FLASH FUNGI

Master macro with off-camera flash to capture mushroom photos with James Paterson

From antibiotics to alcoholic drinks, and from organic decay to delicious food, fungi play an important role in all manner of things. They range in size from tiny microscopic structures to the largest living organisms on the planet. Underground, the ‘wood-wide web’ of fine tendrils creates a network that connects plants and trees. Above ground, the fruiting bodies form as mushrooms and other stunning structures that offer some wonderful opportunities for macro photography.

Fungi – and mushrooms in particular – tend to prefer dark conditions like dense woodlands, crevices in rotten wood and shady areas. When you’re photographing in these murky spots, a burst of flash can provide a welcome lift to the scene. But it’s not just about increasing the light levels – a flash also gives you the opportunity to enhance the mood. By firing the flash off-camera, either from the side, above, behind or even below, we can highlight the fine fungi features, draw attention to colours and textures, or show the delicate gills on the underside.

Whenever we add our own light into a scene like this, the ambient daylight becomes almost like a secondary light source. We can decide whether the daylight plays a major or minor role in the exposure, either by balancing our flash with it for a subtle lift, or by overpowering it for a spotlight effect.

But before you head out in search of fantastic fungi, it’s worth saying that you shouldn’t touch anything you don’t know. Do not inhale spores, and be sure to wash your hands. As for eating foraged mushrooms, please heed the wise words of Terry Pratchett: “All fungi are edible. Some fungi are only edible once.”