{"id":196107,"date":"2025-12-21T07:37:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-21T07:37:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/196107\/"},"modified":"2025-12-21T07:37:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-21T07:37:09","slug":"i-was-attacked-by-a-swarm-of-wasps-in-a-bamboo-forest-in-south-korea-i-still-remember-how-fast-i-had-to-run","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/196107\/","title":{"rendered":"I was attacked by a swarm of wasps in a bamboo forest in South Korea. I still remember how fast I had to run."},"content":{"rendered":"

We chat to Agorastos\u00a0Papatsanis<\/a>, a professional photographer based in Thessaloniki in northern Greece. He\u2019s 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<\/p>\n

Your work focuses on fungi. Why fungi?<\/p>\n

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 \u2018personalities\u2019. They really stir our fancy.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s been your most challenging species to photograph?<\/p>\n

The bridal veil stinkhorn. I have been to South Korea three times to photograph it. There are two species \u2013 one with a white \u2018veil,\u2019 which is common and edible, and another with a yellow veil, which is rare and toxic. South Koreans refer to the latter as the \u2018holy mushroom\u2019, and anyone who finds it is considered lucky. I\u2019ve had many encounters with the white bridal veil, but I\u2019ve only found the holy mushroom once.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Have you ever had an elaborate creative vision that didn\u2019t work?<\/p>\n

Yes. I have spent the past two autumns trying to capture the spore release of the large clusters of fly agaric mushrooms that I\u2019ve been seeing for more than 20 years. But since I started trying to photograph them they have stopped appearing…\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n

Have you had any memorable wildlife encounters while photographing fungi?<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Any not-so-fond memories?<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your favourite species of fungi?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s between parrot waxcap for its impressive emerald colour and porcelain fungus for its amazing texture. \u00a0<\/p>\n

What location would you like to revisit?<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n