Scientist Pressing Ferns Under Red Night Light

Cool season air hangs heavy as a scientist works beneath the deep blue of a night sky. Red-safe observatory light washes the workspace in a monochromatic crimson glow, highlighting the texture of pressed fern specimens being arranged on stiff sheets. Beside the field station windows, condensation beads along the cold metal housings of survey equipment, reflecting the faint crimson light. The subject leans forward with methodical focus, their hands steady against the paper. Negative space surrounds the figure, showing the isolation of the tidal survey transect in Ferkessédougou. One droplet of water slides slowly down the vertical metal frame, tracing a path through the dust.