Stuart Ord
October 2026 - Untitled
About the Image(s)
It’s the time of the year for fungi! I found two extremes in National Trust properties last weekend ??“ some huge ones (maybe 200mm across their heads) and some tiny ones (about 3mm across). These, of course, are the tiny ones. There were hundreds on this tree trunk, and alas my hand-held brackets missed the target slightly, so we have to make do with a more pictorial result. I was still pretty close, though.
OM Systems OM-1, 1/30 sec, f4, ISO 160. Olympus 30 macro lens. Natural light. Single frame, hand held, processed in Affinity 3.
9 comments posted
This is very nice! Like the collection of mushrooms and the gentle curve. Good focus and lighting. If anything would be nice for a little more room on the right. Posted: 10/04/2026 17:42:22
Yes, I'd agree, Margaret. There really were hundreds of these mushrooms, and finding an isolated patch wasn't possible. I considered cloning in some of the left side onto the right, but it didn't seem worth the time needed.
But I shouldn't be lazy, thanks for your prompt. Cloning the top right to the bottom right seemed to work better. Is this any better?
Posted: 10/07/2026 06:59:34
But I shouldn't be lazy, thanks for your prompt. Cloning the top right to the bottom right seemed to work better. Is this any better?
Posted: 10/07/2026 06:59:34
Or even this? The bottom one might be unconvincing.
Posted: 10/07/2026 07:53:55
Posted: 10/07/2026 07:53:55
Stuart, I really like the last version you sent. I like the sharpness in the foreground and then a bit less going upward. I like the composition and the texture of the image. Posted: 10/15/2026 20:37:20
I liked your original image overall, but agree that the remakes are an essential improvement, especially for eliminating the issue in the lower right corner. What works well for me as a viewer is that it feels like the mushrooms are marching along, and there are leading lines in the bark to keep me engaged. You have some lovely sharpness in the mushrooms and bark, and the uneven black edges with a fade into the bark is beautiful, really lends itself to placing the focus on the mushrooms, giving it great impact. Wonderful lighting. Having the foreground mushrooms in better focus definitely works better for me, either one. I didn't find your final version to be unconvincing at all! Posted: 10/18/2026 17:00:25
The bottom edge of the bottom mushroom is a bit unrealistic, I thought. Posted: 10/18/2026 19:17:39
I do like the last version the best out of the sequence. The lighting is really nice and sets off the mushrooms nicely. I'm glad you captured the horizontal mushroom which I think adds contrast to the composition. Posted: 10/19/2026 01:18:11
Thanks, Jeff. I'd agree, I was lazy not to do the "improvements" at the beginning. But I'm happy with the picture now. The lighting is natural, I got what was there. Posted: 10/19/2026 08:05:47
A good rendition of the mushrooms. There is one in the top cluster that almost looks as if it is grinning! If it was my pic I would probably remove the black spots in many of them. I like the one that has fallen over! Unfortunately, I have a food intolerance to mushrooms which puts me off shots of them a bit!
Posted: 10/25/2026 07:57:27
Posted: 10/25/2026 07:57:27