Bill Foy  


Fungi by Bill Foy

October 2018 - Fungi

About the Image(s)

How I Did It: This image was made at the Gwynedd Preserve in North Wales, PA in mid-September of this year. It's the first time I've used the "Live View" function on my camera and I doubt I'd have gotten this image any other way. The mushroom is no more than 1 - 1 1/2 inches high and even lying flat on the ground I could not get low enough to get a good look through the viewfinder. I found a depression in the ground that would hold my camera bag and balanced the camera on that, went to the live view and got a few acceptable shots. I cropped the image, tweaked the brightness and sharpened it a bit. Nikon D500, Sigma 150mm macro lens, f/5.6, 1/200, ISO-400, flash, Exposure Program-Manual.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
6 comments posted




 
This is a nice subject matter and one you don't see a lot. That being said I don't think this is one of your best submissions. There seems to be a lot of junk in front of you subject. I wonder if you could of cleared some of the distracting greenery away from the front without damaging it. The same for the brown sticks. There seems to be an insect on mushroom. That might of been an interesting subject to have been the main focal point. I liked the focus level from the ground, only wish the mushroom was in little more focused. Nice set up however.   Posted: 10/05/2018 13:44:19
 
Hi Bill, I agree that it's not a shot that I'm normally inclined to submit. It's definitely not going in a frame to be hung on my wall. There's a lot stuff all around the mushroom but, isn't that what you'd expect to see if you're walking through a field? I looked at the scene for a long time before I decided to make the image. That's not a insect on the mushroom, it just more of the debris. I was curious about two things - 1) could I even get a decent image by lying on the ground, and 2) what would the group's response be. I think I answered the first, now I'm getting the second. Should be interesting!   Posted: 10/05/2018 14:57:55



Carol Sheppard   Carol Sheppard
(Group 95)
Hi Bill, let me just say that I'm on a laptop and can't be sure that it isn't my laptop that is fighting with the image. What works best in this image is the complementary color combination. The grass frames your main subject nicely and your main subject fills the frame well. Unfortunately, some of the green grass blur directly in front of the mushroom is so out of focus as to seem like your mushroom has some dull stripes across it. Overall, the image looks foggy and a bit dark. However, I see that you sharpened it and tweaked the brightness according to what you wrote. My view looks very flat and not bright at all; maybe try increasing contrast and clarity instead?
  Posted: 10/06/2018 21:12:14



 
Hi Bill, I like the detail and texture you captured on the stem of the mushroom - and good on you for getting onto the ground and trying out live view - the things we do for photography. I must admit I tidy up around my subjects before I take a shot - I have been known to remove weeds, cut out offending leaves etc just to get a clearer shot of my subject and sometimes the little pre clean up helps with the composition.
The bulk of the mushroom head seems not that sharp and I wonder if it is debris/grass that was in front of the lens when you took the shot or whether a smaller aperture setting may have gotten more of the mushroom in focus.
Also just want to mention, in case you do not know, that in Live View you can use the magnifier and for me that really helps with getting my focus pin sharp. You have inspired me to go out and search for mushrooms - that may be next month's submission. cheers Nadia   Posted: 10/07/2018 14:24:06



 
Hi Bill:
I think I probably would have tried to clear most of the front of the picture to concentrate on the mushroom too. Your use of Life View perhaps illustrates how effective the electronic viewfinders are for many of us who have them. I think you've made the best of a difficult subject in a tricky spot. I too wonder if a 2.8 aperture setting might have made a positive difference to the focus.   Posted: 10/09/2018 13:34:35



Bob Crocker   Bob Crocker
(Group 57)
Well I like shooting mushrooms and fungi as well; high five for getting on level ground with that little guy. As others mentioned, I think clearing the grass and other clutter in front of 'room' would give the viewer a clearer view of your main subject. Adding some selective clarity and/or dynamic contrast would help bring out the textured surface. And maybe a soft vignette to help pull the viewer into the image.   Posted: 10/11/2018 16:32:08