Autumn in the Otways is a wonderful time as seasons change and winter approaches. It's a good time to be out with your camera and on your knees. Quite likely "flat out like a lizard drinking" because there's exciting images to be found on the ground. The mass of fungi is amazing! All shapes and colours and sizes, including these old funky fungi with attitude.

 

This funky old fungi had real presence and attitude, like an old warrior, so I wanted to get down low and accentuate his size. The light on the day was softer than I'd have liked so I added contrast via high pass sharpening afterwards.

 

To do these beauties justice you have to get down low, watching out for cow pats and ant nests before you settle in. It's a still life but also a portrait. So light and a good angle is important, with a shallow depth of field to separate the subject from background and foreground. 

 

My choice of lens is a Canon 100mm 2.8 macro, which is also my favourite portrait lens, but you can use any lens that will let you focus close enough. The idea is to fill the frame and bring some drama and poise to the subject. If you have trouble focussing closer pull back a little and then do the ideal crop after in Light Room or CC. Another way is to get an extension ring, not expensive as they have no glass in them, which allows you to halve your minimum focus distance and get closer to your subject.

 

So even when the weather turns cool and damp you don't have to look very far to find interesting subjects on which to hone your skills.