archive - Alison Pollack - Finding and Photographing Slime Molds
Transcript
[00:00:00] Michael Hawk: Slime molds are beautiful, weird, and amazing organisms. Often mistaken for fungi, they're actually single celled, yet they grow and efficiently move in search for food, can start and stop their life cycle based on environmental conditions, and even change colors several times during that brief life cycle.
[00:00:16] They can be beautifully colored, frequently iridescent, and can be ornately shaped as well. And better still, they can be found in
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