Friday, November 14, 2008

Want To Meet A Fun Guy?

Er, No, Make That A Fungi Instead

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON



On second thoughts, maybe I should have titled this post "Mushroom Clout" instead. This shot was taken during a brief fuel stop in the Yukon, Canada, in late August.

We were on our way from the outskirts of the capital, Whitehorse, to the gold rush settlement of Dawson City when we stopped at tiny Moose Creek, where the signboard (see the photo at Love Me, Love My Dog) says "Population 2".

I was out the back, taking some shots of the B&B cottage and the old trapper's cabin when I noticed this organism growing on the low roof of the timber cabin.

I had two cameras, a Pentax K100D with my 18-125 lens and a Pentax K200D with my 70-300mm lens. I wasn't carrying a macro because I knew I'd basically be photographing landscapes in the Yukon. Believe me, I could have done with it for this shot - or so I thought.

The light wasn't great that afternoon because the clouds had rolled in, but maybe the conditions worked in my favour, because harsh sunlight would have wiped out the delicate tones you see here.

I opted for my 18-125 lens and shot this at 1/125th of a second, F5.6 and ISO 200. I only took one shot because we were in a hurry, but when I reviewed the image on my laptop that night, I knew I'd got it pretty much right. Let me know what you reckon ....

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20 comments:

® ♫ The Brit ♪ ® said...

Yeah, really great shot with the sharp focus directly on the funghi!
So taking a few cameras and lenses with you I guess you didn't have "mushroom" left in your bag for any more!
Oh o.k. it was a bad one I know... but I couldn't resist!!

Queen-Size funny bone said...

i love mushrooms, they can be kind of ugly yet delicate with their layers and folds, creases. great fun guy...

Katney said...

Getting great mushroom pictures was one of the fun parts of our week working in the old growth forest a couple of months ago. You probably noticed the odd one at the end of my psalm post last Sunday. There were also some on a log that were about the size of the head of a pin. I tyested out my macro settings on those, and even took some through a magnifier.

rosecreekcottage-carol.blogspot.com said...

This looks like it could have been taken beneath the sea. It reminds me of coral.

Unknown said...

Great story behind the fun guy. :) I LOVE it! Couldn't be more perfect!

Leslie: said...

Well, sorry but I couldn't possibly top any of the above puns. Just want to say another great shot of a simple thing.

Anonymous said...

Oh I love the joke. I'm a sucker for a "bad" but oh so good one. Oooh and the picture too. :)

Anonymous said...

I reckon you pretty well got it right! You did a beauiful job with this!

Juliana said...

lovely mushrooms shot u have and nice macro shot

My PSF entry this week : in HERE. Hope you have time to visit . Thanks

Maggie May said...

Yes you definitely got it right!
Loved your captions too!
Oh watch out David, The Brit is getting as clever as you!

Anonymous said...

I don't understand any of the technical business David, but I do know that you have captured a beautifully delicate shot.johor

Jane Hards Photography said...

Love the pun today. For me it's lens. I have to have an array of lens. Marvellous sghots and so well explained to the novice.

Sandi McBride said...

All the photography calculations and explanations had me going "uh huh,uh huh" like I do when Mac is explaining the inner workings of this computer I'm using...understanding nothing, but grateful for the experience that ensues...a picture speaks a thousand words is still apt. Beautiful being one of them...like a lifeform on another planet...
Sandi

KrisMrsBBradley said...

That is an amazing shot.

Cath said...

Absolutely spot on.
Well done. And one shot?
Brill.

Hilary said...

A beauty of a shot. Not mush room for argument there.

Charles Gramlich said...

We get some fascinating fungi in our back yard. I'd really like to more about them.

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

Oh yeah, I LOVE the detail and the texture in this shot David.

i beati said...

loving the angle

lucy said...

Isn't it funny how the shot you least expext to come out, comes out the best. It is a beautiful photo.