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FERN- Aging and Dying


FERN- Aging and Dying
Photo Information
Copyright: Janice Dunn (Janice) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3410 W: 144 N: 5796] (17179)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05-06
Categories: Trees
Camera: Canon EOS 30d, Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/25 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Janice's FerNZ, New Zealand ferns, New Zealand Native Fauna and Flora (2) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-05-08 6:18
Viewed: 783
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
NZ FERNS

This is a slowly dying fern frond. I love walking in the bush and looking at the ferns in their many different stages of growth.

Note how the green leaves are curling under as they die off and turn brown. And what I have noticed about ferns is that they don’t seem to have set seasons of growth. They seem to produce new fronds all during the year – well they do around where I live. Maybe in the colder areas they may follow a certain cycle, but here in coastal Auckland and further north, I don’t think they do. But I could be wrong!

Ferns are ancient. They have neither flowers nor seeds. Their beauty comes from form and not colour. We know that ferns bear spores on the backs of their leaves; but originally it was a long time before this was realised.

Spores are produced on all leaves or only some. They are tiny and dust-like; the number of spores from one frond amounting to millions. The air where ferns grow is full of spores that are capable of surviving for very long periods before germinating. The dark brown and sometimes red, spore-bearing fronds of many ferns create an interesting contrast with the other green leaves.

Ferns are typically found in moist forested areas although some hardy species can be found in coastal, urban, and even in desert locations. They vary in form and size. Some aquatic ferns have fronds less then 25 mm, where as tree ferns can grow to 10 meters in height, with fronds as long as 3 meters. With many smaller plants the stem is underground, and the fronds being the only visible parts.

New Zealand has around 164 different fern species many of which are widespread.
claudine, fiyo, LordPotty, Argus, livios, scottevers7 has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To LordPotty: FernsJanice 1 05-08 07:21
To claudine: Thank youJanice 2 05-08 07:02
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Janice,
This is quite funny because we never say here that we like to take a walk in the bush. It is so specific to your country :) We have ferns here too but I don't think that we have that many species... This is a nice picture that shows us those different stages and I think that it is very interesting :)

I like this composition, details and exposure. This is aslo a good DOF that let us see nice patterns in the BG. Well done and TFS,
Claudine

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 924 W: 5 N: 2240] (8248)
  • [2007-05-08 6:43]

Hello Janice,
Very good exposure and natural colours. This is an excellent composition.TFS

Hi Janice,
I'm often inspired to photograph fen leaves,but often don't because I decide they are too 'common' Lol.
I have photgraphed a few though and I'll post some 'special' ones later.
This photo is interesting,but has a touch of blue on the dark edges from NZs intense UV rays.
Nice to see you still posting here.
Cheers,Steve
(ps ... just came back from Arthurs Pass so look out for some great Kea shots soon)

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2487 W: 132 N: 7075] (22101)
  • [2007-05-08 9:05]

Hello Janice,
Another fine fern shot from you! This is a finely composed sharp shot. What I find interesting is the way the fronds die back. In Auckland they seem to curl up and turn dark brown or black directly from the green. In Europe they first turn yellow, then gradually to a mid brown, and this applies to the whole plant. In the spring new shoots come up from the ground.
I guess you suggestion that it must be due to the mild climate is about right.
TFS and best wishes, Ivan

Hi Janice,
Wow! I never knew spores formed on the back of ferns. I too also like the form of the ferns but then something about that green really draws the viewer in. I really like the newly formed curly ferns as they unroll and stretch out. A very nice image showing the later stage of a ferns cycle. :)_

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16850)
  • [2007-05-10 0:15]

Janice, another beautiful fern posted by you.

I like composition, with the dying leaves, a lot.

Besides, great sharpness and pov.

Hi Janice,

Quite astute observation. I like this picture. The composition is very good. A very nice note. Well done.

Jan-Hendrik

Hi Janice,
The beautiy of ferns is truly amazing. Nature has such a great way of creating such intricate designs. Great colors and sharp detail in this shot on the cycle of life.
Scott

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