We chat to Agorastos Papatsanis, a professional photographer based in Thessaloniki in northern Greece. He’s won numerous awards in major photographic competitions, including European Nature Photographer of the Year, Asferico, Big Picture and MontPhoto. His photographs have also been published in National Geographic
Your work focuses on fungi. Why fungi?
Fungi are symbols of our imagination and of everything I love: fairy tales, inspiration and mystery. Mushrooms come in a range of shapes and colours, and have strong ‘personalities’. They really stir our fancy.
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What’s been your most challenging species to photograph?
The bridal veil stinkhorn. I have been to South Korea three times to photograph it. There are two species – one with a white ‘veil,’ which is common and edible, and another with a yellow veil, which is rare and toxic. South Koreans refer to the latter as the ‘holy mushroom’, and anyone who finds it is considered lucky. I’ve had many encounters with the white bridal veil, but I’ve only found the holy mushroom once.
Have you ever had an elaborate creative vision that didn’t work?
Yes. I have spent the past two autumns trying to capture the spore release of the large clusters of fly agaric mushrooms that I’ve been seeing for more than 20 years. But since I started trying to photograph them they have stopped appearing...
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Have you had any memorable wildlife encounters while photographing fungi?
In December 2007 I was in a mixed pine and cypress forest, photographing parrot waxcaps. I heard footsteps, raised my head and saw a wolf just 5m away. He circled me and left. I felt like I was a guest in his house. It was one of the strongest feelings I have ever experienced in the woods.
Any not-so-fond memories?
I was once attacked by a swarm of wasps in a bamboo forest in South Korea. I still remember how fast I had to run.
What’s your favourite species of fungi?
It’s between parrot waxcap for its impressive emerald colour and porcelain fungus for its amazing texture.
What location would you like to revisit?
A garden in Austria. It was blanketed in fallen ivy leaves that were covered in leaf parachute mushrooms. I would love to go back in time and photograph them again.
