Ishani Booms, Forest Secrets (ANIMAL & NATURE 2026)

Deep within the Chiltern Forest of Victoria, a cluster of ghost mushrooms (Omphalotus nidiformis) emerges from the darkness, revealing a hidden world rarely seen by the human eye. While their bioluminescent glow is subtle in nature, a long-exposure photograph unveils the remarkable green light these fungi produce. Captured on a cold, fog-laden evening using 3½-minute exposure, this image seeks to convey the sense of wonder that comes from discovering one of Australia's most fascinating natural phenomena a quiet glow illuminating the forest floor beneath an ancient tree.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.