Visitors 88
Modified 13-May-25
Created 12-May-25
13 photos
A deluge breaks the spring dry spell – torrents washing down from above. Full of deep cracks, almost resigned to the dry season, the adobe soil suddenly turns thirsty, hungry, eager. And water descends.
No birds today, seen or heard. Look downwards, keep the rain out of your eyes, be careful on the soggy road. The falling water is relentless. Gentle hissing fills the soundscape.
Spiders have spread their webs on the grass. They wait in deep shelter in the center, alert for careless insects. No insects pass today – only a wet photographer. Pulling out his cell phone, he risks a few exposures before he and the camera both drown.
As we move in closer and closer, strange patterns appear. At first: grass, spread over with spiderweb substrate, suspended droplets shining in the diffuse light. The spider’s lair is in the center. Moving closer, the pattern turns chaotic and abstract. The droplets become lenses, bright-rimmed, revealing tiny grassland worlds beneath. Between droplets: patterns of lines and surfaces, strange shapes crowded, suspending the structure. Shadows of grass below.
Finally, a glimpse of a spider, emerging cozy and dry from its dark den, venturing up to check out the giant shadow overhead. Down below the spiderweb surface, droplets become spherical, tiny crystal balls. Can you see your future?
The traditional departure view of arching Blue Oaks over the Grassland Fire Road is streaked and dotted by falling raindrops.
All photos taken with an iPhone. Too wet to take out the big camera!
No birds today, seen or heard. Look downwards, keep the rain out of your eyes, be careful on the soggy road. The falling water is relentless. Gentle hissing fills the soundscape.
Spiders have spread their webs on the grass. They wait in deep shelter in the center, alert for careless insects. No insects pass today – only a wet photographer. Pulling out his cell phone, he risks a few exposures before he and the camera both drown.
As we move in closer and closer, strange patterns appear. At first: grass, spread over with spiderweb substrate, suspended droplets shining in the diffuse light. The spider’s lair is in the center. Moving closer, the pattern turns chaotic and abstract. The droplets become lenses, bright-rimmed, revealing tiny grassland worlds beneath. Between droplets: patterns of lines and surfaces, strange shapes crowded, suspending the structure. Shadows of grass below.
Finally, a glimpse of a spider, emerging cozy and dry from its dark den, venturing up to check out the giant shadow overhead. Down below the spiderweb surface, droplets become spherical, tiny crystal balls. Can you see your future?
The traditional departure view of arching Blue Oaks over the Grassland Fire Road is streaked and dotted by falling raindrops.
All photos taken with an iPhone. Too wet to take out the big camera!
Dan Quinn