Much of the biodiversity in the Southern Appalachian Mountains occurs at a small scale:  liverworts, mosses, ferns etc.  Becoming comfortable with a macro rig has been hugely liberating for me and my photography.

This is a liverwort, a non-vascular land plant that grows on rocks and moist soil along streams and on cliffs.  I often find it near waterfalls.  This particular liverwort is easy to identify by its polygonal patterns, similar in appearance to snake skin.  Within each polygonal pattern is a single air pore.  I find them fascinating subjects behind the lens for their pattern, texture and color.  

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

Date taken:  April 30, 2024
Settings:  f14, 1/250 second, iso 100