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

[Geoff F]

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



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.



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

An underside shot to help with identification.



1/8 F11 Iso 400.

[Shadowman]

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.

[John 2]

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?

[IzzieK]

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...

[Dave A]

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

Dave

[Geoff F]

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.

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.

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.

[Otavio]

Very nice images, Geoff. Great job!

[Kaye Leggett]

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.

[Geoff F]

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

Week 46 - Leaves - Alive and Dead.



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



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

[IzzieK]

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...

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

Week 46 - Leaves - Alive and Dead.



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



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

[Geoff F]

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.

[Geoff F]

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.



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

Hymenochaete rubiginosa possibly - subject to confirmation or correction.



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

[IzzieK]

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...

[Geoff F]

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.

[Geoff F]

Week 48. Lichen & Moss



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

Inonotus radiatus probably



1/25 F11 Iso 400.

[bnnrcn]

Very nice shots, thanks for sharing

[Cantab]

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.

[Shadowman]

Nice textures on your latest.

[IzzieK]

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

[Geoff F]

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.