This perfect oyster fungus was growing on an old elm tree stump used as a step in my garden in Cambridge. The original print has an amazing light, an inner glow that seems to come out of the surface. I didn't know then that I'd accidently stumbled on the Zone System of exposure and development.
Years later I saw that same light coming through in many of Edward Weston's prints - in fact I discovered that he had been drawn to a similar subject. But he knew how to conjure it on command, mine was a lucky accident - the negative was over-exposed and over-developed. Anyway, this is one of the first pictures that made me realise there was more to photography than just taking photographs and led me on to discover the joys of fine printing.
Kodak Verichrome Pan 120 film, Mamiya C330F.