I became aware of Oconee Bell wildflowers when I moved to South Carolina to attend Clemson University.  In 2022, after over nearly twenty years experimenting with photographing these beautiful wildflowers, I finally got myself and my gear in alignment, and I made what I believe to be some of my best portraits of the Oconee Bell.  Like any iterative process though, I wanted to build upon these earlier wins with successive trips and efforts; to avoid recreating the same images over and again–to push the depth of my collection.

Oconee Bells grow in thick, dense mats along the slopes of tiny streams and creeks in acidic cove forests.  While creeping around this particular habit within the Jocassee Gorges of South Carolina in March 24′, I found this pair of Oconee Bells intertwined with each other.  The expressive sepals (I think that’s the proper botany speak?) have always been my favorite part of this rare plant.  They curl and recurve and wrap like tiny scarves, their colors transitioning in endless, rich combinations.  These two seemed to be grasping each other, holding together.

Oconee Bells are ranked by NatureServe as G2 globally impaired and S3 vulnerable in South Carolina.

Camera:  Canon 5DSr
Lens:  Canon MP-E 65mm

Date taken:  March 11, 2024
Settings:  f14, 1/80 second, iso 100