Does this do want you want? Cases[Options[i, MetaInformation], HoldPattern["ExposureTime" -> ___], Infinity] or even simpler because it is `Rule`s all the way down: Cases[Options[i], HoldPattern["ExposureTime" -> ___], Infinity] > {"ExposureTime" -> 1/65} All-in-one: With[{wanted = "ExposureTime"}, wanted /. Cases[Options[i], HoldPattern[wanted -> ___], Infinity]] // N