Look carefully before you start photographing
When you want to photograph mushrooms, it's a good idea to take your time and walk slowly. Many species are small and hardly stand out among leaves and moss. Pay particular attention to damp areas and around dead wood. Fallen trees, stumps, and old branches are often good places to search. In areas like the Waterloopbos, Bergherbos, and Voorsterbos, you will encounter these kinds of conditions frequently.
Have you found a beautiful or interesting mushroom? Then don't immediately grab your camera or phone. First, take a good look at the surroundings. For example, pay attention to the background. Are there distracting branches? Do you see light spots between the trees? Or is there perhaps a second mushroom that you can use to create a nice composition?
Go lower for a stronger image
Many people who take photos of mushrooms for the first time do this from directly above. This makes sense, as you can see the subject while walking. However, a low angle often results in more interesting images.
So, kneel down or sit close to the ground. Photograph at about the same height as the mushroom itself. This way, you not only see the top of the cap but also the shape and often a bit of the underside. You also gain more depth in your image. The foreground and background blend together more beautifully.
A small tripod or a rice bag can be handy when you want to photograph this low. You can also place your camera on the ground for support, but make sure your equipment stays dry. In Lusthof de Haeck in South Holland, you can practice well with these kinds of low angles. There, moss, leaves, and small forest details provide many opportunities.
Choose wisely how much environment you show
A mushroom doesn't always have to be large in the frame. With a macro lens, you can get very close and capture the smallest details. Think of the structure of a cap, droplets, or the gills under a mushroom.
But sometimes the environment is interesting. With a standard lens, you can also capture leaves, tree trunks, or a forest path. This works well in places like the Oisterwijkse Bossen, Koningshof, and Oud Groevenbeek. There, old trees, wide avenues, and autumn colors form an important part of the landscape.
For example, try taking multiple photos of the same subject. Start close and then create an image that shows more of the environment. By trying out multiple things, you'll discover which approach works best.
Use soft light to your advantage
Bright sunlight is not always ideal for mushrooms. The light areas of the cap can quickly become very bright, while the underside remains very dark. Cloudy days are often much easier. Because the clouds diffuse the sunlight, you get much less harsh shadows. That soft light also helps to make small structures and colors clearly visible.
Also, just after a rain shower, it can be interesting to go out. Droplets on mushrooms, leaves, and moss give your photos extra detail. In the Kaapse Bossen, mushrooms are especially visible after rain according to Natuurmonumenten. But it also pays off to look for mushrooms on other forest routes after a wet period.
If one side of your mushroom is very dark, you can use a small white card to bounce some light back. This doesn't have to be anything more than a piece of cardboard with a sheet of white paper stuck on it. This works as a simple reflector. So you don't need to take expensive accessories into the forest.
Pay attention to shutter speed and ISO in a dark forest
In a forest, there is often less light available. Especially when you are photographing close to the ground, it can get quite dark. If you are shooting in aperture priority mode, your camera may choose a longer shutter speed. The chance of your photos becoming blurry due to slight camera movement increases significantly.
You can increase your ISO when shooting handheld. However, a higher ISO can cause more noise. A tripod is therefore handy if you want to minimize noise and photograph with a longer shutter speed.
If you still want to shoot handheld, check occasionally to see if your image is really sharp. Do this using the screen on the back of your camera and zoom in completely on the area where you have focused.
Think beyond just a close-up
A striking fly agaric is, of course, an attractive subject. But try not to just make a record of the mushroom you have found. Keep thinking about your composition as well. At the 's-Gravelandse Buitenplaatsen, for example, you will find old park forests where fly agarics regularly appear. An avenue, old tree, or autumn leaf can very well become part of the bigger picture.
The Dwingelderveld is also interesting if you want to combine different types of nature photography. Here you can alternate between broader landscapes and smaller subjects in the forest. Pay attention to calm backgrounds while photographing. A bright branch or light spot can attract a lot of attention.
Usually, you only need to move your camera a few centimeters for this. Feel free to include some leaves, moss, or soil in the frame, as long as it doesn't distract. Those elements actually tell something about the environment where you found the mushroom. That said: never move or damage a mushroom for a photo.
Ten routes where you can practice these techniques
Do you want to go out this autumn? Natuurmonumenten selected ten routes where many different mushrooms can be found. These include the Waterloopbos and Voorsterbos in Flevoland, the Oisterwijkse Bossen in North Brabant, and the Bergherbos and Oud Groevenbeek in Gelderland. The 's-Gravelandse Buitenplaatsen and Koningshof in North Holland are also on the list.
In Utrecht, you can visit the Kaapse Bossen, while Lusthof de Haeck is located in South Holland. The Dwingelderveld is in Drenthe.
Each of these locations looks different. This way, you can also come home with many different photos. Consider the route you choose as the starting point. The best part about mushroom photography is that you never really know exactly what you will find beforehand. Walk slowly, look around carefully, and try out different perspectives. Sometimes a small mushroom among the moss will ultimately yield your favorite photo from the walk.
