'We should show life neither as it is, nor as it should be, but as we see it in our dreams' (The Seagull, by Anton Chekhov). Liquid crystal droplets in water, (accidentally) forming a pattern resembling a seagull's landing, viewed through a cross-polarising microscope. (Minor brightness and contrast adjustments).
Liquid crystal seagull —

'We should show life neither as it is, nor as it should be, but as we see it in our dreams' (The Seagull, by Anton Chekhov). Liquid crystal droplets in water, (accidentally) forming a pattern resembling a seagull's landing, viewed through a cross-polarising microscope. (Minor brightness and contrast adjustments).

https://fluids.ac.uk/files/11_Photo.1512131259.jpg