Early morning web magic

Very early in the morning, before the sun casts it's spell, there are spidery webs everywhere. Have you ever seen the heavy curtains of sparkly fabric draped between the branches, leaves and blossoms? The first time I saw this phenomenon I was shocked by how much of the land is covered in the creative productions of what must be an army of arachnids!

When it's early like this, the light is soft and dew highlights the patterns and extent of this magical world. By sun up when most people begin to go about their daily lives, the webs have dried out and are strangely invisible again.

Besides the fact that I am not a morning person (in the slightest) over the last three years I have taken every opportunity to get out early with the camera and experience the slowly emerging day. It's a time of calm before the onslaught of alarms ringing and phones hopping. Wandering through this secret webby world always sets me up for a much more positive start to the day ahead. (Except when I lock myself out of the house in the dead of winter!)

This month you can see another web image of mine showing in a group exhibition called Being Here in Aoife's Gallery in Waterford City. This photograph was taken one icy morning in winter when the dawn light created a mini light show of rainbow colours. You can see the image HERE



And if you share this weird fascination for webs You can also visit the Gallery of Web photos here.

In the foggy dew........#Pilgrimage ~ February

My Pilgrimage into 2014 goes deeper and the question has become how to visualise this path through photography? How to observe the world through a mist, keep all the options open and embrace the greyness.  There's a promise now of rebirth and spring after the long winter. Walking in the steamy wet fields, in the muck underfoot, there's an ethereal wispiness in the air.

The conditions this morning are perfect. Early sun, warming the land. Moisture from the cold night rising in the first light. Dew drop lanterns glowing on every branch and stem.

The colours are golden. I shoot into the most easterly field. Nothing to be seen but light, shrouded in vapour. And there's no goal here, it's enough just to stand and feel the sun on my face, the foggy dew is a bonus.....




The growing Pilgrimage gallery is HERE

Faery creatures dancing in rainbows of dew

When you are out there early in the morning, you see things.  Mostly you see the usual things but once in a while nature surprises. These tiny rainbows within rainbows are a combination of dawn light, frosty dew and gorse spikes. Moments later, as the sun comes up, the dancing faery creatures fade.

We all have our short lived beautiful moments in the sun.

Where there's muck there's money

There's an Irish expression that where there's muck there's money.

The last week has seen the return of muck to these parts but we are still waiting to see the money. Crops have been harvested, grass growth is slowing, the clocks went back last night, rain is falling heavily and the local pot holes are filling up to the brim with water. But still, no money!!

These photos were taken at the very crack of dawn through a hazy light. The heat was rising off the cattle and the promise of a glowing October day lifted our spirits. There have been tougher times I know, but we are yearning for a bit of respite from doom and gloom, and we are all dreaming up schemes to help us keep the show on the road........

There's no shortage of muck, but how can we turn it to gold!!!

Snowy dawn!

As the evening draws in, the snow settles and I ponder the long trip I have to make that next day. The forecast suggests it will linger long enough for a dawn ramble before I head off.

Just as the sun rises I am out on the snowy lane. One set of tyre tracks tell me that my neighbour has already made it up the hill. This is the spot where I sailed off into the ditch a few years ago in similar conditions.

The sun highlights the few warm spots and the mare and her growing foal are sheltering with their backs to the ditch, lapping up those first rays. A young girl wanders into the field no doubt plotting a day off from school.

A simple change to the lane and the Comeraghs, but one that makes for a giddy stroll and a decision to postpone my long drive to the midlands for a day or two....

The absent fisherman......

The ice has gone for now and the lake is deserted and quiet. During December last year I walked around its perimeter pacing out the last days of his illness. There was nothing surer than the beginning of the end, and no one could alter it.

Today a daybreak sunbeam spotlights a forgotten pair of oars.  And there he is, the absent fisherman.

His hands resting on his lap. The blanket which warmed his shivery limbs. Reciting the names of his children and grandchildren, touched by his internal picture of each one as they came to mind.

The living, breathing lakeside is a million miles away from that room.  How much he would love to have seen just one more shimmering winter dawn like this!

Dawn embrace

It's early, 4 am. It's going to be a good day, the darkness is a kind of blue.

A spooky mist is rising from the lake. As the sun starts to brighten in the east it gradually takes on a warm tinge. It is very cold but the wafts of mist promise the warmth of summer. The small cauldron of the lake is steaming into life this May morning.

Two swans slowly make their appearance. At first they move closer together as if in an embrace and then they head in different directions, one south, one north.

Out of the darkness the day fully arrives as usual and all the sleepyheads begin to emerge everywhere and greet their loved ones.