As winter cold works its way towards spring time, the old leaves that survived autumn hanging on the twigs no loose more and more of their structure. The normal brown-black changes again and with the vanishing of parts of the cells brighter layers become visible for a short time. Rain and snow will wash them away again, and the next fierce gusts of wind may well blow the remnants to the earth. Winter is the time for this.
Somehow the background gives me the impression of motion and speed – a very interesting effect. Might be because of the fleeing line (a path?) on the left. Makes a very distinctive photo – the leaf is superbe!