We're hitting the Macedon Ranges to find some Fungi.

Meet at Days Picnic Ground, Lions Head Road, Hesket (Mount Macedon) at 9:30am and from there we'll move to our assigned shoot locations. Due to government requirements we'll be breaking into groups of 10 people and people will be required to maintain social distancing throughout the day.

This is the last location for toilets before we head further up the road to Lions Head Road Car Park.

Visit https://goo.gl/maps/DGf4QiU1Kk4fENRPA and plot directions from your location.

Notes from Neil

Photography Hints:

Sturdy tripod. 

Check the connections on your tripod to ensure all fittings are tight. (It’s too late to check your tripod connections when you are on location unless you carry Allen keys, etc.)

Lens options: 

Macro lens is the ideal (if you have one). 

Extension tubes are a cheap option as they connect between your camera and the rear element of a lens. 

If you have none of these options, use a zoom lens. Manual operation of your camera is recommended. Auto focusing often doesn’t do an adequate job with macro subjects. Preferred approach is to use your lens in manual operation. Use LIVE VIEW setting on your camera, and then focus manually by turning the focusing ring on your lens. By using the Zoom button (+), the image is magnified on Live View screen, which should provide the most accurate focusing. Minimise camera shake or vibration by either using a cable release for the shutter, or use the in-built timer to delay the shot after the shutter button has been pushed. Depth of field: I almost always use a large depth of field (F-13 or higher) . A small depth of field can also work to focus on a small area of a fungi to achieve a “creative” effect. Try different options and review your results. At our last Zoom meeting, and a few weeks ago on FB, there was discussions on Focus Stacking. Take a number of photos, each with a different focus point; e.g. the front of a fungi, a few mm past the front, etc., etc. Give it go as the beginning of a new skill. Composition: Look for a background that is in shadow, which typically provides the best separation between fungi and the background. Light backgrounds or sunlit areas of a background take attention away from fungi subjects.

Lighting:  

Typically fungi are in deeply shaded areas. Often some form of additional lighting will enhance a subject. Lighting can be a LED torch with a snoot (Pringles cylinder snoot has been promoted by Viet and Allan Williams. I use a rolled up section of thin cardboard taped together), a LED array light, off-camera flash with a diffuser to soften the light, or bounce flash off a matt piece of white cardboard. 

It is important that the lighting direction looks believable (lighting that only lights up underneath the fungi doesn’t happen naturally).

Clothing Considerations:

Water proof footwear: 

Rubber boots are a great option. There is nothing worse than wet cold feet.

Protection: 

Drop sheet is good for putting on the ground when you need to lay down or kneel down low. Water proof pants are a good option If it is raining, put a “rain-coat” (aka plastic bag) over you camera/lens. Have your wet weather gear.