Thursday Challenge: Curved -

"Curved"
digital photograph by Mick Mather
- click image to view full size -

"... and the teeny, tiny spider weaved
a hanger for his spring coat ..."
- Unknown

Thursday Challenge: Rare -

"Mystery Dance"
photograph by Mick Mather
- click on image to view full size -

The theme at Thursday Challenge, rare, was tough for me even with all of the usual terrific alternatives that Dale Hudjik offers. When I stumbled over this photograph the words of Elvis Costello came to mind as I studied the twists and turns of a wild vine with added decoration by some enterprising spider:

"... Why don't you tell me about the mystery dance
I wanna know about the mystery dance
Why don't you show me
'Cause I've tried and I've tried, and I'm still mystified
I can't do it anymore and I'm not satisfied ..."
- Elvis Costello

New from Fog Walk 2008 -

"Fog Walk VII"
manipulated digital photograph by Mick Mather

Here's something from late last fall taken on a photo shoot during a foggy morning and then put through the paces at the Secret Visual Laboratory. Busy, busy, busy ... can't stay to chat.

Illustration Friday: Strings -

"Framework II - Strings"
manipulated digital photograph by Mick Mather

Again I have to air one major complaint with Illustration Friday - the fact that they don't give themes a week in advance. This week, for example, I have a terrific piece tailor made for it, but, I already used it, just two days ago! Oh well, I suppose if it were different, there would be other issues and in either event it has caused me to rework one of the earlier versions. I can only imagine the lonely spider that created this masterpiece toiling away under a new moon, hoping for a catch, as the insects of the night fly into the unseen strings!

Thursday Challenge: Tiny -

"Tiny"
photograph by Mick Mather

As the title of today's post suggests, the theme at Thursday Challenge this week is tiny. While I was out and about last weekend, in the middle of a lifting fog, I discovered hundreds of spider webs coated with the passing mists. In particular, this image of a fir tree is my personal favorite and rife with examples of fog-induced droplets. The needles themselves each have a bead that's about the size of an opalescent pinhead and seem huge when compared to the tiny little pearl necklace strung along the spider web. Sweet!