The Listener
Before / After
Explanation
What makes this image work is the balance between darkness, texture, and separation. The lighting underneath the mushroom reveals the detailed gills while the soft halos help isolate the subject from the background without overpowering it.
The strong blue and warm contrast adds atmosphere and gives the scene a more cinematic feel, while the dreamy highlights created by the steel wool help reinforce the emotional mood of the image.
Because the subject stays surrounded by darkness, the mushroom almost feels alive… quietly emerging from the forest.
The strong blue and warm contrast adds atmosphere and gives the scene a more cinematic feel, while the dreamy highlights created by the steel wool help reinforce the emotional mood of the image.
Because the subject stays surrounded by darkness, the mushroom almost feels alive… quietly emerging from the forest.
Gear Used
– Adaptalux Flexible LED Lights
– amaran Ace 25c
– Steel wool
– Tripod
– amaran Ace 25c
– Steel wool
– Tripod
Settings
Camera: Canon R5
Lens: RF 100mm Macro
Aperture: f/2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/160s
ISO: 400
Focus stacking: ~70 images
Lens: RF 100mm Macro
Aperture: f/2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/160s
ISO: 400
Focus stacking: ~70 images
Breakdown
I started by positioning the camera slightly below the mushroom to reveal the texture underneath the cap while keeping the composition symmetrical and isolated from the background.
Since the forest still felt too bright, I underexposed the scene by about two stops to create room for artificial lighting and deepen the atmosphere.
I placed light (2) on the left side to create the main direction of light and reveal the shape of the mushroom while casting shadow on the opposite side for depth.
Then I added steel wool (4) behind the subject and illuminated it using light (5) to create dreamy blue highlights and stronger color separation in the background.
I positioned light (3) slightly above and behind the mushroom to create a soft halo around the top and lower base of the subject.
I then added lights (6) and (7) behind the mushroom on both sides to create subtle halos and improve separation from the darker forest background.
The key part here was slowly shaping the scene with very small amounts of light instead of trying to brighten everything equally.
I captured around 70 images at f/2.8 and stacked them in post to maintain sharp detail underneath the mushroom while preserving large soft highlights in the background.
Since the forest still felt too bright, I underexposed the scene by about two stops to create room for artificial lighting and deepen the atmosphere.
I placed light (2) on the left side to create the main direction of light and reveal the shape of the mushroom while casting shadow on the opposite side for depth.
Then I added steel wool (4) behind the subject and illuminated it using light (5) to create dreamy blue highlights and stronger color separation in the background.
I positioned light (3) slightly above and behind the mushroom to create a soft halo around the top and lower base of the subject.
I then added lights (6) and (7) behind the mushroom on both sides to create subtle halos and improve separation from the darker forest background.
The key part here was slowly shaping the scene with very small amounts of light instead of trying to brighten everything equally.
I captured around 70 images at f/2.8 and stacked them in post to maintain sharp detail underneath the mushroom while preserving large soft highlights in the background.
Quick Tip
In macro photography, separation matters more than brightness. Small halos, subtle shadows, and controlled background contrast will usually create a stronger image than simply adding more light everywhere.
Final Thoughts
This shot was built gradually in darkness rather than with one strong light, and I think that’s what gives it this quiet feeling. The mushroom almost disappears into the forest while still feeling alive… like it’s simply standing there listening.
