Emerald Ferns and Raindrops |
| When spring comes to the north country, it comes in a hurry. This photograph was made in what the locals refer to as the "Northeast Kingdom" of Vermont. Bursting from the ground, the ferns and grasses almost explode with new life. It had been raining all morning and at last it let up for about an hour, so I decided to go out in the early afternoon to see what I might find. Almost around the corner, I came upon these ferns, covered with jewel-like raindrops and seeming to await the arrival of an appreciative audience. Working quickly, before the rain and wind began again, I struggled with depth-of-field issues (common with close up photography with an 8x10 camera) and the exact composition. The image changed dramatically with only a fraction of an inch of change in the camera or lens position. I had time for just one exposure before I felt the first few drops of rain and by the time I had the equipment put away for the day, it was a regular downpour. The more I study the image, the more dramatic it becomes, with the dynamic interaction of the shapes and varied directions and thrusts of the individual fern fronds. I can almost smell the cool moistness, the rich earth and the fresh scent of green life covering the earth once again in springtime. |
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