Series description
The sporulation of mushrooms is a subtle and fascinating phenomenon that occurs when they reach maturity. As billions of spores take to the air, a carefully placed backlight reveals shimmering clouds of iridescent swirls. Each spore is wrapped in a droplet of water, creating shimmering colours through light diffraction. The photographer has been working on this subject for more than three years, taking every image in a natural environment, without any intervention on the mushroom itself. Magical, scientific and highly technical, this series reveals mushrooms in a completely different light and shows that even these small living beings are capable of putting on a spectacular show.
Mushroom Storm
The mushrooms of this tuft of Hypholoma fasciculare expel their spores synchronously. Growing on a beautiful rotting strain in a deciduous forest, the photographer had to wait for favourable weather conditions in order to capture the cloud of spores carried by a light breeze.
© Benjamin Pawlica, France, Shortlist, Professional Competition, Wildlife & Nature, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Spore Session
The photographer found this line of Clitocybe nebularis in the middle of a conifer forest. He chose to position a large mushroom in the foreground and then slightly deflected the wind flow with a piece of card to capture the spore scrolls.
© Benjamin Pawlica, France, Shortlist, Professional Competition, Wildlife & Nature, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Magical Ascent
Fungal sporulation is a subtle and elusive phenomenon that occurs when the mushroom reaches maturity and the air humidity is high enough. Each spore is surrounded by a tiny droplet of water which, as it evaporates, helps lift the spore into the air. At the same time, the base of the mushroom dries slightly, creating an upward airflow that carries the spore clouds over greater distances.
© Benjamin Pawlica, France, Shortlist, Professional Competition, Wildlife & Nature, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Iridescent Sporulation
The billions of spores of this Macrolepiota sp. are expelled from the blades under its large hats. The size of this mushroom and its high foot allowed the photographer to position his lens beneath the hat to capture this graphic image.
© Benjamin Pawlica, France, Shortlist, Professional Competition, Wildlife & Nature, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Rain of Spores
This beautiful shaggy parasol mushroom (Chlorophyllum rhacodes) was found beneath spruce trees, just as its cap was emerging from the soil. The photographer followed its development daily, hoping to photograph its spore release. This image combines a long exposure with six bursts of flash to multiply the visible spore trails in the image.
© Benjamin Pawlica, France, Shortlist, Professional Competition, Wildlife & Nature, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Eye on the Eruption
At maturity, pear-shaped puffballs split open to release their spores, triggered by rainfall or the touch of an animal. Noticing a small snail climbing the surface of this puffball, the photographer waited, before gently shaking the branches above to release trapped raindrops. A single droplet released a burst of spores beneath the snail’s watchful gaze.
© Benjamin Pawlica, France, Shortlist, Professional Competition, Wildlife & Nature, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
The Stump Choir
Fungal sporulation is a subtle and elusive phenomenon. This cluster of sheathed woodtufts (Kuehneromyces mutabilis) growing on a stump produced random bursts of spores, which were captured using a carefully positioned backlight.
© Benjamin Pawlica, France, Shortlist, Professional Competition, Wildlife & Nature, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
The Sporologist
The photographer noticed a small snail slowly climbing over these pear-shaped puffballs. At the right moment, he shook the branches above to release raindrops trapped in the leaves. The first drop struck the mushroom and triggered the spore eruption, while a second droplet was captured in mid-air.
© Benjamin Pawlica, France, Shortlist, Professional Competition, Wildlife & Nature, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
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