a fungus among us
by John Clulow
On my way the zoo to try to get something for this week's challenge (WC#578), after stopping to take the picture of the kite for the Man and Nature gallery, I was going to be driving past Nelson Lake Forest Perserve and I'd been eyeing some shelf fungus for about a week, so I said, "What the heck, why don't you stop and take a picture of it since you have your camera on the seat beside you?"
So I turn on to Nelson Lake Road and there is this driver behind me who is really in a hurry while I'm trying to be sure I don't drive past the fungus. I said to myself, "You know what? You're retired, you're not going to be late for the zoo: Just let them deal with it." And I did.
So here is my picture of the fungus. I never liked fungus, really, but I've found it can grow on you. And one thing about the flora forum, the moderator once told me that, "If it grows, it goes."
Pentax K-5, Tamron 17-50 at 50mm, f/8, 1/160, ISO 100, slight polarizer setting.
I liked mainly the lines and the fungus and the clouds. Any and all thoughts would be appreciated.
Comments
7 commentsJohn
I went back there and arrived almost 24 hours to the minute at the time I took the picture yesterday; same lens, same camera, but this time I went down to f/2.6 which is as wide as that lens goes. Due to my inability to get closer on account of a big ditch and the proximity of the trees behind. I don't think it made much difference.
The cool thing is I left to turn around and go home so I could see what happened and post it. But a funny thing happened on the way to the forum:
I got down to the first place I could turn around -- the entrance to Dick Young / Nelson Lake Forest Preserve -- only to find it crammed with forest preserve trucks and guys in fire proof suits. Sure enough, they were doing a burn and they would let me shoot it since I'd gone through the Fire Marshall's course and had done burns myself. So I raced home to get the 300 mm and tripod and shot 130 images over the next two hours. I'm sure I'll post some on NPN.
So in getting up and responding to your idea right away, Rick, I was trying to act out what I believe; the cause-and-effect nature of our interactions here on NPN. In this case, acting on your suggestion led to a unique opportunity. Sometimes cause and effect, like in billiards, is like sinking a planned shot, and other times, as in this case, it's more like the break where balls go everywhere and sometimes one or more go in a pocket. This was more like the break.
On NPN, that's how we roll !! That's how we roll !!