A December fungus, odd objects in the woods, and sunlight on water

[spiralsheep]

In December I went for a walk on the Malvern Hills and spotted a midwinter fungus, probably a Clitocybe.



At one point I seemed to have strayed into Middle Earth and saw what appeared to be HUGE fantastical gates in the forest of Broceliande below.



Sunlight on rippling water.

Comments

[untonuggan]

yay! middle earth and fungi, what could be better?

[spiralsheep]

It was all very cheering. I loved the subtle colours and wavy edges of the tatty fungus and sunlight on water is always entrancing.

[sid]

At least you didn't spot any orcs marching through the gate! :-D

Lovely photos!

[spiralsheep]

If it hadn't been so far away I might've been worried! ;-)

Thank you!

[untonuggan]

I love that you used the phrase "tatty fungus".

[spiralsheep]

Thank you. "Tattered" didn't seem to fit. How about "ragged-skirted woodland spirit"? ;-)

[blackmare]

All beautiful, but that last one is especially intriguing -- in part because it took me forever to even work out what it was, other than a rich collection of textures.

[realpestilence]

That fungus is oddly beautiful. It looks like abstract art.

[shirebound]

Lovely images! Thank you for sharing.

[spiralsheep]

Thank you for both the compliments and the constructive criticism! I actually cropped and monochromed the cap of sunlit ripples on water because the perspective in the original was confusing to my eye - and I *know* what it's supposed to look like! The only time I've ever managed to cap the "spout" with a reasonable sense of perspective is when it's "dressed" during Malvern's annual well-dressing:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spiralsheep/5683817515/

Even that doesn't truly convey the Escher-like contortions of the bank, heh. Maybe one day I will find a combination of season and time of day when my camera will register what my eye knows exists.

[spiralsheep]

I think it's the colours and textures of the underlaying leaves that make the image work. They seem to emphasise and complement the more subtle shades and waves in the fungus. It was a gift for my camera.

[spiralsheep]

Thank you! You're welcome. :-)

[blackmare]

Oh, I didn't think it was criticism; I liked the abstract quality that drew me in and made me keep looking to figure out what might be going on.

[spiralsheep]

Thank you! However, I do truly value feedback that shares how people perceive and process images differently from each other because I find it very useful information.

I need a new term for something like "constructive critique" that avoids people's sensitivity to the word "criticism" but keeps the sense of "constructive"/positive/useful feedback, because I want to encourage people to share differing perceptions without the negative baggage. :-)

[spiralsheep]

P.S. I love your icon.

[weaverbird]

Three lovely photos. The fungus is so beautifully set off by the leaves. The patterns and texture of the sunlit ripples shot are fascinating! And what *is* that fantastical gate? I can't figure it out.

[spiralsheep]

Thank you! My friend who lives locally tells me it's probably a climbing frame/high ropes course... but I prefer my first impression that they're GIANT gates in a magic forest. ;-)

[weaverbird]

I agree - yours is much better. *g*

[spiralsheep]

\o/

And, because I mentioned it elsewhere and you might be interested (or, indeed, already know this), Tolkien and Lewis used to walk on the Malvern Hills and the gas lamps on the lower slopes are probably one of the origins of Narnia:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spiralsheep/6861796373/

Whereas the upper peaks are claimed as any number of Tolkien's hills but especially the White Mountains (iirc?). The Malverns have also inspired other writers from Langland's Piers Plowman to Radclyffe Hall and WH Auden.

[weaverbird]

I didn't know that! And yes, that picture is *definitely* from Narnia. Magical!