Tan fungus
Within sight of the kidneywood that I photographed in my neighborhood on October 10 was this tan fungus growing on a broken-off piece of dead branch. I’d have thought that the patterned side of the fungus would be facing the branch, but that tells you how little I know about such things.
For those of you who are interested in photography as a craft, points 1, 2, 4, 8 and 19 in About My Techniques are relevant to this photograph.
© 2012 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
Beautiful structure. I wonder if those tiny black spots are related to the fungus, or are perhaps another kind of mold? Every time I see one of these photos I can’t help thinking about “the fungus among us”. I finally went searching for the origin of the phrase and of course everything seems to lead past Seinfeld, back into the mists of the 1970s. There was a 1996 book for young scientists written by Carol Benati that has the phrase as its title, but that’s all I know.
Well, except that I really like the photo.
shoreacres
October 23, 2012 at 7:56 AM
Yes, it was the structure that appealed to me, too. I also noticed the black spots, which I assume are a type of mold; perhaps someone can confirm that.
As for your phrase, which I hadn’t thought about in a long time, I just did a search on books.google.com and turned up an example of “There’s a Fungus Among Us” from Potato Handbook, by The Potato Association of America, in 1956. It’s likely that a spoken version of that phrase would have been circulating, perhaps for years, before its first appearance in print.
Steve Schwartzman
October 23, 2012 at 8:26 AM
Always interesting, photos and comments alike!
Bonnie Michelle
October 23, 2012 at 10:22 AM
Taking the pictures is fun, and so is the interaction that results from posting them. There’s a lot to learn.
Steve Schwartzman
October 23, 2012 at 10:39 AM
There is beauty in just about all apects of nature and you certainly know how to to locate and photograph these little jewels. It provides your viewers/readers/ commenters entertainment with something new everyday. Thank you.
petspeopleandlife
October 23, 2012 at 12:28 PM
You’re quite welcome, Yvonne. I’m grateful for the opportunity to keep seeing new things and seeing familiar things in new ways.
Steve Schwartzman
October 23, 2012 at 12:56 PM
In nature’s smallest places beauty hides. Great artistic photo against a dark background.
mary mageau
October 23, 2012 at 6:26 PM
Thanks for your appreciation. Small details appeal to me.
Steve Schwartzman
October 23, 2012 at 7:03 PM
[…] within sight of the kidneywood and the tan fungus that I photographed in my neighborhood on the damp morning of October 10 was this flower of a pearl […]
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October 24, 2012 at 6:10 AM
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October 25, 2012 at 6:06 AM
I know nothing of this sort of thing. I learn much by what you photograph and share. I think you have given this fungus some sort of life, as well. Before I read, I asked myself what sort of creature it was! 🙂
lesliepaints
October 26, 2012 at 3:18 PM
Thanks for letting me know you felt I added vitality to this fungus. I confess I don’t know much about it, either, but I enjoy looking and recording what I see.
Steve Schwartzman
October 26, 2012 at 3:21 PM