Wild plants through the lens of a biologist
What started with an old Soviet camera and a darkroom in London grew into a lifelong passion. Developmental biologist Michael Richardson has been capturing nature - from wild coastal plants to microscopic details in the lab - since his childhood.
‘I suppose it all started when I was about fourteen, growing up in London,’ Richardson recalls. Back then, he built a darkroom at home and developed film photographs of wild plants using a Soviet-made Zenit camera. Family holidays on the English coast sparked his curiosity: he was captivated by the variety of flora he encountered. Developing and printing his own photographs became a beloved hobby — one that continues to this day.
After work
In the After Work series, we meet colleagues who have special passions besides their work. What inspires them, and how do they bring that enthusiasm to their work?
‘As a biologist, you want to identify things’
Times have changed, of course. He now uses digital cameras with macro lenses and GPS tagging, which make photographing and organising plants far easier. Yet the curiosity and attention to detail remain unchanged. ‘When I was a teenager, I could identify around a thousand plant species from memory,’ he says. ‘It’s typical for biologists to be drawn to natural history: you want to identify things, you hate unanswered questions.’
‘I sometimes think I should have finished the clinical degree, but I don’t regret it. I love biology too much.’
Interestingly, he didn’t originally plan to become a biologist. Medical school in London was his first choice, but a research placement on chicken embryos ignited a passion for research that led him to pursue a PhD in embryology. ‘I sometimes think I should have finished the clinical degree, but I don’t regret it. I love biology too much.’
Some students love plants, others love reptiles
That passion extends to teaching. At the Leidse Biologen Club, students recently built a rooftop garden filled with wild plants, complete with name tags. ‘I helped a little with that,’ he says. ‘It’s wonderful to see students sharing a love for wild flora.’ Some of his students have joined him in the field to photograph plants, while others explore animals or molecular biology. Several have even pursued research on reptiles, including snake embryos and pythons kept at home.
One student did a master internship and PhD with him: Freek Vonk, who has done quite well. ‘You really start to see patterns among students: some love plants, some reptiles, while others are biomedical or molecular-cell oriented. I try to encourage all of them.’
Capturing tiny details clearly
Photography and research overlap in unexpected ways. Skills developed photographing small details in plants translate directly to microscopy in embryology. ‘Macro photography and microscopy are based on the same principles — capturing tiny details clearly,’ Richardson explains.
What does Richardson most enjoy photographing? This is his favourite photo subject
Among his favourite subjects to capture is the bee orchid (Ophrys apifera), which actually grows near the Sylvius Lab. ‘It’s stunning. People can hardly believe it’s native to the Netherlands. It’s also an amazing example of mimicry: the flower looks and smells like a female bee, so male bees transfer its pollen.’ Most of the bees that pollinate have gone out so the orchid is now mainly self-pollinating in the Netherlands. It blooms in early summer, make sure to check it out next year!
According to Richardson, it is more than a weed, but a plant with its own story
He photographs whenever he can, whether on monthly trips or along his bike route to the Sylvius Building. Every photo is carefully labelled by species and location — a very scientific habit. Even when stopped by passersby, he is happy to explain his hobby. ‘They often say, “Oh, they’re just weeds,” but of course every plant has its own story.’
For colleagues interested in macro photography, his advice is simple: choose a camera thoughtfully, start modestly, and ask for guidance if needed. Looking ahead, he dreams of a garden where he can grow plants, take photographs, and enjoy his hobby in retirement.