Photo of the Day
Each day, we highlight one extraordinary photograph from National Geographic. Check out more of our photos here.
A cluster of mushrooms releases a cloud of tiny spores illuminated against the dark forest background.
November 9, 2026 | Hidden in the Air
For more than three years, Benjamin Pawlica has documented the nearly invisible process of mushroom sporulation. “It can only be revealed through carefully controlled backlighting,” he says. Capturing the phenomenon also requires patience: The mushrooms must be mature, and high humidity, little wind, and limited sunlight can help create the right conditions. Here, a cluster of Hypholoma fasciculare releases a dense cloud of spores in France’s Forêts National Park.
