Description

While heading out to a grand sunset shoot in NH's White Mountains, my plans were derailed when I passed by this tiny treasure along the trail. I was passing through a boggy area, and an iridescent blue caught my eye. As I looked closely shapes and patters of rock and blue were too good to pass up. The colors you see are natural and not enhanced. The sheen is a result of bacteria in the water, probably Leptothrix discophora that live in waterlogged places and get their energy from iron and manganese. As these harmless bacteria grow and decompose, the iron may appear oily and form colorful films on surface water. Leptothrix can also excrete manganese, which looks like black slime. These iron rich rocks looked like a prehistoric lobster arm, bones and all. The deep blue sky above may have enhanced the blue of the bacteria coating. f16, 24-105L.

Exif: F Number: 16, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/1 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 100, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 105.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 5D Mark II