Saturday, November 17, 2007

Web Sight

Beads of Moisture, Like Miniature Pearls

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


This week's theme is ``I love ....'' and I guess anyone who has seen my photographs or read my novel would know that I love the power of Nature. I am enthralled by its simplicity. I am entranced by its majesty. And most of all I am enchanted by the fact that a camera can capture a sight that most people would simply walk past without paying it the slightest attention.

I am intrigued by cobwebs. You see, when we notice them indoors, we click our tongues in exasperation. We shake our heads at this invasion. And we waste no time getting rid of them.


Yet, outdoors, a cobweb is a powerful reminder of Nature's beauty. Look at a cobweb adorned with droplets of moisture, like tiny Swarovski crystals, and all of a sudden it become a thing of beauty. Funny how our perception changes, isn't it?

I shot the two photographs above because I was absolutely riveted by the moisture glistening in the late evening sun. And the picture below? I shot it to show you just how precise the pattern is, in perfect geometrical symmetry.

42 comments:

Corey~living and loving said...

oh my yes David. Nature really is amazing, and all the tiny details that we miss on a day to day hurry and burry of going about life. It is lovely to take a step back, or step closer and really, truely SEE!
Great post DAvid!
Mine is up as well.

Anonymous said...

Those are really neat photos. You never really notice the perfect webs they weave unless you look so carefully. Great idea and have a good weekend.

Anonymous said...

Those are beautiful. Thanks for taking the time to find such great shots for us to enjoy. Have a wonderful weekend...

Liz said...

Well done! Beautiful shots. Have a wonderful weekend!

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

Beautiful shot. I love how intricate and detailed it is. Amazing!

Cynthia said...

Wow David, those are really great shots! Well done!

Carver said...

I love nature too. You captured some beautiful nature shots. Have a great weekend.

jams o donnell said...

Great photos. You really have captured the beauty of spider webs. I agree, they are things of wonder. Have a great weekend

lime said...

magnificent how you were able to capture that detail

SabineM said...

The work of nature never stops to amaze me! Gorgeous photographs!

Liz Hinds said...

It just amazes me how spiders do that. Fantastic photos.

Les Becker said...

Oh, here comes the Green-Eyed Monster! I've been trying to get a "dewy spider-web" macro for years, now. The few times I found them with the old R607, the camera wouldn't cooperate. Now that I have the Canon, the only time I ever saw a web I wanted - I didn't have the freaking camera with me. Argh.

Yours are great pics, David. Come next summer, though, I'm going to give you a run for your money. :-D

Lee said...

Wonderful shots, David. The top one is my favorite. Was this early morning?

Peace!

Anonymous said...

very beautiful!! I love the photography you produce!!

Misty DawnS said...

Great photos! Be careful David, I posted a photo of a garden spider in it's awesome web, and was accused by several women of sneaking that spider photo in there ;-) They were just teasing, of course.

Tammie said...

Beautiful shots, especially catching the dew like that.

Andree said...

These photos are so lovely and sparkle so perfectly. I decided not to do PH this week. But I'm glad I saw yours.

Anonymous said...

And you are an amazing photographer! WOW!

Mine is up here;
Photo Hunter:I Love
Happy Weekend!

Sandee said...

Well, as long as I don't have to meet the spider I'm okay. Not into spiders at all. Very interesting shot. Have a great day. :)

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

I find them a bit awe inspiring even within the confines of my own home. It's my excuse for not dusting more often.

Seriously, beautiful shots.

eastcoastlife said...

Cool! Those are amazing shots of Nature. I love looking at the intricate designs of cobwebs. It's hard to find one now in the concrete jungle of Singapore.

Unknown said...

Those are amazing photographs. I think I could enter a trance gazing at those cobwebs.

jmb said...

Beautiful photos indeed. We are in the middle of spider season and every time I step out of doors I am breaking some web, which is patiently rebuilt for the next day.

Lin said...

Oh, oh, oh ... thank you! I had been watching a large spider build and rebuild its web for weeks. I finally decided that I would photograph it that evening. In the meantime, Mark finally got tired of walking into the massive web and removed it!

Natalie said...

Those are very beautiful photos! :) My photo hunt is up too on my blog. Have a great weekend! :)

Sam Fox said...

Great shots, and a subject I too have snapped away at in the early morn while the dew glistens, maybe when I'm feeling brave I will put one up for your critique. Nature at her finest, can be found all around us. We just need to open our eyes and slow down a little.

Lakshmi said...

Ive never seen such beautiful cobwebs..thanks for making me realize that even the most mundane things in life can be beautiful ..its just our perspectives that changes

Wilson said...

Great photo shots you got here!... Mine is up too here!...

http://wilstop.info/2007/11/16/photo-hunt-i-love/
http://boggos.blogspot.com/2007/11/photo-hunt-i-love.html
http://liferealities.blogspot.com/2007/11/photo-hunt-i-love.html

Have a nice weekend!...c",)

indicaspecies said...

Superb shots. The first picture is like intricate lace-work.

Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like this..

mrsnesbitt said...

Yes David, I too spent time considering the beauty of nature on our very doorstep.....all free for admiration & a source of wonder.eglnq

Anonymous said...

Spider's webs are among the most beautiful sights in the world. Add some condensing dew and the wonder is tripled.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

A lovely set of shots. Could I fall in love with cobwebs, though? I am not sure, although I admire and *almost* love spiders.

Great stuff, anyhow!

i beati said...

enthralled buy its simplicity. great - whenever I'm the slightest stressed nature is my mentor. thanks

Dragonheart, Merlin, Devi, and Chloe said...

Beautiful photos! Those are some lovely cobwebs. :) Nature is incredible and beautiful. :)

Here's what I Love.

Mark said...

Hi David, Getting some great webs here at the minute too, with the fog in the mornings.

Cheers Mark

San said...

Beautiful photos, David. In Native American tradition Grandmother Spider is the weaver of the web, the creator. I'm not Native American, but when I do come upon a spider web, I see it as a good omen. Same for a spider, unless it's poisonous.

Jenera said...

I'm so jealous-I've not been able to get a good clear shot of a cobweb at all. the focus is always off or something else goes wrong with the photo.

Anonymous said...

Yes, it is pretty amazing. Cobwebs are part of the furniture (literally) in my house. I shall see them in a different way in future.

Crystal xx

Queen of My Domain said...

Those are great spider webs. I have a few but nothing like yours. I prefer my webs to be outside also. Happy Weekend.

Melissa said...

I'm a little late in posting this, but beautiful cobweb photos David. I have a huge cobweb which starts at my porch and goes to the top of a hedge. I need to get my camera out for that one!

~**Dawn**~ said...

Beautiful photos, David, but...
::does the heebie-jeebie dance::

Shrink Wrapped Scream said...

OMG, how could I have missed this before? These shots are absolutely esquisite David - I am in awe.