On a slightly cloudy afternoon, I decided to explore one of the forests in Muara Batu District, precisely in Kuala Dua Village. The trip from my house took about an hour, and I arrived there at around five in the afternoon, West Indonesia Time. My main goal was to find mushrooms to photograph using a macro lens, but this trip also took me to various interesting insects that I encountered along the way.
After entering the field in the forest, I immediately focused on finding mushrooms. My eyes were sharp searching every corner, hoping to find an interesting object. However, until night began to fall, I had not found a single mushroom. At that time, I began to hesitate, whether to go home or continue searching in the dark forest. But, it seemed that luck was on my side.
When I decided to go home, my eyes fell on two small mushrooms that were so beautiful, hidden among the rotting leaves. The first mushroom I found was Mycena, growing on rotting coconut leaves. Even though it was getting dark, it didn't stop me. Luckily, I brought an additional light in my bag to take macro photos at night. I immediately took several pictures of the Mycena mushroom with full focus. Although the atmosphere was getting darker and a little tense, I remained excited.
After I finished photographing the Mycena mushroom, I continued my search and found a second mushroom. This mushroom was growing on a rotting sengon tree branch. This type of mushroom is Favolaschia, and although the mushroom was a little scratched—perhaps from an animal or a fallen branch—it still looked stunning. I photographed this mushroom with a green light effect to give a dramatic feel to the photo.
After being satisfied photographing the two mushrooms, I also had time to take pictures of the atmosphere around the forest, including a small irrigation stream that added to the beauty of the forest at night. However, I did not linger, because the night was getting darker and I began to worry about the possibility of wild animals or snakes, considering that I was alone in the middle of the forest.
This experience was nerve-wracking, but also incredibly rewarding. These two mushrooms were a lifesaver on a dark night, and I can’t wait to share these photos with the #FungiFriday community.
Every photography trip has its challenges, especially when dealing with wildlife at night. However, experiences like this always remind me of the wonders of nature that often hide in unexpected places. With patience and a little luck, we can find beauty around every corner. Hopefully these photos can inspire my friends in the community to continue exploring and enjoying the charm of nature, even in unexpected situations.
NOTE: I first wrote the article above in Indonesian, which is my own language, then I translated it using English with the help of Goggle.