Cliff Saxifrage is an extremely tiny wildflower native to the Southern Appalachian Mountains.  It grows in the damndest of places, appearing along the margins of rock outcrops at high elevation.  I’ve always smiled that such a dainty flower chooses to live in such an abrasive environment.  

Photographing wildflowers this tiny has always been a welcome challenge.  On this particular morning, no wind and heavy dew created as close to perfect conditions as I could ask for.  The difficulty, however, was in the location of this wildflower, growing along a precariously steep rock outcrop near Graveyard Fields along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Camera:  Canon EOS 5Dr
Lens:  Canon MP-E 65mm
Tripod:  Handheld w/ flash

Date taken:  May 20, 2024
Settings:  f14, 1/250 second, iso 100