Sunday, April 1, 2012

A Wisp of Gossamer

"A wisp of gossamer, about the size and substance of a spider's web." ~ Monica Baldwin

These photos were taken on the same foggy day as the previous post. Indulge me, please. I have never taken a photo of a spider web covered in dew before, and so I probably snapped too many. They're not great shots but they kept me amused. I hope they'll do something similar for you.



web drops 5
The tree branches can be seen reflected in some of the dew drops.




web drops3
It reminds me of a delicate necklace.




web drops 6
Perfectly round droplets of dew.




web drops and spider
Here's the architect.




web drops on willow
This was a different web found on the newly-budding branches of the weeping willow.




webdrops
It was a breezy morning and the wind combined with the weight of the dew drop began to disassemble the web.




web drops and spider2
I'm not crazy about spiders but they sure do some fine work.




web drops2
Simple, yet complex. I'll have some variety for you next time. Thanks for indulging me today.

61 comments:

Rob-bear said...

So like a pearl necklace, strand upon strand. Nothing simple. Construction and repair — painstaking, slow, relentless — regardless of the droplets' impact.

A marvellous use of your macro, Hillary. That you could get these pictures — that the spider would let you get these pictures, while you were seeming to intrude upon her work.

Delightful!

stephen Hayes said...

Wonderful pictures. Spiders are remarkable architects and you have to admire the spider's design. They can lift ten times their body weight.

Karen (formerly kcinnova) said...

Hilary, I would happily gaze at your macro shots all day long!

Cloudia said...

wow- you are mistress of wonders!


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Anonymous said...

Wow wow wow! These are works of art. The fist one ought to be framed!

Barbara said...

Absolutely amazing! Thank you for sharing these!!

Betty Manousos said...

wow, these look like diamonds!
terrific shots, hilary; i love the spider web.

have a great remainder of your weekend!

big hugs!

Murr Brewster said...

[swoon] My father did nature photography and dewy webs were one of his favorite subjects. Just looking at these brought me a whiff of the chemicals in the pans in his darkroom. Probably ate away a few brain cells, there, and the rest of them are getting lonely.

Bob Bushell said...

Beautiful macro work Hilary.

Dave said...

Hilary, I think these web and water-droplet pictures are wonderful. You are always coming up with new styles huh? Well done! - Dave

Brian Miller said...

this is lovely hilary...def agree with the pearl necklace allusions...

Kerri Farley said...

I think they are MAGNIFICENT!
Ahhhh.... the Beauty of Nature makes my heart skip a beat!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Each picture is a work of art.These are gorgeous,and no, I would not get tired of seeing such beauty.

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

LOVE this! What else can I say? Well done!

Hilary said...

More than delightful, I would say.
Perfect.

messymimi said...

Love spiders, and their work. These are beautiful, thank you.

TexWisGirl said...

these are fabulous shots. some of them reminded me of those perpetual motion machines.

Anvilcloud said...

Consider yourself indulged. I like them.

Rita said...

Wonderful shots! This is how I like to see spiders...in pictures. The dew drop web is amazing! You have indulged me. :)

DJan said...

Oh! Gasp! Exclaim! Admire!

Thank you for the adventure through the gossamer web. :-)

Maggie May said...

Love the droplets on the gossamer.
You are so good at close ups!
Maggie X

Nuts in May

Geraldine said...

Oh wow, this is amazing Hilary. It is like a beautiful necklace, one of a kind! Isn't nature amazing?



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Unknown said...

Wow!!
Very cool.
:-)

Unknown said...

So lovely!

ds said...

Such beauty...yes, like pearls. Thank you.

Anyes said...

Those water pearls you captured here make such interesting jewelry, Hilary

Glo said...

How absolutely breathtaking and beautiful! I'm whispering 'a wisp of gossamer'.

Gillian Olson said...

Love these shots, simple yet perfectly captured.

Dianne said...

spiders are such wonderful wee artists

your dewdrops are like strands of pearls! so beautiful

and I love all the fog from the previous post, especially the shot with some yellow in it

Liz Mays said...

Before you mentioned a necklace, that's exactly what I was thinking. So beautiful!

Reb said...

I am always fascinated by spiderwebs...right up until I walk face first into one :( Beautiful photos Hilary.

Reena said...

Please please, bring us more! These are so gorgeous. Nature in its simplest beauty.

yaya said...

Super amazing pics! I think they would make beautiful wall art! Thanks for sharing!

Barb said...

Dew and webs - what could be better? Glad the builder posed, too.

beth said...

wow wow wow....those drops of rain are PERFECT AND PERFECTLY photographed !!
i'm not wild about the architect, but he's "got skills"

Slamdunk said...

Like Rob-bear, I was thinking pearl necklace as well.

I think your first experiments with web shots worked well--you'll have fun capturing perspectives again I am sure.

That Janie Girl said...

Hmmmmmm….those are gorgeous shots! I love them!

Dan said...

Ah yes, pearls on a thread. A great eye recognized the beauty... wow!

Pauline said...

Nature's works of art so beautifully captured. Some of them remind me of fractals. To slow down, take notice, and share is the like a kind of prayer.

Leah J. Utas said...

Love the pearl necklace droplets. Good job, and it looks like fun to do.

Gary's third pottery blog said...

oh WOW :)

Sharon Wagner said...

Nice. It makes me wish I could wear it has a magical necklace. The spider would be the clasp!

Daryl said...

oh wow .. I am loving these and envious .. superb shots, H.

Frank Baron said...

Very nice shots. I can understand why someone might spend a lifetime studying (and photographing) spiders.

Christine said...

Beautiful! I'm so obsessed with finding spiderwebs lately, they just make me so happy :)

Unknown said...

Hilary: As one of many fans of your work, I can only say how amazed I am at the intricacy with which you are able to capture the water droplets and spider web. You have a true appreciation for life! Thanks for sharing!!! :)

Shrinky said...

The first one put me in mind of a grand chandalier. How utterly, amazingly awesome - so wonderously captured. It's incredible you can see these miracles of nature that pass most of us by.

Merisi said...

Nature's jewelry maker! :-)

Suldog said...

Wow. As Usual - WOW.

Friko said...

Pearls strung on the finest silken thread, literally and figuratively. More precious than pearls, in fact.

Bill Lisleman said...

You captured simple beauty. A few appear to form letters.

Scott Law said...

I've always wanted to get some shots like these. They are just gorgeous. In the dry Utah desert we don't get many opportunities for them though. :.(

Linda said...

Those are some excellent shots! I love to look at spider webs, and watch them weave them. These do look like beaded necklaces or pearls. Nature is pretty amazing.

NitWit1 said...

Beautiful capture of a difficult and not easily found subject. I had some slides of a spider web in Vermont. Haven't come upon one since. And the slide has bit the dust and mold.

Mage said...

That was just perfect. Thank you. We don't need variety when our imaginations are stirred by such magic.

SandyCarlson said...

These are just amazing!

sage said...

Beautiful, they look like pearl necklaces

sage said...

Beautiful, they look like pearl necklaces

Hilary said...

Thanks everyone, for the kind comments. They're always very much appreciated. :)

Lisa said...

Hilary these are so beautiful. Love that little spider

Ruby said...

Beautiful patters of droplets! Love all the pictures!