You do not have to travel far to find mushrooms. The photographs in this series were taken on and around Brunssummerheide, Schrieversheide and Cranenweyer, near Brunssum, Heerlen and Kerkrade. You do have to be willing to look a little closer to the ground. At eye level, you walk straight past many of the subjects.
A mushroom is the visible fruiting body of a fungus. Much of the fungus often exists as a network of fine threads in the soil or in wood. A small subject on a tree trunk may therefore be part of something much larger.
Many fungi help break down dead material. That is one reason why land managers leave dead wood in place. What looks untidy at first glance can be just the right place for something to grow. Not all fungi live in the same way, though: some work in partnership with trees, while others grow on living organisms.
A small subject, a lot of background
In macro photography, the surroundings soon become important. A pale twig or a bright leaf behind the mushroom can draw more attention in the photograph than the subject itself. A small change in camera position may therefore do more than a different camera setting.
At close range, depth of field is limited. You have to choose which part should be sharp: the edge of the cap, the stem or perhaps the gills underneath. Stopping down increases depth of field, but also requires more light or a longer exposure. A tripod can help, as long as the subject itself stays still.
You do not need to rearrange the habitat for a better composition. Leave mushrooms where they are, do not break branches and watch where you put your feet and tripod. There is a good chance that something else is growing beside your subject.
My own photographs in this series may be used under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution. Include my name and the source, as explained on the licence page.
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