Project 52 - Botanical Photos by Geoff F - 4th Quarter

Week 45

I keep attempting shots to show the general overall look deep inside this densely vegetated wood; and they all get ditched when I see them on my computer screen. This is my latest attempt to show the textures, colours and brightness levels to be found in a woodland setting. Maybe a crop might be worth considering but I fear that could lose some of the 'realism' of a more complicated scene.

A lot of the problem lies with trying to squeeze a three dimensional scene into a two dimensional photo.

Woodland Leaves

http://www.pbase.com/crustacean/imag...3/original.jpg

7D with Tamron 24-70 lens. 1/25 F11 Iso 800. Dull weather like this causes issues with shutter speed and a high Iso while any sunlight results in a high brightness range and over bright areas or clipped shadows.

Panellus stipticus sometimes known as Bitter Oysterling. Subject to confirmation by an expert.

http://www.pbase.com/crustacean/imag...4/original.jpg

180 Sigma macro lens 1/13 F11 Iso 400. A merge of three focus points.

An underside shot to help with identification.

http://www.pbase.com/crustacean/imag...5/original.jpg

1/8 F11 Iso 400.

For the first shot you might try using that fallen branch as an anchor, try shooting along the length of the branch and use a shallow DOF.

Nice efforts.

I must admit Geoff that the leaves do little for me but the Fungi images are excellent. Is this a recent trek into the woods or earlier in the year?

Geoff -- excellent shot of the mushrooms. Is this edible? Looks like it...very clear and white. I like the second version of the back of the mushroom too...

John, the first shot was an overview...

Appears there's fungus amongus! I'm enjoying the series.

Dave

Thanks for the comments.

I have taken dozens of similar overview shots looking deep into the woods this year and this one is the first where I have even bothered to experiment with some editing. Not really sure what else to try, except to look for a much less complicated scene. :rolleyes:

Maybe the idea of shooting along a branch might be worth trying in order to show a mixture of lichen and moss on the branch. Perhaps I will give that a go one day when the rain stops!

That fungus is somewhat uncommon and my book rates it as 'Inedible - possibly poisonous' although it does indeed look attractive. :eek:

When I started this photo a week idea I realised it could be difficult to find suitable subjects during the winter months and I need some better weather to catch up with this thread but the forecast isn't very encouraging and the year is rushing to a close. Very few fungi around at that site this year and those which I have found are nearly all on fallen trees. Virtually nothing growing up from that saturated ground.

Very nice images, Geoff. Great job!

Love the mushrooms and sympathise with you on the woodland scene....it's just a bit too busy to work here I think but they are so difficult.

Thanks for the comments. Here are some more attempts with leaves, but much closer this time.

Week 46 - Leaves - Alive and Dead.

http://www.pbase.com/crustacean/imag...1/original.jpg

7D with Tamron 24-70 lens. 1/15 F11 Iso 400. Merge of 4 focus points, and there is still a small area which is slightly on the soft side. Exposure was a bit of a struggle on the ivy leaves, even in deep shade.

Leaves & Lichen

http://www.pbase.com/crustacean/imag...2/original.jpg

1/20 F11 Iso 400. Another 4 shot merge.

The more I look at these, the more I like the idea of not raking up some part of my backyard...I was just looking at the hill down overlooking my deck and saw something similar...want to take a shot of them leaves green and fall colour but changed my mind. It can be as beautiful as this in small portions...hmmm.........good idea! I love these...good colour combination. I like the last one is my pick between these two...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Geoff F

Thanks for the comments. Here are some more attempts with leaves, but much closer this time.

Week 46 - Leaves - Alive and Dead.

http://www.pbase.com/crustacean/imag...1/original.jpg

7D with Tamron 24-70 lens. 1/15 F11 Iso 400. Merge of 4 focus points, and there is still a small area which is slightly on the soft side. Exposure was a bit of a struggle on the ivy leaves, even in deep shade.

Leaves & Lichen

http://www.pbase.com/crustacean/imag...2/original.jpg

1/20 F11 Iso 400. Another 4 shot merge.

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One other reason to leave them, Izzie, is that they provide a good habitat for all those insect larvae.

But where there is any risk of slipping on them I relocate the leaves to my vegetable plot where they remain until they get dug in and rot down to produce added compost material.

Week 47

Birch Polypore A common species on birch trees but this year all that rain has left most of them looking a bit on the rough side. This is the best which I have seen so far and even these are looking a bit ragged around the edges.

http://www.pbase.com/crustacean/imag...9/original.jpg

7D with Tamron 24-70 lens. 1/15 F11 Iso 400. Merge of two focus points.

Hymenochaete rubiginosa possibly - subject to confirmation or correction.

http://www.pbase.com/crustacean/imag...1/original.jpg

1/20 F11 Iso 400. Merge of 4 focus points.

I like your mushroom shots...I couldn't find much around my area here. The first one here seems to have a good bunch of stuff to hang on to, very typical of where they grow on trees. The last shot is very strong to the eyes, no ... not blaring ... I love the texture very much of where they grow...Thanks for sharing this...very inspiring to go out to the woods and find something...

Thanks Izzie.

It has been a poor year around here for ground living fungi; I am only finding the bracket types growing above ground level on dead or living trees. Possibly it has simply been too wet for some fungi. The ground is absolutely saturated.

Getting a bit late for many species as well, although this mild weather might mean they will appear later than normal. I am still seeing quite a few flowers and have some odd mixes of autumn and spring species flowering together in my garden.

Week 48. Lichen & Moss

http://www.pbase.com/crustacean/imag...0/original.jpg

7D with Tamron 24-70 lens 1/13 F11 Iso 400. Merge of 3 focus points.

Inonotus radiatus probably

http://www.pbase.com/crustacean/imag...1/original.jpg

1/25 F11 Iso 400.

Very nice shots, thanks for sharing :)

And now for the $64,000 question: What type of moss is in the first photo?

As always, the photos are interesting. Thanks for posting.

Nice textures on your latest.

I prefer #1 between these two and the structures are both great...

Thanks.

The bracket fungi are well past their 'sell by date' and I was shooting towards the light; albeit on an overcast day. So they actually came out a little better than I was expecting. I only really shot for identification.

I'm not very good with lichens and mosses either, Bruce. I did post that image on a wildlife site and so far one reply who admitted to also being something of a novice in this subject.

Just guessing; the feathery moss with the long brown seed capsules could be Catherine's Moss. The lichen is a bit like Hypogymnia physodes (don't ask me to pronounce that name!) but I'm not sure about those trumpet shapes which I assume to be for spore production. That is something which I haven't seen before.