One of the best ways to become acquainted with the wondrous world of fungi is to venture out on a foraging expedition.
But even for seasoned mushroom foragers, that is no small feat. First, mushroom picking spots are often safely guarded secrets. Second, it may be difficult to decipher the edible from the poisonous species. And finally, fungi can blend into the forest floor so masterfully, it may be hard to spot them right away. It’s a process that requires patience, but once you tune into the language of nature, you will realize that the ground beneath your feet is truly alive, and fungi literally surrounds us.
So pack your mushroom knife, foraging basket and camera and venture off-road and into the forest. Fantastic Fungi wants to see your best images and most exotic fungal finds.
MUSHROOM ROADIE CONTEST
ENTER TO WIN:
1. Take an amazing photograph.
2. Submit your photo in one or all of these 3 ways:
Facebook: Post your photo on Facebook, and make sure to include #MushroomRoadie in your comment: (example:”I just entered the #MushroomRoadie Photo Contest”.)
Twitter: Tweet your photo to your friends and include hashtag #MushroomRoadie in your comment.
Instagram: Post your photo on Instagram, and make sure to include #MushroomRoadie in your comment.
3. Share with your friends on Facebook, and a third prize will be given to the person with the most likes!
YOUR JUDGES:
Our own Louie Schwartzberg will vote on the BEST PHOTOGRAPHY, and Dr. Paul Stamets will vote on the BEST FUNGAL FIND.
IF YOU WIN:
Winners will be announced right here on our blog on Monday, October 6th by 2pm PT / 5pm ET. Winners images and names will be shared on our blog with special mention by Louie and Paul.
Need inspiration?
Not sure what’s in season? Click here to see the list.
Does it need to be current? I have an archive of past mushroom photos. Also am I limited to one photo , or can I submit a few?
Hi, Erin! Feel free to enter your very best from your body of work. If you have more than one, that’s fine! Take a quick look at the instructions, so you remember to add the #MushroomRoadie hashtag, and remember to get as many likes and comments from your friends.
Thanks for the opportunity for me to share some pictures of some of my foraging finds. I take a lot of pictures of mushrooms and for many years.
I do it for no other reason than a way for me to keep a record of what I do find. I was also wondering how many entries can I submit.
Can’t wait to see your work, Thomas. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Hi, guys– Just curious, when I post a photo on my FB page how will you know about it? Thanks, Mike
Hi, Mike! As long as you include the #MushroomRoadie, we’ll be able to see your entry! Thanks, and don’t forget to share with your friends. The more likes and comments your photo has, the better!
dose the photo have to be taken this year or can it be something I have taken over the last few years? Do I need to know the common or technical name of the fungus? Some times I just don’t worry about the names I just love the photos they inspire?
We hear you… Don’t worry about the technical name, if you don’t know it. Just enjoy the beauty of fungi and send in what you’d like to share with us from your archives!
Salutations fellow Fungi lovers….. just a quick message to say that I’ve entered a photo… just wondering now if I can submit some more or is it just one pic per person? Anyways…. lots of love!! :o)
You can certainly submit more than one, and we look forward to seeing your very best work! Thanks for playing!
Could not figure how to post photo. Will try through Facebook directly
Hi, Antionette! Facebook is the perfect place to post your photo. You can post it in the comments section of our Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/FungiFilm. Along with your photo, you want to type into the comment section “#mushroomroadie”. This will tag your photo as a contest submission. Hope this clears it up for you!
This is so exciting! I have many new and old photos I would like to share. Is there a deadline to when we can submit photos? Thank you 🙂
Paul and Louie will have selected a winner by Monday, October 6th by 2pm PT / 5pm ET. While there is no official deadline (we love seeing as many as we can), it would be great to have your photo in as soon as possible!
Thank you for this opportunity! I had a four year photo craze with mushrooms, I was so in love with their beauty. Thanks for letting me share a few of my favorites, it’s a real pleasure.
I don’t have an acct. with any of the submission websites listed.
May I still enter?
If so, by what means? Email? And to whom?
I’m a mycophile and love shooting and studying them. Hope I can still enter the contest.
Thank you!
So dissapointed in my big mistake…which I typed over and over again…I entered all my mushroom pictures ( and I found a bunch ) with the # ( #Mushroom Roadie ) instead of #MushroomRoadie I’m thinking none made it through 🙁
I’m disappointed that you don’t have direct submission. I do not plan on joining those social media websites just for this contest. However I am a long time supporter of Paul’s work, and I would like to join in the fun.
You can see my entries on my Mushroom Observer account, a social media that fosters learning!
Please click on the “Full size”link at the top, so you can view the best quality image to see the fine details!
My Best Photo from 2014: Hydnellum diabolus, a great name for an awesome looking mushroom, this is very similar to H. peckii, but has a furry pileus.
http://mushroomobserver.org/image/show_image?id=443668&q=2FsvK&size=huge
My best find 2014 for Paul: Psilocybe caerulipes. Just trying to make ya proud Paul!
http://mushroomobserver.org/image/show_image?id=446209&q=2Fslf&size=huge
I have some other cool finds as well. Have a gander! Check the cool Pluteii!
http://mushroomobserver.org/observer/observations_by_user?id=5202
Thanks for all the fun!