Fresh snow crystals caught in spider silk A sunrise of ever-changing hue and pattern.
Each morning, as I watch the coming of dawn, I see flocks outlined against the soft colours of sunrise. Thousands of dark birds flying north, probably starling. This morning I glimpse them far off and when I edit the images I can faintly make out the flock spread out across the sky. They must roost to the south and fly north to feed once daylight comes.
Each morning, as I watch the coming of dawn, I see flocks outlined against the soft colours of sunrise. Thousands of dark birds flying north, probably starling. This morning I glimpse them far off and when I edit the images I can faintly make out the flock spread out across the sky. They must roost to the south and fly north to feed once daylight comes.
On the evening of Friday 26th November storm Arwen struck Cumbria and wreaked havoc during the night. Many homes lost power, trees were brought down, some garden fences flattened. 100 mph winds recorded in Northumbria.
On the Brigsteer Road, toward Scout Scar, the gutter overflowed with debris brought down from overhanging trees.
The lightest snow began to fall, on cue at 10.00am. Snow clouds filled the sky so visibility was lost. I watched snow crystals touch down and begin to settle on branches, on the top-stones of walls, and I became so immersed in the moment that I lingered until my fingers grew numb with cold and I looked up to see the landscape transformed and white with fresh-fallen snow. By the time I returned across Kendal Race Course snow whitened the pasture and hung on ewes' fleeces.
On the Brigsteer Road, toward Scout Scar, the gutter overflowed with debris brought down from overhanging trees.
The lightest snow began to fall, on cue at 10.00am. Snow clouds filled the sky so visibility was lost. I watched snow crystals touch down and begin to settle on branches, on the top-stones of walls, and I became so immersed in the moment that I lingered until my fingers grew numb with cold and I looked up to see the landscape transformed and white with fresh-fallen snow. By the time I returned across Kendal Race Course snow whitened the pasture and hung on ewes' fleeces.
I notice spiders' silk strung between wall-stones, a cobweb pattern traced by snow-crystals floating down to snag on silk as I watch. The cobweb trembles as a breeze catches and floats it.
When snow crystals settle on top-stones and on branches their light airiness is soon lost as they accumulate and fuse together. Held on a silken thread, each snow crystals shows pure white against dark cavities in the wall. In the moment of touch-down their delicate frond-like structure is clear to see. A jewel-like translucence where light catches them, a smudge of white on limestone.
Look closely and the strands of spider silk strung between wall-stones become visible. And the hexagonal structures of snow-crystals.
When snow crystals settle on top-stones and on branches their light airiness is soon lost as they accumulate and fuse together. Held on a silken thread, each snow crystals shows pure white against dark cavities in the wall. In the moment of touch-down their delicate frond-like structure is clear to see. A jewel-like translucence where light catches them, a smudge of white on limestone.
Look closely and the strands of spider silk strung between wall-stones become visible. And the hexagonal structures of snow-crystals.
I am amused that the pages of this week's Radio Times are decorated with the snow crystal motif. Improbably, David Tennant is surrounded with snow flakes on the front cover and it's still snowing within. The snow crystal motif is everywhere in the high street Christmas lights. Snow crystals indestructible in plastic.
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