Phallus Impudicus

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Phallus Impudicus
Photo Information
Copyright: Jean Michel Peers (JeanMichel) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 633 W: 87 N: 938] (2864)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-11-12
Categories: Fungi
Camera: Sony DSC-F717
Exposure: f/2, 1/30 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2004-11-18 9:07
Viewed: 1972
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
PHALLLUS IMPUDICUS - Satyre puant, Fausse Morille, Oeuf du diable (French) - Stinkhorn (English) - Stinkmorchel, Leichenfinger, Teufelsei (German) - Satirione (Italian). No info in other languages. Belongs to the very elaborated PHALLACAE family.
This fungus starts its growth underground under the shape of an elastic egg (hen's egg size). The future fungus is visible inside and looks like a hard greenish ball, dipped in a gelatine reminding egg white. When the egg opens, a conic/ovoid cap (4-5 cm) appears above a thick but fragile white stipe. When completely out, the cap begins to decay, spreading a horrible cadaveric smell. Flies are attracted by this cap, ingest and reject non digested spores, contributing to the spreading of this fungus.
The obscene shape of this fungus has caught the imagination since the Middle Age, and it has been probably used in satanic ceremonies. Isn't it called "devil's egg" in german and in french?
Mild climatic regions are poor in other varities of this family, while numerous extraordinary specimen exist in tropical regions. This variety is common in Scandinavia, UK, northern Spain and Italy, northeastern France and in central Europe.
This one has been found in a pine wood, during a recent stay in the Ardennes massif, known for it's majestuous forests.
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Camera on the ground, saved in TIFF mode to get maximum colors and textures before post processing and compression. The difficulty was to make the alveolar inside of the stipe visible (where it has been eaten). So, after a light selective brightness reduction on that part, I reduced brightness by -10, and increased contrast by 10.
USM (100-2,5-3).
ellis49, marhowie, red45, LordPotty, PDP, extramundi, Lesley, gerhardt, Luc, RAP, danbachmann, dantor, DigitalZen has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To cecile: récemment?JeanMichel 1 11-21 15:37
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • ellis49 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3661 W: 349 N: 8862] (28609)
  • [2004-11-18 9:13]
  • [2]

Very good shot of a "Stinksvamp"
Very clear with good sharpness, nice colours and composition.
Great work.

Jean, Nicely composed with good detail. Like your BG scheme also. You've handled the glossy black cap and contrasting white stem very well. Great job!

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2766 W: 75 N: 7516] (25149)
  • [2004-11-18 10:24]
  • [2]

Sromotnik Bezwstydny in Polish :-) Very good picture with great composition and sharpness.

Very clear and well composed.The detail on the white is good.I've not seen this one,but I know how those stinkhorns stink.Well done.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2964 W: 366 N: 3848] (11733)
  • [2004-11-18 15:39]

Super shot, the lighting is perfect and the composition is very good. Well done Jean Michel.

:DD This is the most impudicus one until now, and we already have a good deal. Nice to have a quite new one with all the brown covering. Thanks.

  • Great 
  • Lesley Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 297 W: 13 N: 913] (2988)
  • [2004-11-18 17:50]

Goodness...what a great looking 'shroom! Certainly gives meaning to it's name "Phallus". :0) Nice job with this.

Brilliant presentation of this fungi. It's an exceptional composition. The golden specks of light in the BG is an excellent effect. Very well done.

alors celle ci suis sur que tu l'as pas trouvée récement???

Excellent shot with lots of detail available in the fungi, nicely done. The POV is really good, well done.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2058 W: 316 N: 4403] (14709)
  • [2004-11-22 4:53]

Jean-Michel. Je ne suis pas encore un amateur de champignons. Ça devrait venir avec tout ce que je vois de "ragoûtant" sur TN. Mais je commence à m'y connaître un peu en photographie. Je crois que je peux en reconnaître une belle lorsque j'en vois une. Celle-ci est du nombre. Évidemment elle possède un caractère suggestif mais la gestion des blancs dénote une bonne maîtrise de ton Sony. Bonne compo avec deux diagonales et un angle de prise de vue des plus efficaces. Et que dire de ta note, sinon que je l'ai dévorée gouluement!
Chapeau et Merci!

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2004-11-22 7:24]

Gran composicion Jean Michel.
Excelente perspectiva, con adecuado DOF y encuadre, resaltando con gran nitidez y detalles el hongo en primer plano.

Great composition Jean Michel.
Excellent perspective, with suitable DOF and frame, standing out with great clearness and details the fungus in first plane.

Amazing clarity and vivid colors. I particularly like the intimate angle you have taken here

Amusante cette photo dont le sujet aux détails si nets saute aux yeux. On dirait que le chapeau est en plâtre peint et que le pied est fait de blancs d'oeufs battus.

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