One of the things I like to do a lot is shoot in low light. I like a shadowy background for my subjects. This does present some challenges. A tripod is a must to keep the camera steady during the long exposures needed to gather enough to light. I also use the three second timer. Just pressing the shutter release button creates camera shake. I do this on all my shots. Not just low light shots. It makes a big difference in all but the longest distance shots or high shutter speeds.
Also since my subjects are close to the camera I need to use a higher f-stop to increase the depth of field. Otherwise I may have a depth of field of only an inch or less. Thant mean the front of the mushrooms may be in focus but the curved back sides my not be in focus. With the higher f-stops I need to lower the shutter speed even more.
Add to this shooting subjects that are low to the ground you need to be close to the ground in less you want all your shots to be top down. My current tripod has a minimum height of about 1.5 - 2 feet. That still some times gives mostly top down shot for shorter subjects. This first shot I had to use broken tree branch's that I found laying on the ground to prop the camera on. It's not easy to line up a shot balancing the camera on a tree branch, trying to get close enough to the ground to see through the the viewfinder and manually focusing the lens. Throwing in bifocal glasses to mix does not help either.
But when I get a good shot it is worth it.
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