MUSHROOM WHISPERING
Check out our March photography tips, find out about the second screening of FOLLOW THE RAIN where you can do a double bill with THE MUSHROOM WHISPERERS. Watch Merlin Sheldrake’s Q&A at the UK launch of the IMAX film FUNGI: WEB OF LIFE and so much more ….
Mauve splitting waxcap (Porpolomopsis lewelliniae)
MARCH PHOTOGRAPHY TIP - COMPLIMENTARY COLOURS.
Stephen’s tip when it comes to colour and backgrounds is think of your mushroom photography as environmental portrait photography. You want to capture a story of your character in its environment but you also want it to pop out from the background.
One great strategy is to find complementary colours in your background.
You want your character to be in the light, the background out of focus and uncluttered.
You may be able to select an angle where the background has complementary colours, or you may be able to position something in the background, like a mossy log or rock. And if your character is on a moveable substrate, you may be able to reposition and choose a background that is of a contrasting colour. Examples are oranges on blues, blues on reds, purples on greens, etc.
Make sure both the subject and background are shaded.
Use a piece of aluminium foil to throw some light onto the underside of the subject.
Be sure to put your subject back precisely how you found it so others get to enjoy it, and it can continue to do its thing in the ecosystem.
Download our free How to photograph and describe my fungus field guide.
Remember to upload your photographs and observations to iNaturalist to help expand the knowledge of species identification and distribution.
For more advanced photography tips you can stream Stephen Axford’s
Masterclass in macro fungi photography
or watch this free video on YouTube about Focus bracketing with the Sony α7R V.
Watch the official trailer for FOLLOW THE RAIN on YouTube
FOLLOW THE RAIN - second screening
10 March – midday
The World Premiere of FOLLOW THE RAIN Planet Fungi’s new feature documentary is a sell-out. In response, Bangalow Film Festival has announced a SECOND SCREENING.
Sunday 10/3 – midday
World-famous fungi hunters, Stephen Axford and Catherine Marciniak, take us into the hidden realm of fungi to discover why they are critical to life as we know it.
Find out more about FOLLOW THE RAIN
And following this session is the not to be missed THE MUSHROOM WHISPERERS
THE MUSHROOM WHISPERERS at Bangalow Film Festival
Sunday 10 March – 3.00 pm
Romano Crivici and Carla Thackrah, the composers behind the magnificent score of the documentary FOLLOW THE RAIN, have composed and designed a sensual live music event, partnering with Planet Fungi to provide the visuals to accompany their creation.
Romano and Carla are joined by one of Australia’s finest didgeridoo players Mark Atkins, and multi-instrumentalist Jess Ciampa with the quartet bringing you music that expresses fungi's inner rhythm and other-worldly beauty, specially composed and improvised to a backdrop of Planet Fungi’s exquisite time-lapses and forest footage.
We can’t wait to watch this performance.
And there are a whole smorgasbord of wonderful films and special events at the Bangalow Film Festival.
IMAX documentary FUNGI: WEB OF LIFE
Last month we were thrilled to attend the launch of FUNGI: Web of Life in London. The Q&A with Merlin Sheldrake after the screening was thoughtful, funny, and inspiring … he is such an incredibly powerful and, at the same time, gentle voice for the fungi.
Fungi: Web of Life is about how fungi have shaped life on Earth for over a billion years and how we might partner with them to adapt to the radical change of our times.
Narrated by Björk, presented by Merlin Sheldrake, distributor K2 Studios, produced by Stranger than Fiction Films and Definition Studios, directed by Gisela Kaufmann and Joseph Nizeti, written by Catherine Marciniak and Joseph Nizeti and cinematography by Cam Batten. Time-lapses by Stephen Axford, Wim van Egmond and Patrick Healey.
FUNGI: WEB OF LIFE is rolling out in IMAX cinemas worldwide
And GREAT NEWS. Due to popular demand, groups and individuals can now organise a screening near you. There are already events planned in Canada and New Zealand, and if you are interested in requesting a screening, fill in this form https://tickets.demand.film/film/request/
PLANET FUNGI @ ADELAIDE FRINGE FESTIVAL, SLEEP’S HILL TUNNEL
UNTIL 17 MARCH
There is still time to catch the Sleep's Hill Tunnel immersive projections at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, and explore the history of the tunnel from the steam train era to mushroom farm years with unique time-lapse footage from Planet Fungi and phenomenal installations.
Above is a little taste - a phone video shot by the amazing festival director, Heather Croall.
The music (not on this video, sorry) is sublime, created by the composers of our new documentary FOLLOW THE RAIN - www.planetfungi.movie
If you are in Adelaide and visit the installation, we would love to know what you think?
Fungi Room at The Slovak Museum Of Nature Conservation and Caving
PLANET FUNGI IMAGERY IN INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS
The world is starting to embrace the 3 Fs – Flora, Fauna and Funga with Museums designing permanent exhibitions devoted to this neglected Kingdom of life.
Planet Fungi’s imagery is part of two exhibitions that opened last month.
Museo Interactivo Mirador-MIM Santiago, Chile – This is the result of a close collaboration with the Fungi Foundation. Around 400,000 people a year visit this space. This permanent fungi immersive experience is a long-awaited dream come true for all those involved. Video link below.
The Slovak Museum Of Nature Conservation and Caving in Liptovský Mikuláš, Slovakia. Pictures in gallery.
WINTER FUNGI FORAY IN WALES
We seized the opportunity while we were in the UK to go forest walking in Wales, not expecting to see any fungi, as winter is not the best season. However, our mushroom whisperer of course found fungi – in the forest, on the sand dunes and on two hundred year old gravestones. Some mighty fine specimens.
Scarlet elf cup (Sarcoscypha coccinea)
NEW SCREENINGS ANNOUNCED - FOLLOW THE RAIN
We are waiting to hear back about the possible selection of FOLLOW THE RAIN for some Australian and International Film Festivals. Once we have more information, we will announce additional national and overseas screening events. However, we do have a few other screenings confirmed in NSW in the meantime.
16/03/2024 – Dorrigo in collaboration with the annual fungi foray with friends and the local film society - SOLD OUT
08/06/2024 - Grafton Regional Gallery, Grafton - details coming soon.
21/06/2024 - Narooma Kinema in collaboration with Fungi Feastival
22/06/2024 - Moruya @The Red Door in collaboration with Fungi Feastival
24/06/2024 - The Picture Show Man in Merimbula in collaboration with Fungi Feastival
28/06/2024 - Perry Street Cinemas in Batemans Bay in collaboration with Fungi Feastival
29/06/2024 - Cobargo School of Arts in collaboration with Fungi Feastival
Planet Fungi will be conducting two macro photography workshops at Fungi Feastival. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months.
SUPPORT FUNGI RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION
If you would like to support more research into, and conservation of, this fascinating, important, but understudied area of science, there are three organisations that we partner with, who work tirelessly in these areas.
AUSTRALIA - Big Scrub Conservancy Foundation
INTERNATIONAL - Fungi Foundation
Every little bit helps.
You can also find us on Instagram and YouTube - @Planet_Fungi.
With love and gratitude,
Catherine and Stephen