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The beautiful, abstract details of a dahlia anemone
 

The UK is often thought of as cold and gray and damp. However, a peek beneath the waterline reveals a completely different reality. Falmouth, a coastal town near the very southern point of the UK, provides a natural environment and prime coastal location for anyone drawn to marine life, surfing, and the natural world. One of its beaches, Castle Beach, is particularly known for its abundance of rock pools. This beach became the foundation for “Microcosm,” a photo series in which I began to explore the diverse life within a single rock pool.

Over a span of eight months, I returned to the same rock pool at Castle Beach during countless low tides. My goal was to document not only its regular inhabitants but also the unexpected visitors left behind by the retreating tide. Initially, choosing just one rock pool felt daunting. I wasn’t sure it would be possible to create an entire body of work based on a single pool. I also worried I might choose the “wrong” one and limit the project’s potential.
 

A beautiful common prawn, a regular denizen of my tide pool
 

However, I eventually selected a pool that struck the right balance: large enough to sustain a diverse ecosystem, positioned low enough on the shore to attract a wide range of species, yet still accessible at tides of two meters (6.5 feet) or lower. At low tide, Castle Beach undergoes a dramatic transformation. What is typically a narrow ribbon of shoreline becomes a vast, exposed seascape stretching hundreds of meters out to sea. Arriving three hours before the lowest tide offers the longest and most rewarding window to observe and photograph the pool and its inhabitants.
 

The aptly named painted topshell snail is a common and colorful mollusk around the UK
 

Once I had settled on the rock pool, I spent hours observing the life within. Some species are permanent residents, while others appeared only briefly before being swept away by the tide. Rough weather sometimes delivered surprises: large spiny starfish, great scallops, and long ribbons of kelp decorated with blue-rayed limpets shimmering like jewels transformed the rock pool overnight. As the seasons shifted and spring approached, more species began to emerge, including sea slugs, cowries, and jellyfish.
 

A small but beautiful stalked jellyfish clings to a strand of marine weeds
 

Photographing the rock pool at different times of day, in response to the shifting tides, revealed which creatures were crepuscular. Hermit crabs, sea snails, prawns, starfish, and long-spined scorpionfish were far more active at night, often hidden or absent during the day. Beneath the surface, the rock pool’s vibrant ecosystem remained remarkably consistent, allowing me to document an incredible range of species and moments of beauty. The creatures that inhabit the rock pool are perfectly adapted to an environment in constant flux—battling crashing waves, temperature swings, and fluctuating salinity. Yet life here thrives—resilient, intricate, and endlessly fascinating.
 

Brittle stars, daintier relatives of starfish, are ubiquitous just about everywhere, including my tide pool
 

One of the most mesmerizing aspects of the project was how the pool itself created such striking backdrops. Although I experimented with a range of techniques to create vibrant, intriguing backgrounds in my images, the natural elements of the rock pool played a huge part. The interplay of water, light, and the pool’s natural features—including algae, seaweed, and the pool walls—made for endlessly creative compositions.
 

A great scallop—yes, that is its common name—reflected in the surface of the tide pool
 

I began photographing the series using an Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II with a 45mm macro lens, shooting with a wide aperture to blur the backgrounds. As the project evolved, so did my techniques and tools. I experimented with colored filters on the Backscatter Mini Flash 2, used the Nikon Z8 paired with an Nauticam SMC-1, and played around with mirrors, marbles, holographic paper, metal sponges, and elements from the tide pool to create otherworldly scenes.
 

The intricate details and abstract patterns of a daisy anemone
 

A pair of mauve stinger jellies huddles up with their reflections in kelp at the surface
 

Many people have told me they assumed there was “nothing” in the rock pools. But through patient observation and repeated visits, I’ve uncovered a hidden world teeming with life and wonder. The rock pool is not barren—it’s simply waiting to be noticed. You just have to be willing to get a bit wet.

“Microcosm” has pushed me both technically and creatively. I’ve photographed through all kinds of weather that Cornwall has to offer, often sitting in cold water for hours, waiting for the right light or the perfect tide. Despite the discomfort, those early mornings and late evenings have deepened my connection to the world within the rock pool. By sharing the wonders of this single, seemingly unassuming rock pool, I hope to inspire a deeper appreciation for the extraordinary life—often unseen and underappreciated—living right on our doorstep.
 

Not typically a species that comes to mind for tidepoolers is the long-spined scorpionfish.

To see more of Liv’s fantastic work, please give her a follow on Instagram, and visit her website, www.livbarnett.com. Be sure to check out the Photographer of the Week article looking at her work.