When I came across this fungi my initial thought was that it looked like an ear. I couldn't help but think of Vincent Van Gogh's cut off ear being somehow surrealistically transposed in time and lying there in front of me. Indeed, woods are mysterious places that often bring out the primeaval and irrational in me. Anyway, the reference to the ear wasn't as subjective as I had assumed because when I arrived home and looked-up my 'Mushrooms and Toadstools' Field Guide, I was delighted to find a match and yes you guessed it, it's called, 'Jelly Ear' (Auricularia auricula).
Hand-held at f16 using Tokina 35mm macro. The small aperture really brings out the detail and gives an indication of the wooded background. I'm beginning to love this lens and I can see that it has great potential for macro/environmental captures.
Not sure which I prefer the softer, more dreamy atmosphere of this capture at f5.6 or the bitingly sharp, environmental look of the previous f16 shot.
This hand-held 4 shot stack helps to put the fungi in context.
Hand-held 3 shot stack from a different angle.
Finally, a single hand held shot.
