Fungi on log

[Stagecoach]

I was getting frustrated with the wet weather and lack of subjects to photograph but luckily found these today growing on a rotting bit of log.

Spent a bit of time with up to three flashes and ended up using a single lamp and piece of copy paper to reflect light up underneath. The problems were minimising the shadows and retaining the detail.

1/3s, f16, ISO200, 105mm macro


Comments and suggestions welcome as always

Grahame

[Bobobird]

WOW!

Lamp ??

How did you get that black background?

Tripod?

[deetheturk]

Hi Grahame,

I like this,you have managed to get great detail in the shot,using the lamp has saved all the bother we can have trying not to blow the highlights with flash,well done bud!

Cheers David

[Stagecoach]

WOW!

Lamp ??

How did you get that black background?

Tripod?

Hi Bobo, the black background is the back of a black polo shirt hung over a piece of board around 2ft behind the subject, I use it for all my backgrounds as it has a great no reflecting surface.

The lighting is from one of those very cheap small low voltage tungsten bulbed anglepoise desk lamps handheld and aimed to minimise shadow. All rather crude and basic but did use a tripod.

Grahame

[Stagecoach]

Hi Grahame,

I like this,you have managed to get great detail in the shot,using the lamp has saved all the bother we can have trying not to blow the highlights with flash,well done bud!

Cheers David

Hi David, the main problem I was getting with the flash was shadow but am now going to get another one of these lamps as great for static subjects.

Grahame

[deetheturk]

Hi Grahame,what type of lamp is it?

David

[Bobobird]

Thanks for the info. I use a variable output flashlight that has a cheap ball-head and a clip mounting so it can be fixed to a tripod leg.

[David547]

Superb! this is really nice picture ..

[Manfred M]

Looks good Grahame (almost too good). Nicely done!

[wlou]

Grahame, lovely capture. Showing the underside of the mushrooms is a great idea. As a macro photographer I have to ask: how or where do yo plug in a desk lamp outside? Pardon my naivety. Maybe you brought the log inside? I wish I could do such a good picture myself.

[IzzieK]

Wow! is not even a word to describe this shot Grahame...there should be a word much better than "WOW!" but sorry I can't think of it. I've had some mushroom shots but not as good as this one...yours is superb.

[Brownbear]

Absolutely gorgeous!

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[John 2]

That's excellent Grahame. Crude maybe but very effective.

[Wavelength]

Stunning shot; very nice indeed

[bnnrcn]

Very nice mushrooms and nice texture on the log as well

[Downrigger]

Just great, Grahame - and thanks for explaining the lighting, which works spectacularly for me.

[flashback]

Grahame,
Great shot; the detail is fantastic. I guess I have to be the one to ask, have you thought about a B&W conversion? It may not work due to the fact you may lose the pale sienna color on the gills, but then again, it might be interesting to see. Just a thought.

[Stagecoach]

David, Manfred, Louise, Isabel, Christina, John, John (2), Nandakumar, Binnur and Mark

Thank you each for the encouraging comments, it makes the effort worthwhile.

Whilst the subject may not be the most interesting this turned out to be very much an exercise in lighting in that even though I have an array of sophisticated flash units that I can position anywhere easily and control individual powers from the camera what is best for minimising shadow is not always best for maintaining texture and detail.

Louise, I bought the log inside, only 1ft long, complete with mud and mini crawlies and placed it on newspaper at a good working height on my studio worktop. During the day the studio worktop reverts to a kitchen island worktop

Grahame

[Stagecoach]

Grahame,
Great shot; the detail is fantastic. I guess I have to be the one to ask, have you thought about a B&W conversion? It may not work due to the fact you may lose the pale sienna color on the gills, but then again, it might be interesting to see. Just a thought.

Jack,

No, B&W never comes into consideration with my macro work not because I'm against it but my attempts at any B&W in other areas so far have been pretty poor.

Grahame