Is It Real

Image Critiques
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_DSC0733_0745_IsItReal_NPN.jpg1500×1000 1.44 MB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

…Turkey Tail? I struggle to figure out which fungi I am looking at, even using guides. I thought this was Turkey Tail, Trametes versicolor, but the descriptions I find do not mention any green at all in the color profile. But then it might be False Turkey Tail, Stereum ostera, which has colors from yellowish-red to dark brown, and if algae grows on it then green will show. False Turkey Tail also comes with hairy surfaces, which this specimen appears to have. The danger, Turkey Tail while not used as a culinary ingredient, is edible, but is very tough, while False Turkey Tail is completely inedible.

That being said, it was the vivid color, and mean this specimen was vivid, is what stopped me to make this closeup of it. The other thing that intrigued me was the cache of small white granules near the top edge. Not sure what they are, I am guessing some kind of insect egg.

Specific Feedback

First does the composition work? I can go back and try something different.

Are the colors to over the top? It was a very vivid specimen, the most vivid I have ever seen.

Any other insights, information on identification, or any general comments appreciated.

Technical Details

Nikon D850, Nikon 105mm f/2.8 Macro, at f25, for 3 seconds at ISO 100, 12 frames stacked for DOF. My camera can do auto focus stacking but only with AF-S lenses. My Macro is AF but not AF-S (that is Nikon AF-S lenses have their own focusing motor in the lens), so I had to manually adjust the focus point for each frame. I think I did it correctly. Initial edits in ACR, then all frames stacked, aligned, and blended in PS and final edits.

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Youssef, you’re right, this is very colorful. My first thought was too colorful, but you were there. In looking up False Turkey Tail on the web, I see a post that says they can be “quite colorful”. That same post says that they often have a bright breen algae growing on them. Your comp. does a good job of being anchored by the two complete mushrooms. You’ve got outstanding detail, especioally in the greens near the top. I do wonder how an alternate comp. showing more (or all???) of the large green specimen at the top would look. I don’t seen any stacking artifacts so your manual adjustments were fine, using f/25 certainly helped that.

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Agree that it’s probably a fresh algae bloom on a Trametes variety. I like the vivid hues and the tight crop. The light direction helps bring up the texture and modeling of these little beauties. All the textures are so intricate, especially in the algae itself - you can see exactly how it grows and along what lines. Really great. Love it.

5

I really like the colors, patterns, and detail in your image, Youssef.

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Youssef: For an avowed color junkie like me this is just frame filling fantastic! What a delightful riot of color and texture. Great find and a marvelous capture and presentation. >=))>