Look down and notice the mushrooms
Local amateur photographer, Emma Howcroft, started noticing the abundance of fungi in our area when she started walking with her puppy. Investing in a macro camera, Emma explores Richmond Park and local commons, photographing the life of mushrooms right at our feet
I became a mycological photographer purely by chance. It all started following a bout of illness and a puppy purchase; walking became a new and inescapable fixture. I was properly introduced to the place where I had lived for years, yet somehow ignored. Every dog walk became an adventure and discovery. My dog’s inquisitiveness rubbed off on me and I started to stop and notice mushrooms. It was not long before I invested in a macro camera and immersed myself into the fantastical world of fungi.
Fungi keep the planet’s lights on. They have more similarities to animals than plants and provide a myriad of eco-services which go unnoticed by so many. They turn rock to soil, they recycle much of our dead matter, they form symbiotic relationships with plants and trade nitrogen and phosphorous for carbon and fats, they store carbon dioxide in our soil and are responsible for many of the active ingredients in our medicines, such as penicillin.
September and October are great months for mushroom spotting for the entire family. You can find Puffballs and Earthstars on Sheen Common and Parasols, Beefsteak fungi and Fly Agaric in Richmond Park. Every season brings something new. If you own a garden, you can help your plant life by not being so quick to remove the mycorrhizal fungi from your lawns and flower beds. The Mushroom Guide and Identifier by Jordan and Kilkenny is an excellent book to help you identify commonly found mushrooms. You can find more photos, inspiration and resources at mycologicalphotographer.com