Decomposing Collection

Natterjack Toad (Bufo calamita) perched on fallen leaves, next to chestnuts, rainworm and trio of mushrooms

Interference pattern of oil on water
Interference pattern of colours caused by light reflected off a thin film of oil floating on water. The effect seen here is a result of decomposing organic matter leaving behind oily residues in a

Tree stump in the reeds, 1801-1873. Creator: George Pieter Westenberg
Tree stump in the reeds, 1801-1873

Three Skulls from Convento dei Cappucini at Palermo, 1894. Creator: Laurits Andersen Ring
Three Skulls from Convento dei Cappucini at Palermo, 1894

Eggplants and Pomegranates, 1890-1943. Creator: Marsden Hartley
Eggplants and Pomegranates, 1890-1943

Rotting Tree, 1850. Creator: Elizabeth Murray
Rotting Tree, 1850

Eve, the Serpent and Death (oil on panel)
AGN35456 Eve, the Serpent and Death (oil on panel) by Baldung Grien, Hans (1484/5-1545); National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Photo eAgnew s, London; German, out of copyright

Eve, the Serpent and Death (oil on panel) (detail of 35456)
AGN394984 Eve, the Serpent and Death (oil on panel) (detail of 35456) by Baldung Grien, Hans (1484/5-1545); Private Collection; German, out of copyright

Detail from Eve, the Serpent and Death (oil on panel) (detail of 35456)
1448890 Detail from Eve, the Serpent and Death (oil on panel) (detail of 35456) by Baldung Grien, Hans (1484/5-1545); Private Collection; German, out of copyright

EyeUbiquitous_20106430
Fruit, Apple, Katy apples rotting on the ground having fallen from the tree in Grange Farms orchard

EyeUbiquitous_20106427
Fruit, Apple, Katy apples rotting on the ground having fallen from the tree in Grange Farms orchard

EyeUbiquitous_20106423
Fruit, Apple, Katy apples rotting on the ground having fallen from the tree in Grange Farms orchard

EyeUbiquitous_20106424
Fruit, Apple, Katy apples rotting on the ground having fallen from the tree in Grange Farms orchard

EyeUbiquitous_20106420
Fruit, Apple, Katy apples rotting on the ground having fallen from the tree in Grange Farms orchard

EyeUbiquitous_20106422
Fruit, Apple, Katy apples rotting on the ground having fallen from the tree in Grange Farms orchard

EyeUbiquitous_20106421
Fruit, Apple, Katy apples rotting on the ground having fallen from the tree in Grange Farms orchard

EyeUbiquitous_20106391
Fruit, Apple, Katy apples rotting on the ground having fallen from the tree in Grange Farms orchard

EyeUbiquitous_20106425
Fruit, Apple, Katy apples rotting on the ground having fallen from the tree in Grange Farms orchard

Waiting for Decomposition, 1872. Creator: Frederick William Quartley
Waiting for Decomposition, 1872. Vultures perch on a tree covered in Spanish moss above the rotting corpse of an alligator, Florida, south eastern USA

The Flower of the City, 1809. Artist: Thomas Rowlandson
The Flower of the City, 1809. The head of Charles Flower, Lord Mayor, is depicted within a wilted sunflower, which has leaves labelled with his character qualities

Dead leaves with a layer of frost, Tea Creek Mountain Trail - Pocahontas County, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia, United States of America

Weathered shipwreck on a beach, Devon, Great Britain
Colourful weathered shipwreck lying in sand dunes at Crow Point, at the mouth of the Taw and Torridge Rivers, near Barnstaple, Devon, Great Britain; Devon, England

Mouldy bread. The white areas are fungal mycelia, masses of thread-like structures (hyphae) that absorb nutrients. The blue-green areas are the fungal spores (reproductive structures)

Illustration of carbon cycle and nitrogen cycle

Young Woman and Death, 1517 (tempera on panel)
XIR191425 Young Woman and Death, 1517 (tempera on panel) by Baldung Grien, Hans (1484/5-1545); 30x14.5 cm; Kunstmuseum, Basel, Switzerland; (add.info.: La Jeune Fille et la Mort; ); German

