Wildlife Worldwide Sponsors EarthBound Exhibition
Wildlife Worldwide are proud to have supported 'EarthBound', an art exhibition at the Museum of Making in Derby featuring tour leader and macro photographer Alex Hyde.
EarthBound is an exhibition like no other, telling the story of life’s connection to the earth beneath our feet.
Soil is very much a living entity, yet it's undervalued for the role it plays in our lives. The exhibition explores the interconnectivity of life through the soil, from the countless microorganisms that cycle essential nutrients to the stories of people who work intimately with the land.
This exhibition brings together the work of principal artists Alex Hyde alongside Kate Bellis (portrait photographer), and Sally Mathews (animal sculptor). Wildlife Worldwide are delighted to be supporting Alex’s printing requirements for the exhibition.
Alex says: "This has been my biggest project to date, representing months of time in the field and the laboratory to explore this fascinating topic. Working at the Natural History Museum, London, and the University of Derby, I've been privileged to use scanning election microscopes to explore details thousands of times finer than can be resolved with a standard light microscope.
Soil microbes
I've been granted access to a microbiology research laboratory where I've cultured soil microbes and explored their transient, mysterious forms. I've also spent a great deal of time lying down in the woods working with fungi. All in all, it has been a journey that for me has asked more questions than it has answered; I feel as though I've lifted the bonnet on life and peeped at its working mechanisms.
Pollen of a harebell
I’m very grateful for the support of Wildlife Worldwide, who have done so much for me over the many years we have worked together. I've seen some truly breathtaking natural spectacles whilst leading trips to all corners of the world. I've always been encouraged to design trips that follow my interests in the natural world, some rather obscure! The trips give me a valuable opportunity to share special encounters with an appreciative audience of fellow travellers and photographers.
Elephant hawkmoth
On my most recent macro photography trip to Slovenia, it was my greatest pleasure to see how the group were captivated by the sight of a tiny jumping spider stalking its prey through the waving flowers of an alpine meadow in the Julian Alps. We were all like children, fully engrossed by the movements of this elegant huntress. We got some stunning pictures too and even some slow motion video. There's so much to experience in this world, and much of it needs a close-up lens to appreciate!"
Hyperparasitic wasp
Alex lends his macro photography expertise as a tour leader with us around the world, including Peru, Borneo, Austria and Costa Rica. If you'd like to discover the wonderful world of macro photography, join Alex on one of his upcoming tours.
The EarthBound exhibition runs until mid-January 2026 at the Museum of Making in Derby, with free entry. For more information and museum opening times to visit the exhibition, head to the Museum of Making website today.
