Roadside Fungus
Mushrooms colonising the stump of a recently-felled roadside tree
Mushrooms colonising the stump of a recently-felled roadside tree
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Canon EOS 70D
Aperture f/2.8 ISO 640 Shutter 1/125 Focal Length 33/1 
Dagenham, Barking and Dagenham, GB
Sep, 2019Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This fungus was growing on a roadside tree stump just a few yards from my home. I knew that the local authority had cut down the tree, which was diseased but, until my neighbour knocked on my door and told me, I had no idea about the extent of the fungus that had colonised what was left.Time
Of course, I grabbed a camera and went to have a look. Sure enough the stump, which was about six feet (2 metres) tall was covered in different fungi. It was early evening and getting dark quite rapidly, so I set up my flash and got to work. I shot from all angles, but I did like this result with the tail lights of passing cars in the background. This shot was created at 1619 (19 minutes past four in the afternoon) on 19 December 2016.Lighting
Rapidly fading natural light meant that I had to make constant adjustments to aperture, flash and shutter speed. But I had to be careful where I directed the light as I did not want to startle or dazzle passing drivers. In a studio, lighting is all about the subject, but out in the field, it is necessary to consider the surroundings and the effect that using artificial light might have on both wildlife and other people.Equipment
The camera was my workhorse - Canon EOS70D with 70-200mm lens with an external Nissin speedlite. Hand-held without tripod.Inspiration
I like to shoot anything that I see that, for me, is unusual and this amount of fungus on a tree locally is not common. There were time limitations which inspired me to go out on that particular evening. Firstly, fungi don't last very long, especially beside a busy road and I wanted to record it while if was fresh. Secondly, I knew that the local authority would be removing the stump before long so I had to get in there while it still existed.Editing
I didn't do a lot of post-processing. A bit of cropping was about all.In my camera bag
I have what I call a "Go Bag" in which is my EOS70D with its 70-200mm lens and hood, spare batteries and spare speedlites batteries and spare SD card. I usually also have a remote shutter release and spare batteries for that, a Neutral Density filter, and a couple of other graduated Cokin filters and mounts because, well, you never know when you might want them. Other than that is my Pap Strap so that I can sling the camera over my shoulder rather than round my neck and a Manfrotto quick-release foot for my tripod. Attached to the bag strap is one of my Nissin speedlites in its own bag. I don't usually carry a tripod around unless I have a specific purpose for it. I do also have a wheeled camera-bag with another camera and all sorts of other lenses, remote flash triggers and straps etc. in it, but only goes out on special occasions.Feedback
It you see a fungus or fungi you like, get a shot straight away. Several shots. Many fungi are transient and the chances are that, if you go away to get some gear, by the time you come back the fungi will have gone, been disturbed, or changed in some way. And if you're working near roads, always be conscious of your own personal safety.
