Consejos para fotografiar hongos / Fungi photography tips

Para propósitos de ID de hongos, además de mostrar el lado superior del hongo, es útil (y usualmente necesario) mostrar también la superficie inferior. Usted puede posicionar la cámara por debajo del hongo, usar un espejo, o fotografiar el lado inferior de un hongo caído. Si es posible, obtener fotografias de al menos 3 ángulos: superior, lateral e inferior. Suele ser necesario tomar varias fotografias de un mismo ángulo para enfocar distintas partes (por ejemplo, en el ángulo lateral, una fotografía enfoca el borde del píleo pero no el estípite, o viceversa). Adicionalmente, fotografiar otros detalles del hongo (escamas, anillos, base del estípite, primordios/cuerpos inmaduros), tipo de sustrato donde crece el hongo (tierra, hojas, madera, etc.) y una vista general del sitio (para observar tipo de vegetación cercana, etc.).

Photographs Viewing Angles
For Mushroom/Fungi ID purposes, besides showing the upper side of the fungus, it is useful (and usually necessary) to also show its inferior surface. You can position the camera below the fungus, use a mirror, or photograph the inferior side of a fallen upside-down piece of the fungus. If possible, get photographs from at least three viewing angles: superior, lateral and inferior. It is usually necessary to take several pictures at the same angle so as to clearly focus on several parts of the fungus (for example, in side view, a photo may focus on the cap/pileus's border, but not on the stipe, and viceversa). Additionally, take pictures of some finer details of the fungus (like scales, rings, base of stipe, inmature bodies/primordia), substrate from which the fungus is growing (soil, litter, wood, etc.) and a general view of the site (to observe the kind of vegetation nearby, etc.).

Camera flash and White Balance
Using the flash may alter the original colors of the mushroom's picture, but sometimes it is needed to get enough detail, especially in shadowy places. In that case, maybe show a picture with flash, and another without flash. Better yet, to get closer to the "real colors" of the subject, set the right "white balance" in the camera settings with the help of a white object (like a plastic cap), this change is necessary with different types of light (natural or artificial, with or without tree cover, morning sun, midday or afternoon sun, etc.)

To rule or not to rule?
You can take some pictures of the fungus with a ruler nearby; maybe take a picture with the ruler, and another without the ruler. This information is usually helpful for ID purposes, and it is especially useful when the fungus is unusually small or big. A ruler is also especially helpful when measuring pores/mm in pictures of the pore surface. If a ruler is not at hand, you can also use another object of known size (or that you can measure afterwards); for example: use your thumbnail (at the base of the fingernail) as a "ruler", just be careful to place your nail next to the fungus (not closer or farther from the camera). If using something else than a ruler, remember to use Paint or another software to draw a scale in the picture showing the size in mm or cm (remember to include the measuring unit).

Special case #1: Fungus is on a leaf or branch that can be moved around without damaging the fungus, and then put back in its original place after taking the pictures. For a clearer picture, it is better if the subject is still, so I suggest placing the leaf/branch with the mushroom on the ground, and maybe use the camera flash, taking a picture from above, from the side view, and from under the cap, by moving the leaf/branch.

Posted on 14 October, 2022 09:14 by mario_mg