Dewdrop on Beetle Carapace at Austrian Dawn

One, perfect sphere of water rests on the iridescent green armor of a beetle resting low on damp moss. The insect's shell reflects the soft, gray overcast sky of an Austrian forest floor. Tiny droplets cling to surrounding fern fronds and decaying leaves, glistening under the pale first light of dawn. The surface of the carapace is smooth and hard, against the fuzzy texture of the moss beneath. Shadows are soft and diffuse, eliminating harsh edges. A minute reflection of a white cloud hangs suspended in the curved water droplet, distorting the view of the dark beetle legs hidden below.