Ghost mushrooms are a little-known, but absolutely magical phenomenon that can be found in the southwest of Western Australia. These bioluminescent fungi, scientifically known as Omphalotus nidiformis, emit an eerie, greenish glow that transforms the forest floor into a scene straight out of a fantasy novel. For photographers and nature enthusiasts alike, finding and capturing the ethereal beauty of ghost mushrooms can be an incredibly rewarding experience. In this post, I'll guide you through the best ways to find these luminous wonders and offer tips on how to photograph them to perfection.
When do Ghost Mushrooms glow?
Ghost mushrooms typically appear from late autumn to early winter, with the peak season running from May to July, though they can be seen as late as August. The glow is most visible in complete darkness, so it’s best to arrive at your chosen location before sunset to scout for mushrooms and stay until after dark for the full experience.
Where to find Ghost Mushrooms?
The southwest region of Western Australia offers several prime spots for ghost mushroom hunting. These fungi thrive in the cool, damp conditions, on dead or decaying wood, but also on living tree trunks. They prefer to be shaded from direct sunlight.
What to Look For
During daylight, ghost mushrooms are easy to miss, as they blend into their surroundings with their pale, off-white caps. However, once night falls, their bioluminescence becomes evident. The glow is often subtle and may be mistaken for moonlight filtering through the trees. To spot them, let your eyes adjust to the darkness, and look for patches of faint green light emanating from the forest floor. Using a flashlight briefly on a low setting can help you locate them, but be mindful not to disturb the natural darkness too much.
During the say the ghost mushrooms are an off white, cream colour, sometimes developing a darker brown centre as they age. They typically have gills (or lamella) on the under side as seen in the images below.
What gear do you need to photograph Ghost Mushrooms at night?
Photographing ghost mushrooms requires a long exposure to capture their faint glow. This needn't mean expensive gear, but there are some things that will make it easier:
A camera with manual settings is ideal, otherwise an automatic night setting may work.
A with a wide aperture (f/2.8 or wider) is best for letting in as much light as possible.
A sturdy tripod is essential, as you’ll be working with long exposure times.
Camera Settings to photograph bioluminescence
To capture the glow of ghost mushrooms, you’ll need to use a long exposure. Start with these settings as a baseline and adjust as needed:
ISO: Begin with ISO 1600. You might need to go higher depending on the level of bioluminescence and ambient light.
Aperture: Set your aperture to the widest your lens allows (e.g., f/2.8).
Shutter Speed: Start with a shutter speed of 30 seconds. Depending on the brightness of the mushrooms and your ISO, you may need to experiment with longer exposures. My shots this year range from 30 seconds to 4 minutes and ISO from 4000 to 10,000.
If shooting with very high ISO it is worth stacking several images to reduce the noise. It is more work in shooting and post processing but yields far better results, particularly with faintly glowing specimens.
Photographing Ghost Mushrooms with your phone
If you don’t have a DSLR or mirrorless camera, don’t worry—you can still capture the magic of ghost mushrooms with your smartphone. While it won’t have the same low-light capabilities as a dedicated camera, there are a few tricks to help you get the best results.
Stability is Key: Just like with a regular camera, keeping your phone stable is crucial for long exposure shots. A small smartphone tripod can make all the difference, helping you avoid blurry images caused by even the slightest movement.
Use your cameras night mode, or use a long exposure app. Using a long exposure allows you to capture the faint glow of the ghost mushrooms.
Tips for really capturing that glow
While the full moon can create a beautiful, ethereal atmosphere in the forest, it also presents a challenge when photographing ghost mushrooms. The moonlight is so bright that it can wash out the subtle glow of the mushrooms, making long exposure shots look almost like daytime. In some of my images, I’ve found a simple but effective solution: positioning myself so that my body blocks the moonlight, casting a shadow over the mushrooms. This way, the mushrooms’ glow remains visible, and the image isn’t overexposed by the moonlight. It’s a small adjustment, but it can make a significant difference in capturing the delicate luminescence of ghost mushrooms under a full moon.
Below is a comparison between glosing ghost mushroom with moonlight, and then the same settings but with me creating a shadow to make the fungi really pop.
Reducing Noise in Long Exposures
Photographing ghost mushrooms often requires long exposures, sometimes up to four minutes, especially when dealing with high ISO settings (up to 10,000). While these settings help capture the faint glow, they can also introduce significant noise into your images. For those more experienced with post-processing, a technique that can greatly improve image quality is stacking. By taking multiple shots—let’s say five—and stacking them in Photoshop, you can effectively reduce noise. After stacking, applying additional denoising in Photoshop will further refine the image, allowing you to capture the ghost mushrooms’ glow with stunning clarity and minimal noise.
