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Saprotrophic Microcosm
3rd PlaceSaprotrophic Microcosm
kanaj


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Biology II (Standard Editing)
Collection: Portfolio
Camera: Canon PowerShot SX540 HS
Location: Lee County, Texas (USA)
Date: Jul 9, 2025
Aperture: 5.0
ISO: 400
Shutter: 1/60
Date Uploaded: Jul 10, 2025

 Tough challenge to shoot for, but my first thought when I heard about this challenge was to look for some cool compositions that would involve fungi--inspired by a marvelous documentary film I watched a few years ago that completely opened my eyes to the wonders of this popularly misunderstood yet oh-so-vital kingdom within the various biomes of the world. In this case, it's the forest biome in view, and here we see the interaction of three distinct kingdoms (decomposing plant life, fungi breaking that down to form components of the soil for new plant life, and a teensy insect from the animal kingdom taking advantage of and potentially feeding from the mushroom structure used to reproduce the mycelium you can't even see underground).

I don't know whether voters will see in it what I do, but even if this photo bombs in the challenge, I hope others will appreciate the world-within-a-world this tiny scene represents, which for me is the essence of biology.



*** AFTER RESULTS ***

Thrilled that this one seems to have connected with others. :-) Was also thrilled to see how many of the entries--so many beautiful ones this challenge!--feature fungi and/or scavenger species. There's something deeply poetic about that to me.

Statistics
Place: 3 out of 17
Avg (all users): 6.7200
Avg (participants): 6.8000
Avg (non-participants): 6.6667
Views since voting: 189
Views during voting: 51
Votes: 25
Comments: 5
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
 07/26/2025 11:57:29 PM
I love a good fungi image, and this one certainly is! Amazing job to get the mushroom to look huge against the insect.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/26/2025 08:23:50 PM
Outstanding Macro. The DOF makes it feel much bigger than it really is but the insect brings the viewer back to reality. Congrats on a well thought out and executed composition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/25/2025 11:20:23 AM
Congrats! Really nice macro and the dof is perfect! If you enjoy fungi facts, look up Merlin Sheldrake if you don't already know him.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
07/24/2025 10:21:27 AM
Love the shrooms!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/19/2025 10:30:19 PM
So touching and modest
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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