Decidious Fern Forest

When wandering the high mountains inside Smokey Mountain National Park, in the morning, when the clouds are burning off and the sun is still rising and the birds are just beginning to sing and salamanders and small mammals are foraging, I am reminded of the power and beauty of the forest. This image was made high in Appalachians, above 3000 feet at the trailside. This particular ridgeline did not escape logging of the early 1900s. In this image, the forest is coming back, with an understory of ancient ferns, rising saplings, and young birches. Sizes: 8x10, 11x14, 12x18, 17x24