Thank you to Sara Klingensmith for judging this years photo contest. The winners were announced at the October meeting. There were four categories to enter Pictorial, Documentary, Judge’s Option and new this year Mushroom Selfies.


Pictorial: This division is for single photos that illustrate the beauty and variety of fungi in form and color. The objective is a photo suitable for display or illustration in a fine book. Judging criteria include consideration of both technical (focus, depth of field, exposure, lighting, color, absence of distracting elements) and artistic (composition, color, background, lighting) aspects.

Winners:
Josh Doty: Slime mold
2nd place Barbora Batokova: Laetiporus huroniensis
3rd place Cara Barkely Coulter: Frost’s Bolete
Honorable Mention Nicole Pardus: Morel
Honorable Mention Devin Hilty: Lactarius


Documentary: For single photographs especially suited as illustrations in a field guide or monograph, or for use in a lecture. Emphasis is placed on portrayal of key morphological characteristics such that the usefulness of the image as an identification aid is maximized. Subjects may be shot in the field, laboratory or studio and the photographer has complete freedom to process, manipulate, or orient the specimen in any desired manner to achieve the goal. Close-ups of single features and photomicrographs are acceptable. Judging criteria will be the same as in the Pictorial category but they will be of secondary importance to the overall mycological utility of the photo. Accurate identification of the subject will be a consideration.

Winners:
1st place Devin Hilty: Hodophilus
2nd place Barbora Batokova: Entoloma quadratum
3rd place Kathy Gilotty Croft: Amanita jacksonii


Judge’s Option: For photos which do not fit into the Pictorial or Documentary divisions. Examples include fungi in an interesting situation, fungi with animals, people enjoying fungi.

Winners:
1st place Pete Woods: Mycena & eft
2nd place Dawn Wehman:  Hypomyces chrysospermus
3rd place John Stuart: Xanthoconium purpureum “var. infinity” 


Mushroom Selfies: Entries must be single, self-taken (“selfie”) cell phone photos of you with at least one mushroom. You may also include other willing people, your pets, and other animals that happen to cross the background in the photo. You may use selfie sticks, but no other person may take the photo for you.Winners:
1st place Cara Barkley Coulter
2nd place Vince Wojtyna
3rd place Josh Mowris