Dave W Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Okay, nothing poses for the camera quite like a morel. The pits and ridges trick my macro setting into a focal compromise that creates a 3-D effect. But there are so many beautiful mushrooms, many of them very small. Sometimes you don't notice until it's photographed and zoomed. Spotted these little gems today, on a lawn a few blocks from center-city Wilkes-Barre, PA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eat-bolete Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Very nice Dave. Maybe one day I'll talk myself into carrying my magnesium alloy Nikon 5-lb beast with me for a fungi hunt to finally make some nice photos of my own Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4rum Posted May 31, 2015 Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 Very nice Dave. Mushrooms are so divers in make up, color, shape, size and features that make good subjects for photos. If you can catch good light it helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted May 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 I use a compact digital SONY camera, not an advanced piece of equipment. I just set to macro and snap a lot of shots, varying the distance and viewing angle. Like you say, 4rum, lighting conditions are important. I carry one of those canvas grocery bags filled with stuff I use in the field... plastic snap-together box for storing small specimens, soil thermometer, eyeglasses, paper bags for carrying large specimens or collections of edibles, white translucent photography umbrella for filtering light, and a homemade cardboard/foil reflector for throwing light onto the shadowy side of a subject. When I harvest a specimen I also snap photos in variously shaded areas. Dark-colored subjects often need more light and pale ones more shade. If I snap 200 photos on a foray, I generally name and move 20-30 into a permanent file. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4rum Posted May 31, 2015 Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 One thing I read and it seems to work for me with the pocket, point and shoot digitals (I carry a Fuji AX350) is to back away a little from your subject and use the telephoto to zoom back in. It seems to work better than the macro setting. Experiment with distances and zoom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted May 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 That sounds like a great idea, 4rum. I'm guessing it works well with larger specimens where the combination of curvature and distance work against macro. I'll be trying it out asap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4rum Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 Yes Dave, I should have added that. It helps with proportion. I think you'll be pleased with the detail retained as well. Also try your 'natural light' and of all things 'party' settings. They alter the shutter speed and can give dramatically better photos if you're able to hold the camera pretty still. If the stinging nettles aren't too bad, I'll often lay in the prone position and brace both elbows on the ground to get a shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eat-bolete Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 Nice set of useful items! I was surprised not to see a mini tripod among them. I love tripods, I guess my hands are shaky as I rarely seem to capture thing in perfect focus, especially when using zoom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted June 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 Shaky hands are definitely a problem. I don't use tripod... probably should get a small one that fits into my bag. Or at least a bean-bag to help stabilize. Yeah 4rum, lying on the ground, bracing against a tree or a rock... Watch out for the poison ivy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4rum Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 Another handy gadget easily made is a 'string pod'. Quarter inch by 20 threads per inch I think fits your tripod hole. Loop a piece of para cord to that and leave it plenty long. Both tails 5 or 6 feet. These then can be tied forming a large loop. Put your feet in there and spread them to form a triangle. Pull up on the camera with your elbows tucked to your sides. Just move your feet closer or farther apart til the level is right. You'll be surprised how much stability this provides. If you kneel you can do the same thing... just tie the loop shorter. This weighs almost nothing. Fits nicely into a pocket or pouch (or camera bag) and is there when you need it. It really does work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dualsetters Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 I find that coming in level with my subject normally puts my camera on the ground in many cases. No better rest than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted June 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 Trying to understand your string pod, 4rum. Is this meant to create tension as a means of fostering stability? How does the cord attach to the camera? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4rum Posted June 2, 2015 Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 Took a chance, googled it for ya Dave. http://www.cnet.com/how-to/diy-the-string-tripod-aka-stringpod/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted June 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 Thanks 4rum! Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. Link worked just fine for me. I see how to do this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eat-bolete Posted June 4, 2015 Report Share Posted June 4, 2015 Looks pretty handy, I'll make one. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted June 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2015 An interesting mushroom. This type of Agaricus --I think the one seen here represents A. bitorquis-- usually fruits partly underground. You can see the stalk going down into the hole. A good edible, if you find it in an area that doesn't get treated with chemicals. Not very common around here, but a popular mushroom in western NA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted June 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 I have not IDed this newly emerging polypore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dualsetters Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 Looks like Tyromyces chioneus to me Dave. They make for great pics when they have the water drops. My woods are loaded with them late summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted June 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 T. chioneus is a possibility. One thing to consider here, it had not rained for several days previous to my finding this. So the droplets are likely a liquid exuded by the fungus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eat-bolete Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 Young Ischnoderma resinosum exudes water droplets. Can it be that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted June 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 I don't think Ischnoderma resinosum, which is a late-season mushroom that exudes droplets that are amber-tinged. The buttons of I. resinosum are generally larger. You can't tell from the photo, but this was quite small, less than 2 inches across. Here's another nice one... from a few years back, very common. Marasmius rotula. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted June 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 Ha! Guess what I found the other day... Ischnoderma resinosum. Mushrooms like to play tricks on people who think they've got the mushrooms figured out. Fairly photogenic. Some nice boletes I found yesterday. Boletus subvelutipes Caloboletus inedulis Lecciinum... similar to the European species L. aurantiacum but likely different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Smalldridge Posted June 16, 2015 Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 DaveW, the C. Inedulis photo has a strange almost selective color look to it. I remember taking some photos of flowers at dusk against a mulch background that had that same look. Looks like spruce needles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted June 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 Hemlock needles. The area was a stand of hemlock near a stream. Color on these photos was very close to true/natural. The Caloboletus inedulis is an eye-catching mushroom. There are actually a couple of other species that feature almost the same color scheme... Caloboletus roseipes and Boletus calopus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eat-bolete Posted June 17, 2015 Report Share Posted June 17, 2015 Very nice. It's especially exciting to see Leccinums popping out! Can't wait to find some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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