A few days ago, I decided to go to a small forest near the village, as usual, looking for interesting objects to photograph. This forest always gives surprises, especially after several days of rain in a row. The fresh air, the smell of wet soil, and the sound of rustling leaves create a peaceful atmosphere. I started my journey without any expectations, just hoping to find something that I could capture with my macro camera.
While walking along the path that I usually take, my gaze fell on a dead tree trunk in the corner of the forest. On top of the trunk, something unique caught my attention. A cup-shaped mushroom stood gracefully, with a perfect circular brown pattern like the pattern of wood rings on a tree trunk. This is Ganoderma lucidum, one of the most interesting mushrooms I have ever found!
I immediately went closer to see it better. This mushroom is truly stunning. Its body is shaped like a trumpet, with the top having a wavy circle pattern that looks like a work of art. Its color combines dark brown with a gradation of cream on the edges, giving a very elegant impression. For me, its beauty is no less than a man-made work of art.
I immediately took out my camera and macro lens. Photographing objects like this is not only about technique, but also about capturing the natural beauty that we rarely notice. With the dim natural lighting due to the dense trees, I used a little extra light to clarify the details of this mushroom. As a result, I managed to capture the beautiful patterns on the surface of this mushroom—something we might not see if we only look at it with the naked eye.
For a few minutes, I observed the mushroom while taking photos from various angles. I remembered that this mushroom has a great reputation in the medical world. Ganoderma lucidum is known as the “mushroom of life” because of its properties that are often used in traditional medicine. However, at this moment, I didn’t think too much about that. I just wanted to enjoy the visual beauty and share this story with you in the community.
This mushroom reminds me of how amazing nature is. In places where people may not go, such beauty can be found—as if nature is showing its best side to those who stop to observe.
After I was satisfied with taking pictures, I continued my journey. However, my mind was still thinking about the mushroom. I felt lucky to have found it and documented it. For me, finding Ganoderma lucidum was one of the most satisfying moments in my forest exploration this time.
What about my friends in the Amazing Nature community? Have you ever found a mushroom like this? Or maybe there are other experiences while exploring nature that left a deep impression? I would love to hear your stories!
NOTE: I first wrote the article above in Indonesian, which is my own language, then I translated it using English with the help of Goggle.
What a curious shape! I'm sure the funnel shape is to capture water perhaps...