Photograph

Before You Head Out

Photography: Minimum required

At Home 

Before You Head Out

Must-haves

• A basket, (waxed) paper bags and/or a tackle box to keep fungi separated and in good condition 

• A smartphone with a camera, or a compact or DSLR camera 

• Smartphone cameras automatically add GPS coordinates to images (valuable location information). They also allow for direct upload to iNaturalist, vs doing it at home.
• Compact or DSLR cameras offer higher image quality. Some cameras have GPS and macro capabilities, like the Olympus TG-6 (Tough Series),  a favorite among mycophiles.

Nice to have

• Hand lens/loupe
• Large knife and/or trowel (for digging mushrooms out of soil or wood)
• Small utility or pocket knife
• Field notebook (waterproof paper and pen are best)
• Numbered FunDiS field data slips with ruler markings (in a Ziploc bag in case it rains)
• Numbered collection labels (if field data slips are not used)
• Small ruler with metric markings (if ruled field data slips are not used or for large fungi)

In the Field

Photography: Minimum required

Photos not meeting these minimal standards risk not being identified.

• Clear, in-focus picture(s)
• Fungus sporing body is large in the frame 
• Fungus features (see Photo Tips in our July 2019 eNewsletter)
• Show cap, pore/gill surface, stem
• If applicable show bulb/volva, staining, discoloration
• An item like a knife or ruler or field data slip for scale
• The host or substrate should also be visible.
• This can be accomplished with one shot with specimens that show the above, plus environmental cues, such as leaves, needles or grass; or with several shots
• If smell or taste are noteworthy this should be added in the Notes section

At Home 

Edit, organize and upload your images

• Select your best shots (minimum of 3 - more is better).
• Crop images if needed; the specimen should fill a significant portion of the image.
• For uploading instructions see Post on iNaturalist or Post on Mushroom Observer.