[best appreciated at full size against black]

I love leaves in every form, whether they're newly sprouted or dried up and long dead. One form that captivates me is what I call the "leaf skeleton." The fleshy part of the leaf has deteriorated away and all that is left are the veins and stem--a skeleton! I have discovered that the best place to find these are at the edge of a river or other body of water. Leaves that fall in quickly rot away, but often end up on the shore before completely disinigrating, and the effect is amazing, like lacey gauze. Here is one that I found, stuck on a twig next to the river. The light was low and I ended up getting a background that faded to black! How cool is that?! :)

This image was taken in February, 2012.