the romance of chiaroscuro

"Rainforest... the falling cadence of the lovely word has gathered about itself the chiaroscuro of romance."

[with due apologies to Maugham]

The magic of a rainforest is in the play of light and dark (chiaroscuro). it reveals itself slowly. and one enjoys it slowly. there is as much a story in the deep shadows as there is in pools of light. here's a tribute to the sinharaja rainforest of sri lanka. as i saw, enjoyed and reveled in its mysteries.

leaves of a climber hugging a bark

a pretty liana with pyramidal bumps

the multiple textures lit up in patches intrigued me

captured as such - mossy bark

wild orchids

this green pit viper was lit by flashlight

tree sap

ferns

early morning dew drops outside our lodge

light, shade, hue and dew

ferns

also a fern

shooting is so much easier when an ace photographer is belting out his camera settings as he shoots :) thanks KV!

fern spores just about catching light