My favorite photo clients are those who can appreciate–and even enthusiastically embrace–the small.  I know, I probably shouldn’t say that.  Sorry, not sorry :-).  The Southern Appalachian Mountains are absolutely full of beautiful small botanical treasures, each with their own evolving story.  This is a Painted Trillium.  Its flower petals are typically pure white.  However, as it ages, instead of changing color like many other trillium, Painted Trillium simply lose their color.  They go translucent; completely clear.  I find it amazing.

After a wonderful sunrise, my client and I dove into a little secret patch of forest behind a picnic area that I had been scouting for a few days.  Though the end of spring ephemeral season was erasing many of the first wildflowers of the spring season, Painted Trillium were still going strong here.  We sat amongst a small garden of these little wildflowers.  I gravitated towards the older flowers, those losing their color and displaying translucent petals.

Trillium undulatum is the technical name for Painted Trillium.  Undulatum refers to the wavy edges of their flower petals, which, unfortunately, I’ve cut off in this particular photograph! 

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

Date taken:  May 18, 2024
Settings:  f14, 1/250 second, iso 100