The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.
Feedback Focus: Artistic / Expressive
About This Image
This is from last September. I lost my photo mojo so badly that I just couldn’t be bothered to process anything much. So digging around I found this fairly decent shot of what I believe is a Bolete species fruiting on a tree. They mostly fruit on the ground so it’s always fun to find one having a bit of a climb. This could be one of a number of Bolete species, but I couldn’t give it a definite ID. It was less than 2 inches across, probably closer to 1 inch, but I can’t really remember.
Feedback Requested
So what I was trying to achieve here is a subtle effect to bring up the natural reflections from the forest floor - a sort of glowing light. Basically enhance what was there, but too soft or even to be noticed much. I also liked the contrast in textures and tried to emphasize that as well - the cap is so silky and the bark has so much going on with lichens and mosses. Did I hit the mark or does it need more work?
Tripod/handheld: tripod
Focus method: lazy bracketing by touching focus points on the screen
Filters: ?? can’t recall. possibly a polarizer
Technique:
Conditions:
Processing software: Lr for global edits to improve contrast, color and sharpness, wb shift
Major adjustments: TIFF got a crop, some distraction removal and a few masks to bring out some directional light effect around that little shroom and soften the edges by lowering exposure and saturation.
Blending/stacking: Zerene for a PMax stack of 6 shots with a bit of retouching.
Other notes:
Kris: So glad you discovered this in the wild and on your hard drive. A delightful little guy and I think you carried off the lighting exceptionally well. All the detail and the color palette of the bark contrasts so well with the color and texture of the cap. Glad your mojo has returned and thanks for a nice treat.>=))> PS: I’m almost totally ignorant when it comes t mushrooms. Are these edible and is there a simple way to distinguish the safe from the unsafe?
Kris, I understand about the mojo, I think mine has left me as well. Just seems like the last few years I haven’t been able to get out, or if I did, I didn’t get to do macro much. Then when I did get some shots I didn’t edit them, or only one or two. Maybe one day.
I like what you captured here and @Bill_Fach said it well about the lighting and texture.
Thanks @Bill_Fach & @Shirley_Freeman - I’m glad I dusted it off, too. The mojo is slowly coming back. I think the key is not to force it or pile guilt or some such onto yourself. Things naturally ebb and flow so it doesn’t bother me like it used to. Fallow periods are worthwhile, too.
Insofar as edibility goes, all mushrooms are edible. Once.
Seriously though, this one isn’t probably considered a choice edible, but a relative is - the King Bolete aka Porcini, is a highly-sought after fungus. To my knowledge I’ve never found one, but I do occasionally get myself Hedgehogs, Chanterelles and if I’m very, very lucky a Hen of the Woods which is my personal favorite. The one my friend and I found a couple years ago, didn’t fruit the following year so I was bummed. I can only get to it by kayak, so it was a fun day anyway. I have a few spots for Hedgies, Chanterelles and Lobsters, too. Oh and I think Black Trumpets come up in the front yard, but I’ve never found them at their freshest best.
