avatarAnne Bonfert

Summary

The web content is a photo essay by Anne Bonfert that captures the allure and complexity of mushrooms in their natural habitat, emphasizing the importance of knowledge for safe consumption and the beauty of these fungi as photographic subjects.

Abstract

Anne Bonfert's photo essay, "It's All About the Mushroom," provides a visual documentary of the diverse and intriguing world of fungi found in the woods. While acknowledging the potential dangers of misidentification due to the deceptive appearance of some mushrooms, Bonfert celebrates their aesthetic and culinary value, noting that with the right knowledge, mushrooms can enhance meals or serve as medicine. The essay underscores the importance of expertise when foraging for edible mushrooms and suggests that, for the uninitiated, the safest interaction with these organisms is through the lens of a camera. The essay is accompanied by stunning photographs that showcase the beauty of mushrooms in their natural settings, inviting readers to appreciate their unique forms and the timeliness of their growth with the arrival of the rains.

Opinions

  • The author, Anne Bonfert, expresses a personal reluctance to pick mushrooms due to a lack of sufficient knowledge, highlighting the risks associated with misidentification.
  • Mushrooms are described as visually appealing and potentially delicious when the correct species are chosen, but they can also be dangerous if consumed without proper identification.
  • The essay conveys a sense of wonder and admiration for mushrooms, recognizing their role as both a culinary ingredient and a subject of artistic photography.
  • The author encourages those without mycological expertise to engage with mushrooms through photography, experimenting with camera settings and perspectives instead of flavors.
  • There is an appreciation for the natural context in which mushrooms grow, with a call to observe and marvel at their beauty amidst the grass and following the rains.
  • The essay includes a quote from Alphonse Allais, which humorously suggests that the umbrella-like shape of some mushrooms is an adaptation to their damp environments.
  • Readers are invited to explore more of the author's work by joining an email list or subscribing to a Medium membership, indicating a desire to share more photo essays and potentially benefit from commission fees through membership sign-ups.

NATURE. PHOTO ESSAY.

It's All About the Mushroom

A photographic documentary of growing fungi in the woods

Credit: Anne Bonfert

They aren’t always pretty looking. Or edible. Sometimes they mislead us. Due to their color or shape. Which is why I’d never pick up a mushroom. I just don’t know enough about them.

But they are attractive. And tasty. Suppose you got the right ones. And not the ones you can only eat once. They can make good pasta or spice up your pizza. Mushrooms can be decoration or medicine.

All you need is knowledge.

Otherwise, they are just that.

Fungi growing in the woods.

Credit: Anne Bonfert

Then there is only one thing you can do. Bring out the camera and take some pictures. You can experiment with the settings instead of the flavors.

Credit: Anne Bonfert

You can change the focus and the perspective. Maybe even the background. If you turn around.

Credit: Anne Bonfert

Otherwise, just stop for a moment.

Credit: Anne Bonfert

Take in the beauty of a single mushroom growing in the meadow. Hidden between countless blades of grass. Because well, the rains just arrived and there’s no better time than now.

Credit: Anne Bonfert

Here we go. A selection of mushrooms for you.

These ones are just for the eye.

To look at and marvel in admiration.

Credit: Anne Bonfert

“Mushrooms grow in damp places. That’s why they are shaped like an umbrella.” — Alphonse Allais

More about mushrooms:

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Mushrooms
Nature
Inspiration
Photography
Creativity
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