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MACROWORLD – Macro Photography Tutorial…How To Shoot Mushrooms



In his latest macro photography tips and tricks tutorial, Ray Scott shows you not only how to get the best mushroom photos but also where and when to find them. He shows you some of the equipment he uses from his 100mm macro lens to Kenko extension tubes to his macro ring flash and more. He encourages all to get down low and photograph at different aperture values so as to create really different looking mushroom images.

When in studio or in the field Ray uses Canon gear. This is a choice he made years ago knowing that he was buying into a system that he could grow into. His go to camera is the Canon EOS 6D with the second camera being a Canon 5D. Lenses used are all L series f/4 except for the macro lens which is a 100mm f/2.8L. 16-35mm f/4L, 24-105mm f/4L, and 70-200mm f/4L round out the kit which is carried about with either a Lowepro Urban Reporter 250 messenger bag for city shooting or a Lowepro Sling Bag for landscape field work. While Ray does more camera handholding than before due to the image stabilization capabilities of his various lenses, he still is a believer in using his Manfrotto carbon fibre tripod. It’s light and it is sturdy.

Ray is a firm believer in exposing himself to as much photography and its history as possible. By looking at other people’s photos, he has gained a big appreciation of what this medium has to offer. Ray doesn’t think that “copying” someone else’s style is a good thing but rather feels that exposing oneself to others work can work as a teaching and inspirational tool. With this in mind, Ray has amassed a list of favorite photographers that he uses for inspiration. Some of these artistic photographers are Galen Rowell, Ansel Adams, Frans Lanting, Annie Leibovitz, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, Freeman Patterson, William Neill and Richard Avedon.

One of the playlists on this channel is called “neighbourhood photographer” which covers tutorials shot in urban and suburban areas. It’s always a challenge to see different things of interest when you’ve been to an area many times yet this is the best way to create good images. You need to return to familiar locations many times. To do so, Ray often drives by car to an area but when he really wants to cover ground yet see things more clearly, he uses his bicycle…bike…and explores the given place.

Whether shooting landscape, macro, portrait or abstract images, Ray always tries to be aware of his surroundings to capture the best pictures possible. Part of this workflow means he is very aware of composition and uses various tips, such as the rule of thirds, as a good starting point in composing. He also likes to break rules from time to time to add new effects to his photos. Being aware of angles, shadows, shapes, lines, textures, patterns and colours goes a long way to making good pictures. He is also a big believer in “getting out there” and shooting as much as possible as it is the only way to improve and flex one’s imagination. His message is it doesn’t matter if you do your photography in the city, suburbs country, mountains or by the sea, just make sure you do it and follow your artistic passion.

Find me also on…
Facebook…https://www.facebook.com/visart66?ref=hl
Website…https://www.visart.ca

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25 responses to “MACROWORLD – Macro Photography Tutorial…How To Shoot Mushrooms”

  2. These are really wonderful pictures and I love mushrooms (not to eat but to look at) I don’t have a camera to test these things (Cameras are SO EXPENSIVE especially for just a kid like me) out but I’m sure they work well from the other comments.

  5. Great video. One method I use to support my camera is a small bean bag. You can get small polystyrene beads from most craft shops and just fill a soft bag. It really supports the camera very well. Keep the good work going.

  6. I've just discovered your channel. Absolutely brilliant. Your tips and techniques are giving me some great new ideas. Just bought a macro lens, so I'll be using some of your advice! Thanks for sharing.

  13. I love fungi but alas I am unable to get down to their level at my age! How do you keep a tripod steady on the ground? I do have a small table-top tripod, but even getting down to use that is hazardous for me. I've wondered if there's a way of getting round all this but there we are …. I must say you are the best photography tutor – you have a super voice and your video sound is clear – just how I like it!

  14. Fantastic pictures! Love the red cap one. Did you use flash in that one? It looks like the red top is quite shiny. Went out recently to specifically photograph mushrooms and did find a few but didn't realize it would be so dark in the forest. A lot of camera shake:(

  18. I take medication that makes me shake, so for me a tripod is a necessity because as you know the slightest movement is massively exaggerated. But luckily though you can get them to super low these days and those that don't I believe you can put the centre column in upside down but I have never done that so I don't know how well it works. Do you ever use a rail and do focus stacking? And if so do you use Photoshop or one of these specialist programs? I've had very mixed results with Photoshop but I just blend the the layers that haven't come out right by hand. Some great shots there, I like the hexagon bokeh as well and you also have a lot of interesting fungi in your garden. I don't know the difference between poisonous and non poisonous mushrooms and toadstools and they drop their spores on the ground all around them so sensible precautions are called for if your knowledge is as inadequate as mine. A great video about a fascinating type of photography which you can bring indoors on a wet day.

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