The leaves are changing color, the serviceberry trees are a deep red, the red oak trees are orange red and the birches are slowly turning into golden yellow colors. On the forest floor it is a party of colored leaves and splurges of mushrooms. It seems this year after the dry summer that the toadstools have done their best after a few rain showers. In my local patch under a few red oak trees, the Magpie inkcap (Coprinus picaceus) grow every year. This beautiful toadstools with a brown conical hat covers with white spots (velum), that's what gives this toadstool its name in dutch “spechtinktzwam” because the spots resemble the plumage of the great spotted woodpecker (Wikipedia). This color scheme stood out well among the leaves of the red oaks.

The advantage of this subject is that toadstools stands patiently and you have the opportunity to look at it from all sides and then determine the best composition and then make the image. This seems simple, but I still need the necessary time to finish with a satisfied image. To make an image that I am satisfied with, I need peace of mind and that is unfortunately not always present, so I like to go back when it is a bit quieter in my head. I think this is great advice to photograph a subject several times in a short time, learning by doing is my mantra.

The above method is quite a challenge for me because I try to go beyond the recording image, however there is nothing wrong with making that kind of image. The dreamy character or shooting into the sun with an red oak tree leaf in front of the lens so that only the silhouette is visible, are possibilities that I like to try out. Trial and error in other words just do it over and over again until you are satisfied. The details in the ink drops or the stains on the hat also lend themselves well to abstract images. I'm not completely satisfied with the latter yet and this part need some practice. To be continued!

More images in the “New Work” gallery.

Enjoy!

Otlis Sampimon Outdoor Photography