Day 360: If you've been dabbling in photography for any length of time, you may have heard of the Rule of Thirds in which the subject is placed at one of the intersections of an imaginary tic-tac-toe grid, a little compositional trick which leads the eye through an image in a spiraling pattern. Let's take a look at a different style. The Rule of Thirds is used extensively in "art" photography, but when it comes to capturing subject matter in a way which is useful to researchers and scientists, the philosophy of visual flow should be laid aside in favour of centering.
Centering the subject and maintaining a good depth of field allows the viewer to see not only the specimen, but also its habitat. Sometimes it is helpful to know if a plant or fungus is growing in hemlock debris rather than fir needles or some other medium, or to know what other plants may be growing nearby. You should always try to shoot from an angle which allows all the physical characteristics (morphology) of the subject to be seen. "Flat" light is preferable to strong highlights and shadows, so take your pictures on an overcast day whenever possible. My personal preference is to put the camera on a tripod and go with a longer exposure in natural light rather than utilizing a flash.
When you're in the field and have the opportunity, take the time to look for other examples of the species. You might get lucky and find a textbook specimen like this Amanita muscaria waiting for your lens!
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