Macro Photography Session | Fungal Microcosms

Hello everybody :)

Today i share a set of macro photographs that reveal the microcosm that unfolds in a small piece of bark that was carefully removed from the trunk of a pine tree.
The symbiosis between the structure of the bark and the colonization of the fungus creates a very interesting visual tapestry. Close observation of these images allows an in-depth appreciation of the complexities of this symbiotic relationship.
The presence of the fungus highlights the richness of fungal biodiversity in these specific ecosystems, suggesting specialized adaptations to colonize pine bark.
Although it is possible to visualize the intricate structures of the fungus, from the delicate spores to the filaments that intertwine on the surface of the shell, unfortunately it was no longer possible to capture the unique architecture of the mycelium, as i believe that this integration was already at an advanced stage, having already passed that phase in which it is possible to visualize all that branching mass responsible for bringing all the nutrients it needs to the fungus to develop and carry out the symbiosis process.

The palette of neutral tones is carefully preserved in the photographs, highlighting the tonal variations of the fungus and bark, providing a visual understanding of the phenotypic adaptations. This feature contributes to a broader appreciation of the evolutionary interactions between fungi and their host environments.
With this session, i aim to demonstrate the often overlooked complexity in natural microcosms and promote a deeper understanding of fundamental ecological interactions that occur at microscopic scales, emphasizing the importance of preserving ecological diversity at all levels of the biosphere.

Before moving onto the result...

• My introductory thoughts about macro photography:

It's amazing how macros with their blurred background can result in such different images full of contrasts and textures especially with this kind of subjects.
In the world of photography, especially macro photography, there is a universe of things available to everyone, enabling totally different and original approaches.

Among the various possible techniques to shoot macros, this is perhaps the most affordable and effective technique for those who have a camera with removable lens.
We can simply remove the lens and reverse the direction, and by using an inverter ring it ends up being more comfortable and facilitates the process.

Let's now move onto the result:

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It ended up resulting in a session of about 75% neutral tones, despite having added a little gray pigmentation to create some distinction and distance the register from a more accentuated neutrality.
Maybe it would have been a good bet to leave the tones unchanged, but in the end i'm satisfied with the result.

The session is closed for today.
Hope you like it :)

These photos weren't taken with a tripod

Photo by @aleister
Camera - Canon EOS 600D
Lens - EFS 18-55mm
Location - Portugal

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