Stephen Axford

Stephen Axford has spent much of his creative life lying on forest floors among the leeches and ticks. Best known for his macro photography and pioneering time-lapse work, Stephen has helped bring the hidden lives of fungi into view for audiences around the world.

‍

He is co-author of Planet Fungi: A Photographer’s Foray, which grew out of years of fungi safaris with his life partner and filmmaker Catherine Marciniak, their fieldwork and close collaboration with scientists. The book pairs Stephen’s stunning imagery with stories of discovery and the emerging science that is reshaping how we understand fungi and their role on Earth.

‍

Stephen’s time-lapses and photographs have appeared in major science documentaries and publications including Planet Earth II, Our Planet, Hostile Planet, Fantastic Fungi and the IMAX film Fungi: Web of Life. Alongside Catherine, he co-writes and presents Planet Fungi’s films, including the feature documentary Follow the Rain which you can find on Netflix.

‍

Based in the subtropical forests of northern New South Wales, Stephen works with mycologists, conservation groups and communities worldwide to document fungi, reveal new species, and share why these often-overlooked organisms are fundamental to life on the planet.