When I bought and built my macro rig, it was with a dream of finding subjects and making images like this one.  The Southern Appalachian Mountains are rich with plant and fungi diversity; every hike an opportunity to find, notice, and pay attention to something new, something interesting, something beautiful.

On photo adventure several years prior at a waterfall along the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment, I was crawling the rich cove forest slopes to photograph spring ephemeral wildflowers when I came upon the juvenile shoots of Maidenhair Fern.  It was an amazing discovery, for me!  I now look forward to this brief window in the growing schedule each year with enthusiasm.

Maidenhair Ferns (Adiantum) are incredibly delicate plants, known for their ability to shed water.  They are symbols of femininity, grace and delicate beauty.  In maturity, their stems are black and their leaves green and fan-shaped.  However, when they are very young–for a short period of a day or two–the stems are a vibrant red and the leaves are a translucent yellowish color.  The combination, to me, is quite magical.  And everything is coiled, elegant circles and graceful lines. 

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

Date taken:  March 17, 2024
Settings:  f14, 1/250 second, iso 100