Today, my friend and I decided to explore the Alue Garot forest again. This forest is located a little far from my village, but every time I enter it, there is always a new surprise waiting. After several days of rain, we believe this is the right time to hunt for photography objects, especially mushrooms. Soil moisture is usually home to a variety of unique fungi, and who knows, maybe we'll find something amazing.
After walking along the path covered in dry leaves, I began to pay attention to every corner of the ground, rotten logs, and damp areas around the tree roots. It didn't take long for my eyes to fall on a group of small red dots on the ground. I immediately squatted down and approached. Turns out, I found tiny red mushrooms growing in clusters among the rotting leaves.
I touched one of the mushrooms with my index finger to compare its size. As it turned out, this mushroom was much smaller than my forefinger, but its red color stood out against the dark soil. The shape is very pretty, with a slender stem and a slightly wavy cap. From previous experience, I suspect this mushroom is (Laccaria laccata), a mushroom that is quite common in tropical forests, but still exudes extraordinary charm.
I immediately took my camera and started taking photos. I wanted to capture every detail of this mushroom: the texture of the stem, the shape of the cap, and how it grows in harmony with the moist soil. The natural light coming in from the gaps in the leaves has a dramatic effect on my photos, making these little mushrooms look more alive.
While I was busy with my camera, my friend was also busy looking for other objects to photograph. I was able to point my camera at him, capturing the moment when he looked serious combing the forest with the camera in his hand. The atmosphere in the forest was very calm, only the sounds of birds and the rustling of leaves in the wind could be heard. We felt as if we were in another world, far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
After being satisfied with photographing mushrooms from various angles, I decided to capture the atmosphere of the forest itself. Tall trees with branches that form a natural canopy create a beautiful green alley. Sunlight filtering through the leaves creates artistic shadow patterns on the ground. I took several wide-angle photos to capture the beauty of this place in its entirety.
When the sun started to go down, we decided to end our exploration. With satisfied hearts and a camera full of shots, we stepped back onto the path leading to the village. Today's trip really reminded me how incredible the biodiversity is hidden in the forests around us. Even though they are often taken for granted, forests like Alue Garot hold a million wonders that can only be discovered by those who take the time to observe.
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.