Autumn is this weeks Lens-Artists ‘Looking Back’ Challenge, set by John. John’s original challenge post is here.
I don’t have that many Autumn tree or colour images that I could use in this post but what I do have is plenty of Autumn fungi shots so I’ve decided to concentrate on those for my challenge post.
We live a ten minute walk from a large wood called Weston Big Wood. It’s an ancient woodland, dating back to the Iron Age, and is populated by Oak, Lime, Hazel and Ash trees. It’s a regular place for us to walk our dog and we visit the woods most days of the week.
Over the years I’ve been walking the woods I’ve collected quite a large library of fungi images. Mostly they’re the common UK woodland varieties that like to grow on or around the resident trees. There are no Beech trees in this wood so there are none of the colourful red topped mushrooms associated with fairies and other folklore.
I’ve used a lot of my pictures as stock images and what’s been really interesting is keywording the fungi pics so they can be found by potential buyers. Identifying them can be really difficult although Google Lens and AI has been a big help in recent times. What I always find entertaining are the nicknames given to the common fungi. I’ve tried to include them in the image descriptions throughout this post. The nicknames are what the pictures buyers seem to search on and I’ve sold quite a few of these images.
At the moment there are more fungi than I’ve ever seen before throughout the wood. The dry spring and hot summer, we had here in the UK this year, seems to have affected our normal countryside routines. We’ve had bumper crops of berries, more acorns than I’ve ever seen before, as well as plenty of chestnuts and conkers. Perhaps the plentiful fungi I’m seeing is linked to that.
If you spot any fungi I’ve incorrectly identified I’m more than happy to be put right. I’ve tried contacting specialist fungi groups for some of the fungi I’ve really struggled with, but most won’t offer any identification help. Whilst writing this article, and revisiting some of my early Alamy stock images, I’ve discovered one or two fungi I’d named incorrectly.
Thank you to John for hosting. I’m looking forward to reading through everyone else’s Autumn posts. A great topic to re-visit.
All images: ©Stephen Hyde 2007-2025 – All rights reserved.
Steve Hyde 
Such a beautiful gallery! You’ve really shown how niche subjects like fungi can thrive in the stock photo world. It’s inspiring—just a matter of finding the right focus.
Thank you John. They sell occasionally and it’s always nice seeing one in print.
So cool, I love this. I remember once being on my knees to capture a mushroom and another photographer walked by and told me where to find more interesting ones 🙂 These are fantastic, Steve.
Thank you Sofia. I had a similar experience when i was photographing that puff ball. I was lying down on the woodland floor level with the fungi when a friend of mine and his wife walked by. I just looked up and shrugged, they just laughed 🙂
🙂
Beautiful images Steve and such a rich variety of fungi! 😊
Thank you Xenia 🙂
Well now Steve, this week you offered us a lovely response to the challenge as well as a mini-education on fungi🙂. Personally I find myself wondering what those who have purchased have in mind for your images! Beautifully captured indeed, and a creative response to the week’s challenge. Well done.
Thank you Tina. Alamy have a policy of not telling contributors who has purchased an image. Most of the time I have no idea. The King Alfred Cakes was bought by the UK Woodland Trust and used as a header on their web site at one time. Hopefully this link will work to how the Turkey Tail was used in The Guardian Newspaper – Turkey Tail Feature
Steve, these fungi images are great! I love the nicknames for them. They are quite different from the ones we see in the Georgia woods.
Thak you Beth 🙂
Excellent. Fungus among us. Superb.
Thank you John 🙂
I love this take on autumn. I’m sure the species you see are different from the ones I’ve shown, but the names could be transplanted
Thank you. Some of them are the same fungi in your post. Certainly the Brain Fungi 🙂
Yes, but a quarter of the world away, I would be surprised if it is the same species. Maybe a closely related one. But there’s no way of telling from the photos.
Oh my these images are awesome!!! Beautiful shots
Thank you Pamela. I’ve had one of those Peak sling bags in a cart on their website for a week now. I read a review that said it didn’t sling around the body when it was heavy and that’s been my only doubt. I’m picking up a second hand Billingham Hadley bag today. I have several Billingham bags and really like them. I’m still pondering on the peak bag 🙂
What a beautiful collection, Steve! You took us into a side of autumn we sometimes overlook.
Thank you Egidio.
Interesting.