Fun with Fungi

Otherwise known in some circles as mycography.

A burgeoning niche these days in creative fieldwork, given the magic lightning rod of digital capture and attendant flexibility at our ready disposal.

I might've  pressed this shutter were I still shooting film, but film would've failed:

I might’ve shot more ‘shrooms back in the day with the Linhoff, except working that beast @ full bellows extension required an entirely different skillset from the one I chose. Too little time remained to convey what was with every passing season being forever lost.

At some point, abandoned construct's just another undifferentiated pile of debris. Along Superior, there was but to locate, assess and interpret. Even revisit, as needed and/or able.

So I did what I did. Long enough to outlast much of what I shot. Which I suppose is why I've a body of work, not just more pictures.

Context matters.

These last few years striding through woods while keeping an eagle eye out for the telling detail that appears everywhere in a living/dying constantly birthing mess of forest led me to adapt the visual values I learned when shooting failed construct over to naturally perpetual regeneration, where and when I can find it.

It was a neat trick. Trust me. I've seen a lot of ruin in my time. Life is better.

Speaking of abstract...

And too bad that's not a well lit, 24" giclee print on a wall for all to really see.

Certainly, failed construct being eaten by wilding earth and fungi working constantly to sustain that same earth are each complex subjects in their own right. Yet both are answerable to a similar approach so to convey their richly organic character in situ.

Besides, in what other active pursuit is a big-assed slug such a happy bonus?

But so enamored are we with our newfound macro vision, too many shooters neglect that inside the proscenium frame, visual context is typically where the broader story's found.

The late, great teacher and backwoods poet Patrick O’Neil likely spent as much time closely land looking the wild floor as anyone I’ve known.

Death is life, Patrick O’Neil wrote.

No less than humble, ubiquitous fungus proves him right.

That's life. Death, too. And life again, etc.

I’ve recently upgraded my gear. Am very much looking forward to the continued pursuit.

Hello, meteorological spring.