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Fungi

Fungi, or more specifically in this section of the album, mushroom and toadstools, make for a fantastic subject for photography. It can be sometimes quite difficult to get photos of them due to fungi usually growing in dark areas, and that they are quite small subjects which introduces close-up(macro) photography, will all its issues, but I like a challenge!

I have a large number of photographs on this subject. I have tried to offer a variety of images, which focus on various aspects of fungi; I have photographs of fungi that are frozen, of the gills of a mushroom, and also fungi growing on trees.

So, here we go - sit back and get ready for some close-up action!

27 November 1999, Leica R6.2, Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1sec @ f/16, Fujichrome Velvia ISO 50.

The first photograph on this page is a bit of a personal one for me, as it was the first ever slide taken with my Leica camera system, when I changed from using the Minoltas.

4 December 1999, Leica R6.2, Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/8sec @ f/16, Fujichrome Velvia ISO 50.

And this is the second one! I think this is the same specimen as above, but transformed with the addition of snow.

13 November 2003, Leica R6.2, Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1sec @ f/16, Fujichrome Velvia ISO 50.

I had to get quite low for this one. I am quite pleased with this photo as it shows the stem and ring (the part that looks like a skirt, under the cap). That, and the fact that it looks amazing!

7 November 2010, Leica R6.2, Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1sec @ f/22, Fujichrome Velvia ISO 50.

Photograph details unknown - around September 1996, film Fujichrome(unknown ISO).

A nice grouping here.

12 October 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/200sec @ f/4, ISO 2500.

29 August 2000, Leica R6.2, Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8 + Elpro 1:1-1:2, 1/2sec @ f/22, Kodachrome ISO 25.

12 October 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/200sec @ f/5.6, ISO 1250.

12 October 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/200sec @ f/6.8, ISO 6400.

12 October 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/200sec @ f/3.4, ISO 1600.

The branch coming out of the side was actually attached to the cap, so as the mushroom grew it obviously incorporated the branch into itself!

12 October 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/200sec @ f/6.8, ISO 4000.

12 November 2003, Leica R6.2, Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 8sec @ f/13, Kodachrome ISO 64.

30 November 1997, Minolta 9000, Vivitar 100mm f/3.5 macro, 8sec @ f/8, Fujichrome ISO 50.

30 November 1997, Minolta 9000, Vivitar 100mm f/3.5 macro, 1sec @ f/6.7, Fujichrome ISO 50.

21 September 2024, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/200sec @ f/8, ISO 800.

Spotted this group in Coulby Newham, Marton.

21 September 2024, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/200sec @ f/9.5, ISO 1600.

Overhead view of the above.

23 October 2000, Leica R6.2, Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 60sec @ f/8, Kodachrome ISO 25.

20 November 2000, Leica R6.2, Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 16sec @ f/13, Kodachrome ISO 25.

12 January 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/160sec @ f/4, ISO 400.

Early morning frost.

12 January 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/160sec @ f/9.5, ISO 1600.

Close up of the above.

12 January 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/160sec @ f/6.8, ISO 1000.

12 September 2010, Leica R6.2, Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/8sec @ f/22, Kodachrome ISO 64.

Now we move onto photographs of the gills underneath the cap of the mushroom, some really interesting patterns.

12 September 2010, Leica R6.2, Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8 + Elpro 1:1-1:2,, 1/8sec @ f/22, Kodachrome ISO 64.

13 October 2012, Leica R6.2, Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8 + Elpro 1:1-1:2,, 1/2sec @ f/22, Fujichrome Velvia ISO 50.

At first glance this looks like the entrance of a freshwater cave!

13 November 2013, Leica R6.2, Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/2sec @ f/11, Kodachrome ISO 64.

Getting low again to get a photograph of a complete mushroom from the ground to the cap, showing stem, ring, gills and cap.

12 April 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/250sec @ f/6.8, ISO 200.

Looks like someone stuck a paper mache lampshade onto a tree trunk!

12 April 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/250sec @ f/8, ISO 800.

31 March 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/200sec @ f/5.6, ISO 320.

31 March 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/160sec @ f/22, ISO 5000.

Photograph details unknown - around October 1996, film Fujichrome(unknown ISO).

The two indents look almost man-made, making this fungi look like some sort of machined component!

26 August 2024, Leica SL(601), Summicron-R 50mm f/2, 1/100sec @ f/8, ISO 320.

Photograph details unknown - around February 1995, film Fujichrome(unknown ISO).

13 February 1993, Minolta 9000, Minolta 50mm f/1.7 1/2sec @ f/8, Fujichrome ISO 100.

13 February 1993, Minolta 9000, Minolta 50mm f/1.7 1/60sec @ f/1.7, Fujichrome ISO 100.

13 February 1993, Minolta 9000, Minolta 50mm f/1.7 8sec @ f/22, Fujichrome ISO 100.

Duckface!

Photograph details unknown - around March 1994, film Fujichrome(unknown ISO).

Photograph details unknown - around March 1994, film Fujichrome(unknown ISO).

12 April 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/160sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400.

26 December 2000, Leica R6.2, Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1sec @ f/11, Kodachrome ISO 25.

Another quite astonishing tree trunk base; looks like a rocket booster or tunnel boring machine!

Photograph details unknown, film Fujichrome(unknown ISO).

21 August 2000, Leica R6.2, Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/125sec @ f/4.5, Kodachrome ISO 25.

Another visually striking growth on a tree stmp.

21 August 2000, Leica R6.2, Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/8sec @ f/16, Kodachrome ISO 25.

Close-up of above.

Top of page

30 November 1997, Minolta 9000, Vivitar 100mm f/3.5 macro, 4sec @ f/8, Fujichrome ISO 50.

Side view of a specimen shown further up this gallery, showing the gills.

Photograph details unknown - around October 1995, film Fujichrome(unknown ISO).

Another photograph looking up at the top of the mushroom; I must have had the camera on the floor for this one!

26 August 2024, Leica SL(601), Summicron-R 50mm f/2, 1/100sec @ f/4.8, ISO 320.

Moving on to fungi growth on trees, quite a common site in woodland settings.

30 November 1997, Minolta 9000, Sigma 70-210mm f/2.8 apo, 4sec @ f/8, Fujichrome ISO 50.

Photograph details unknown, film Fujichrome(unknown ISO).

Photograph details unknown, film Fujichrome(unknown ISO).

26 August 2024, Leica SL(601), Summicron-R 50mm f/2, 1/100sec @ f/5.6, ISO 500.

Not a perfect example by any means, but the fact that this one has seen better days I think gives it a certain appeal.

31 March 2024, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/200sec @ f/4, ISO 800.

Fascinating to see the effect of fungi growing at the base of a tree chopped down, and how much it is covered.