Photograph taken on July 9, 2009, 3:05 pm, in the mountains surrounding Castelluccio, South of Italy.

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I was taking a walk, alone, by the mountains near where we camped. There were lots of mushrooms, mostly portobellos and puffballs, the very few that I recognized. We had already picked some for dinner the day before, and they were good.

As I walked, my eyes were still keenly scanning the ground. I did not find much though, and after a while, I thought I would just go back. Then.. well hello, what have we here? A huge.. I mean huh-yoooge mushroom was there right in front of me.

I could not recognize it though. I did not know if it was good or bad. I bent down to smell it, it has a deliciousy smell, but... I don't know. I couldn't call my boyfriend to ask him because he's up there flying. I contemplated picking it.. but I have been told to leave them alone if I don't know if they are the good ones. So I did the next best thing... I took some pictures of it. And I took note of its location relative to some bushes. Well at least I tried.

Back at camp, I showed the pictures to my boyfriend. The first thing he said was, "This is a good one! It's the one that we had (that other time) before..."

Damn! I must go back for it! And that's exactly just what I did. I took the bicycle to get there faster. I searched, for perhaps an hour, but I couldn't find it. (And I learned that triangulating bushes is not a good idea. They all look the same.) I ended up checking every bush in the area. I went back to camp empty-handed and disappointed. :(

Well, the photograph looks great though, don't you think? So I guess that's reason enough to celebrate. :)

Side note: The mushroom is called bedla vysoka in Czech (or bedla jedla as Czechs would sometimes refer to it). In English it's called 'Shaggy Parasol Mushroom' and the Latin name for it is 'Lepiota rhacodes'. And its goooood!

The next day, one of the guys we were with found another bedla that's just as huge, and he let me have it. It's like getting a really big delicious smelling flower. This girl is happy. :)

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Printed on archival paper with a 0.15" border for easy framing. Fits a standard 8x10 inch frame. (Also available in 4x5 inch size.)

Signed, titled, numbered and dated, in limited edition of 250 prints worldwide.

Print leaves my hands via Czech registered post, wrapped in tissue backed by a sturdy cardboard backing, in a bubble envelope.

Sale of print do not transfer copyright.

© 2009 Riz Sedek /Footprints of a Curious Mind

8 x 10 inches (WxH), with 0.15 inch border

photography, archival paper

printed on archival paper

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