Monday, April 24, 2023

Barbora Batokova’s Enthralling Photographs Vividly Capture the Gilled Underbellies of Fungi

Mushrooms with circular orange caps springing up from mossy grounds.

All images © Barbora Batokova, shared with permission

Pittsburgh-based photographer and self-proclaimed nemophilist Barbora Batokova has cultivated a deep passion for fungi ever since her childhood in the Czech Republic. Growing up mushroom hunting and foraging for hearty meals, Batokova shares the cultural nuances linked to moving overseas as she explains that the “Czech Republic is a mycophilic country, which means people are not afraid of mushrooms, unlike people in mycophobic countries like the U.S.” 

Yearning for her roots, Batokova created fungiwoman, an ongoing photography and cooking project that allows her to reconnect with nature. Venturing into the woods year-round, she explores new regions, hunts for mushrooms, captures images to learn about different species, and brings the fruitful yield home to cook. Her mesmerizing photographs show small orange caps springing up from mossy grounds and vibrantly fruiting polypores branching from trees. Devoted to protecting precious corners of the woods, she hopes to inspire others to look closely at the surrounding environment.

Batokova’s forthcoming book about mushrooms will be released in 2024, and she has prints and cards available in her shop. In the meantime, you can follow her Instagram to tag along as she traverses new thickets and shares her findings.

 

Vibrant polypores branch off of bark donning hues of bright green and purple.
Vibrant polypores branch off of bark donning hues of indigo and orange.
Small circular tan mushroom caps with intricate gills emanate from tree bark.
Vibrant polypores branch off of bark donning hues of red, orange, and yellow.
Vibrant orange polypores fan out on the side of a mossy tree.
Vibrant polypores branch off of bark donning hues of beige.
Vibrant polypores branch off of bark donning hues of bright orange.
An oblong-shaped tan mushroom cap stands amongst bark on the ground.
Mushrooms with circular orange caps springing up from mossy grounds.

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