The Walk to Death (oil on panel)
XIR162343 The Walk to Death (oil on panel) by Baldung Grien, Hans (1484/5-1545) (after); Musee des Beaux-Arts, Rennes, France; (add.info.: La Marche a la Mort; ); German, out of copyright

Rancid vegetable oil washed up on beach, Chesil Beach, Dorset, England, February

Rancid vegetable oil amongst rubbish washed up on beach, Chesil Beach, Dorset, England, February

Dead camel in the desert, Middle East, WW1
A dead camel in an advanced state of decomposition, photographed during a march through the desert to Palestine during the First World War. Date: 1917

Decomposing whale carcass
The decomposing body of a Sei whale, washed ashore on the beach at Suez on 3 January 1950 following a storm, surrounded by intrigiued onlookers

Feu Follet (Richard)
The abbe Richard, in a French churchyard, is startled by a huge flame-like feu follet which reaches 3-4 metres in height, probably caused by a decomposing corpse Date: 2 July 1750

Leaf mould heap. Leaf mould is a type of compost formed predominately from decomposed leaves. The material beneath the top layer of grass cuttings and leaves has begun to decompose (bottom)

Decomposition
Decompositon. Water vapour rising from decaying organic matter on an active (hot) compost heap. This heat is a by-product of the breakdown of the organic matter by microbes living in the compost heap

Compost heap. Vegetables and kitchen waste in a compost container. Waste such as this decomposes over time to be recycled as compost

Biopile hydrocarbon pollution clean-up
Biopile. This is a facilities that economically clean up soils that have been contaminated with hydrocarbons such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuels

Dead fish. The fish died after their pool dried up in a drought. Photographed in Maagan Michael, Israel

Bubbles of methane from decomposing leaves under ice

Electrolysis of water. Close-up of the top of a Hoffman Voltameter used to decompose molecules of water. A power supply (not seen)

Methane bubbles trapped in a frozen pool. These are produced by decomposing organic matter at the bottom of the pond

Decaying leaves for compost. Decaying oak leaves (Quercus robur) in a wire container. Once these leaves have decayed, they can be used as a compost known as leaf mould

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"Decomposing: Nature's Silent Symphony" In the midst of a vibrant autumn forest, a Natterjack Toad finds solace perched delicately on fallen leaves, surrounded by chestnuts and the earthy scent of rainworms. A trio of mushrooms stands tall nearby, their delicate caps displaying an array of colors like nature's own masterpiece. Meanwhile, on a tranquil pond's surface, an interference pattern dances as oil meets water. The mesmerizing display reminds us that even in decomposition, beauty can be found. Just as the process unfolds beneath our feet when electrolysis causes water to separate into its elemental components. An old photograph captures a Rotting Tree from 1850 - Elizabeth Murray immortalizes this natural cycle with her brushstrokes. It serves as a poignant reminder that decay is not only inevitable but also essential for new life to emerge. In another artwork titled "Eve, the Serpent and Death, " we witness the eternal struggle between life and death depicted through oil on panel. The intricate details draw us closer to Eve's encounter with mortality itself - reminding us that even in darkness there is growth and transformation. Zooming in further reveals every stroke within "Eve, the Serpent and Death. " This detail invites contemplation about how each element plays its part in decomposition - just like every tiny organism contributes to nature's grand symphony. Through these captivating images captured by EyeUbiquitous_20106430-24 photographers' lenses, we are reminded of the interconnectedness between life and decay. From fallen leaves supporting amphibians to mushrooms breaking down organic matter; from oil patterns reflecting light to electrolysis revealing hidden forces; all remind us that decomposition is not merely an end but rather a beginning – where death gives birth to new possibilities. So let us embrace this natural process with awe and gratitude for it holds within it both endings and beginnings – reminding us that nothing truly disappears but transforms into something new, as the eternal cycle of life continues its harmonious dance.