Just for Fun No C&C will be given: Mushrooms

[StuartRae]

At this time of year, in one particualr spot in the garden, clusters of tiny mushrooms, less than 1cm, spring up overnight. They have a short and, as far as I can tell (although I'm no expert on what might titillate a mushroom), unexciting life.

Some are old and tired.............

.......and others are full of youthful vigour.

EOS 350D, Sigma 180mm macro, f16, 1/8 sec.

Regards,

Stuart

 

[Rachel Foster]

Stuart, apologies in advance (I messed around with your first image) because something about it really caught my fancy. I did a black and white treatment, upped the contrast, and cropped it a little. It is a nice image as is, but the other version is really intriguing. Had you considered (or do you have any interest) in looking at it in b&w?

 

[StuartRae]

Hi Rachel,

You're very welcome to 'mess' with my images. I have to tell you that I don't like B&W, but others may, so feel free to post your conversion if you want to. Please explain why you think it's an improvement on the original, and I'll try to understand.

Regards,

Stuart

 

[Rachel Foster]

Stuart, if you were willing, I think I'd learn a great deal from hearing why you don't care for the b&w. And, of course, it's YOUR vision that matters, YOUR "arc of intent." I only put this out there so that I can learn. I certainly don't think it's an improvement on your image; it's just different. And I do realize that it takes a fair amount of energy and thought to make such analyses and comments, so I certainly appreciate why you may indeed choose not to comment. Perhaps others have some thoughts on it?

 

[StuartRae]

Hi Rachel,

Thanks for posting your B&W conversion.
One of the things I like about the original is the subtle shades and gradations of colour. It has over 100,000 distinct colours (shades). Yours has 256. It can never have more because we're viewing an 8-bit file on an 8-bit device.
Whenever I see a B&W conversion, especially of a landscape, I feel sad for the lost information. It looks harsh and flat in comparison.

YMMV

Regards,

Stuart

 

[Rachel Foster]

I understand that and you're exactly right. The reason I like black and white is that the structure of the image (in this case mushrooms) becomes more salient. The color, which as you say is so varied, delicate and commanding of attention, will often get lost. So, I suppose it would depend on whether (to the specific viewer) the colors or the structure are more interesting.

Thanks! This helped clarify several things for me, both regarding my own approach and tastes and about the nature of the images themselves.

Like I said, I don't think the b&w is better, just different.

 

[StuartRae]

Hi Rachel,

The reason I like black and white is that the structure of the image ......... becomes more salient.

Agreed, and for this reason I approve of B&W for portraits and images where shapes are more important than the overall picture.

Takes all sorts I suppose

Stuart

 

[Sandra Jones]

I like image #2 best, for it's colours and tones. I am a big fan of fungi images because they range from beautiful/exotic to ugly/scary. These are lovely, like butterscotch. I'm also a fan of B&W but it doesn't work for me in this case.

Stuart, what is causing the reflection (?...right hand side) in the first image?

 

[StuartRae]

Hi Sandra,

Thanks for commenting.

what is causing the reflection (?...right hand side) in the first image?

Yes, it does look a bit odd, but it's not a reflection.
The DOF (Depth of Field) is so small that the lens is able to 'look' round close OOF objects. What you can see is a piece of grass that's very close to the lens.

Regards,

Stuart

 

[Mike Spinak]

These are lovely images, Stuart. I especially like your top one.

It looks like there is an out of focus blade of grass (or some such) extending from the right middle toward the top middle. I also see a slightly out of focus blade of grass in the bottom middle, a slightly out of focus one toward the bottom right, and a very out of focus one next to it, on the bottom right.

In my opinion, these are not contributing to the composition. I think it would've been somewhat improved, had you either framed without the out of focus grass blades in the foreground, or removed the, before taking the picture – if possible.

I often try to scan my viewfinder, through all quadrants, to make sure everything is as I desire, with no stray elements, before making the shot.


I see value in both color and black and white. To my eye, the subtle gradations and soft coloring work better, in this version, than the B&W.


By the way: Just a wild guess – I think these might be some kind of marasmius.

http://naturography.blogspot.com/
http://www.naturography.com/

 

[StuartRae]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the comments.
It's a bit like some of my old school reports - "Good work but needs to pay more attention to detail".

I was careful with the second shot to remove all the grass and twigs that were in the way, but missed a few with the first one. The older caps were so delicate that even moving a blade of grass made bits fall off them.

I think these might be some kind of marasmius.

Thanks for the ID. That's what I wondered after doing a bit of Googling.

Regards,

Stuart

 

[Mike Spinak]

The older caps were so delicate that even moving a blade of grass made bits fall off them.

You're welcome.

If the comments helped, then I'm glad.

I usually try to avoid "gardening" my pictures, but when I must, and when things are delicate as you say, then I use the scissors on a Swiss Army Knife (or similar) to carefully snip the errant stuff.


http://naturography.blogspot.com/
http://www.naturography.com/