In early March, between showers, it’s the time to check for early fungi.
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Generally we need temperatures below 10 degrees and wet conditions in our rainforests for fungi to flourish.
This year, however, we’ve had warmer conditions and quite a flush of fungi.
I took a drive to the Watagans and soon found a variety of colourful fungi.
Fungi are the main recycling agents for most of the dead plant material produced on earth. Without them, logs and plant litter would not become humus and return to the soil.
Photographing fungi is a simple affair but you need to take certain measures. I wear waterproof pants so I can get down to ground level without getting wet; gaiters, which keeps leeches out; plus I take my camera gear.
My tripod has the advantage of going right down to ground level where most of the fungi is.
When you find your subject, setting up is most important. Place the camera and roughly focus, back or forward, until you have nice composition. Is the camera square to the subject?
Depth of field is very important. You want everything pin-sharp in the final image.
Are there any distractions in the background? If so, remove them.
Now set the camera aperture priority about F16. You are in low light most of the time so the exposure can be long.
Set your flash on macro manual, about 16th power. Also set small, hand held flash on 16th power. Make sure your cable release is working. Finally, make sure focus is pin sharp.
I use the back light most of the time. I bracket the shots from a metre out to close in. Some shots will have too much light, but one will be perfect.
Another advantage of back light is that it gives you better separation of the main subject.
MUSHROOMS AT YOUR HOUSE
Do you have mushrooms growing in your garden? Send us your photos! Email your pictures to jessica.brown@fairfaxmedia.com.au
Next week: Margaret Clarke