Making the Search a Family Adventure
Although finding ghost mushrooms can take some time, the search itself can lead to some truly lovely afternoons spent exploring the great outdoors. I often take my family out on Sunday afternoons to walk through areas where I think ghost mushrooms might be growing. It becomes a fun game—seeing who can spot the most or who can find the first one. This kind of exploration requires a bit of patience and a willingness to go on several outings, but it’s all part of the adventure.
As you explore, it’s a good idea to save a pin on your phone’s map to mark any locations where you find ghost mushrooms. This way, you can confidently return after dark, knowing exactly where to go. Often, you’ll need to walk a bit away from your car and down a track to reach these spots. But rather than a one-time activity, searching for ghost mushrooms can become a recurring adventure that your family enjoys together throughout the winter and spring.
Fresh Mushrooms Glow the Brightest
One important thing to note when searching for ghost mushrooms is that they glow most brightly when they are fresh. If you find a mushroom and it’s not glowing as expected, it could simply be that it’s too old. Don’t be discouraged—keep searching, as there may be fresher mushrooms nearby. It’s also worth remembering that conditions change, so even if you don’t find any glowing mushrooms this week, it’s worth trying again next week.
As you explore, keep an eye on smaller mushrooms that might just be starting to grow. These could very well be ghost mushrooms that will reach their peak glow in the next few days or week. By marking their location and checking back later, you might find them at their best, offering an even more magical sight.
The Magic of Walking in the Dark
One memorable experience I had while searching for ghost mushrooms was when I went out with a friend one evening. We had spent a lot of time during the day visiting various spots that I had marked on my map, places where I thought we might find these elusive glowing fungi. As night fell, we returned to these locations, but what we found most effective wasn’t using our lights to search—it was turning them off entirely.
As we walked along in the dark, our eyes gradually adjusted, and we started to notice subtle hints—something glowing faintly or a little white shape standing out from the background. Even though we couldn’t see the bright green glow with our naked eyes, these faint signs were enough to point us in the right direction. Once we set up our cameras, they revealed the full, wonderful glow of the ghost mushrooms that had been hidden in the darkness.
This experience taught me the value of letting go of the usual tools and trusting our natural night vision when searching for ghost mushrooms. Sometimes, the best discoveries are made when we allow ourselves to fully immerse in the darkness.
Conservation: Respecting the Environment
When searching for and photographing ghost mushrooms, it's crucial to remember the importance of conservation. Please do not touch, break, or attempt to take any mushrooms home with you. These mushrooms are part of a delicate ecosystem, and if left undisturbed, they will regrow the next year, allowing others to enjoy their beauty as well.
Ghost mushrooms often grow in the same areas as orchids, and southwestern Western Australia is renowned for its incredible wildflowers, many of which are endemic to the region and found nowhere else on Earth. The ghost mushrooms typically emerge a month or so before the orchids, but they share similar habitats. This means that while you’re getting close to photograph a ghost mushroom, you must be mindful not to step on or damage the buds of orchids or the single leaves that may be starting to grow. These delicate plants will eventually blossom into stunning flowers, and it's our responsibility to ensure they remain unharmed.
By treading lightly and being aware of the environment, we can help preserve these natural wonders for future generations to enjoy.
Why I Don’t Share My Locations
You might wonder why I don’t share the exact locations where I find ghost mushrooms, and there are two important reasons for this. Firstly, if too many people were to visit the same spot after reading this post, that location could become overused and ultimately damaged. Ghost mushrooms, like many delicate parts of our ecosystem, thrive best when left undisturbed, and too much foot traffic can have a negative impact on their environment.
Secondly, the hunt is a significant part of the experience. When you're out searching for ghost mushrooms, the journey itself is filled with unexpected discoveries—whether it’s stumbling upon other fascinating fungi, spotting wildlife, or simply enjoying the serenity of the forest. By not sharing specific locations, I’m preserving that sense of adventure and allowing you to experience the joy of the treasure hunt for yourself. The magic lies in the search, and by embarking on this journey, you’ll likely find much more than just ghost mushrooms.
Remember, if you have success, I'd love to hear about it. You can tag me on any social media at @starbrightwonderland, or you can email me at suzy@starbrightwonderland.com.au.
Happy mushroom hunting!
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