Glowing Mushrooms at Kennall Vale | Woodland Photography Tutorial
There’s something undeniably magical about a Cornish woodland in autumn — soft light filtering through the trees, moss-covered logs, and the sudden appearance of fungi pushing through the damp earth.
This season, I decided to take that natural magic one step further… and make the mushrooms glow.
Glowing mushrooms in Kennall Vale woodland, Cornwall.
Do Mushrooms Really Glow?
Believe it or not — some species of fungi really do emit light! The phenomenon is known as bioluminescence and occurs when certain enzymes in the mushroom react with oxygen. There are over 70 species worldwide that naturally glow, and even here in the UK, we have a few rare examples such as the Honey Fungus (Armillaria mellea), whose mycelium can emit a faint greenish light.
But before you grab your camera and head out expecting to find woodland fairylights, it’s worth noting: this glow is incredibly dim — barely visible to the naked eye and only detectable in complete darkness with long exposures.
So, the mushrooms you see in my photos below aren’t bioluminescent… they’re light painted — a creative technique that simulates the natural glow using nothing more than a small torch and some clever blending.
Light-painted fungi photographed using torchlight and focus stacking.
The Process: From Forest Floor to Photoshop
1. Finding the Right Subjects
The secret lies in the type of mushroom you choose. I look for ones with translucent caps, often pale or amber in colour, which allow light to shine through. Kennall Vale, with its damp, shaded environment and mossy fallen logs, is perfect for this kind of photography.
2. Setting Up the Shot
Once I find a suitable cluster, I set the camera low to the ground — tripod legs spread wide, knees in the mud, the whole works! I shoot a focus stack of several images, moving focus slightly between each shot to ensure the entire subject is sharp from front to back.
3. Painting the Glow
Next comes the fun part. Using a small torch with a warm light, I carefully shine it through the mushroom cap from behind or underneath, taking a series of exposures. Each frame captures a slightly different angle of illumination — giving me plenty to work with when I get home.
4. Blending the Magic
Back in Photoshop, I stack my sharp natural-light images first, then gently blend in the torch-lit frames. Using masks, I reveal only the areas where the light passes through the cap, softening edges to keep it subtle and believable.
The result is a soft, natural glow that looks as though the mushrooms are lighting themselves — a mix of realism and fantasy that I can’t get enough of.
Warm glowing mushrooms on moss-covered log, Kennall Vale.
Why I Love This Technique
There’s something wonderfully meditative about this process — slow, careful, and creative. It encourages you to really look at the details of the woodland world: textures of moss, the architecture of fungi, the play of light and shadow.
And while it’s not a scientifically accurate representation, it captures the feeling of being out there — that sense of wonder that first made me pick up a camera.
Watch the Full Tutorial
If you’d like to see exactly how these images were made — from scouting in Kennall Vale to the final Photoshop blend — you can watch the full step-by-step video on my YouTube channel:
🎥 How I Make Mushrooms Glow | Woodland Photography Tutorial
In the video, I walk through everything from choosing your subject to light painting and post-processing, so you can give it a go yourself.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes the most rewarding photos aren’t the grand landscapes or golden-hour vistas — they’re the quiet, hidden moments that most people walk straight past.
So next time you’re out in the woods, slow down, get low, and look closer. You never know what little worlds you might uncover… and with a touch of creativity, they might just start to glow.
Creative macro mushroom photography tutorial by Cornwall on Camera
Gear Used
Canon EOS R
Canon EF 24–105mm f/4L
NiSi True Color CPL
Tripod + Remote Shutter
Small warm LED torch