The equipment: minimalist, but effective
Wiesner is on the road with an OM-1 Mark II camera, equipped with a macro lens with a focal length of 90 mm. In order to optimally illuminate the motif, he uses compact LED lamp, including the Lumis Solo 2 -A practical LED cube that is delivered with accessories such as color foils and a spot resolution. This equipment is not only easy, but also offers enough flexibility to work in the forest without having to carry heavy tripods or elaborate lighting technology.
Das Setting: Near perspectives for unique details
In the first setting, Wiesner places the camera directly on the floor without using an additional tripod. His goal: to photograph the mushroom from an extremely low perspective in order to capture the fine details of the slats under the cap. Branches and leaves that are in the way are carefully removed, but nature remains largely untouched.
In order to optimally prepare the image section, it leaves some space on the left and right to have enough scope for later focus stacking. The camera benefits him, which automatically combines the recordings internally.
Focus stacking is a technique in photography, in which several images with different focus points are taken and then combined into a single picture. The aim is to achieve a continuous sharpness from the foreground to the background. This method is particularly used in macro and landscape photography if the depth of field is not sufficient to focus on all the image areas at the same time.
Magical light: play with white balance and color temperatures
An important aspect of Wiesner's technology is the targeted lighting design. For his recordings, he places the white balance to 3,000k to create a bluish tone. The mushrooms look like they are illuminated by mystical moonlight. This effect is supported by an open aperture of around 3.5, which creates a soft background. It compensates for the lower depth of field through focus stacking, which can automatically process the camera internally.
For a manual alternative, he recommends the use of a macro led to set the focus levels manually and later to put the images together in software.
Creative light sources: the use of LED lamp
In addition, Wiesner relies on the Lumis Solo 2 and that Lumis Compact RGBto perfectly illuminate the fungus. He plays with different colors, such as light blue or orange, to stage the fungus. It is important that the light does not come from the front. Instead, Wiesner advises to position the light source on the side, diagonally from behind or from above. This creates a more pleasant and natural illumination.
Bokeh effect by steel wool: a clever trick
A little problem on this forest tour: The missing sunshine ensures that Wiesner misses the desired bokeh in the background - as from a glittering stream. But here too it shows a simple solution. He spans some steel wool on two mini-tripods, like that Funky or Monkey Pod, and illuminates them with another Lumis Solo 2. The bluish appearance of the LED lights creates a similar effect that gives the image depth.
Creative tips for special recordings
In addition to classic mushroom photography, Wiesner also recommends trying out various settings. A mushroom that grows out of a tree trunk can be as fascinating as the striking, red and white caps of a toadstool. The conscious use of light and perspective can be wonderfully captured.
Conclusion: mushroom photography without much effort
Stephan Wiesner impressively shows how you can create impressive mushroom shots with little equipment and without complex post -processing. With the right camera, a few LED lights and a creative approach, unique motifs can be found and captured in the forest. Try it out yourself - the forest is waiting for you with many small, hidden wonders!
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