This image, titled Ethereal Duet, belongs to one of my favorite fields of photography — macro mushroom imagery. While it might not always draw as much attention as grand landscapes, there’s something deeply rewarding about slowing down and discovering these miniature worlds within the forest.

I captured this shot during a quiet morning at Fervenzas da Reixidoira. Among the mossy remains of a fallen tree, two mushrooms had grown in perfect harmony, their shapes almost mirroring one another. I immediately saw the potential for a composition that would convey both intimacy and atmosphere.

The photograph was taken with a Canon 5D Mark IV and the Irix 150mm f/2.8 Macro Dragonfly, a lens that I recently revisited thanks to the kind support from Irix Lens. Returning to it after years felt like meeting an old friend — its precision and rendering perfectly suited for this kind of delicate work.

To achieve sharpness throughout, I combined 50 images in a focus stacking sequence, shot at ISO 800, f/4, and 1/60s, mounted on an Artcise AS80C tripod with a UB40 ball head. The early sunlight provided a warm base, while a subtle artificial light helped shape the mushrooms’ texture and retain that ethereal glow that defines the atmosphere I wanted to create.

The main challenge was balancing the two light sources and ensuring the final result preserved a natural feeling. In the end, the image feels true to the moment — two fragile lives, glowing gently in the morning light, suspended between shadow and air.