A world all its own
Click to enlarge and see more details.
For several weeks I’d been noticing webworm (Hyphantria cunea) webs at the tips of tree branches. On the morning of June 25th, after the previous day’s rain, I was walking along an overgrown path in the southeast extension of St. Edward’s Park when I encountered a webworm web still covered with raindrops. I got in close to record the fantasy world. I don’t recall ever before taking a picture like this one. Happy new.
If you’re interested in the craft of photography, points 1 and 15 in About My Techniques apply to this picture.
© 2019 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
Great post 🙂
the #1 Itinerary
July 18, 2019 at 4:53 AM
Thanks.
Steve Schwartzman
July 18, 2019 at 8:54 PM
All it takes is paying attention and looking closely and the world is filled with delights. We both posted abstract wonder in common things today.
I am pretty sure not many if any of us would have identified that without your telling.
Steve Gingold
July 18, 2019 at 5:01 AM
Agreed: I doubt anyone would’ve known what this is, me included if I hadn’t taken the picture.
Happy abstractions to us both.
Steve Schwartzman
July 18, 2019 at 7:21 PM
A beautiful fantasy world indeed, Steve!
Peter Klopp
July 18, 2019 at 8:40 AM
Yes, definitely fantastical!
Steve Schwartzman
July 18, 2019 at 7:22 PM
It’s Abstract Day! This is stunning. I. Love. This.
Michael Scandling
July 18, 2019 at 9:45 AM
Thank. You. I was really pleased with this.
Happy abstractions to us all!
Steve Schwartzman
July 18, 2019 at 7:43 PM
This is the coolest thing! I loathe webworms and tent caterpillars but absolutely love this shot.
Robert Parker
July 18, 2019 at 2:15 PM
So abstraction overrides repulsion. Call this image an entomological take on Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.”
Steve Schwartzman
July 18, 2019 at 7:56 PM
Web worms? Anything like the ones that made the structure at GH Park? View “Eye-caught Snippet, Web Worm Nest (Zoom Out)” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPL_1C-rTi0 and “Eye-caught Snippet, Coopers Hawk and Web Worm Nest” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQirdY-NvCw. Do you know if the critters are anything the park caretakers need to worry about?
whilldtkwriter
July 18, 2019 at 5:58 PM
Yes, I believe those are the same kind of webworm. As far as I know, there’s nothing to worry about.
Steve Schwartzman
July 18, 2019 at 8:52 PM
Surreal!
tanjabrittonwriter
July 18, 2019 at 8:55 PM
That’s a good word for it. I’d also call it a happy sort of chaos.
Steve Schwartzman
July 18, 2019 at 8:56 PM
It looks like a snowstorm at night. This isn’t quite it, but it’s close to what I imagined. This is one of the best examples I’ve seen of something generally considered ugly or unpleasant transformed into something of beauty.
You’re right that, unsightly as the webs are, the insects don’t do any permanent damage to the trees. Have you ever seen those insects that wrap a tree’s trunk and limbs in a white, silky covering? That’s a pretty interesting phenomenon, too, and equally benign.
shoreacres
July 18, 2019 at 9:25 PM
Now why didn’t I think of a snowstorm at night? I think you’ve got it.
Transformation is a main element of art.
I don’t remember seeing a tree trunk and limbs that insects have wrapped in white. Can you provide a link to an example?
Steve Schwartzman
July 19, 2019 at 6:18 AM
I found the name of the insect: bark lice. Here’s a link that provide some images and good information. While I was browing images, I found some photos from Brenham, so the phenomenon at least edges in your direction. A few pages said that July and August are the time that questions about “that white stuff” peak.
shoreacres
July 19, 2019 at 6:33 AM
That’s a new one on me. Thanks.
Steve Schwartzman
July 20, 2019 at 1:09 AM
This is great. Thank you, Love, nia
niasunset
July 19, 2019 at 3:04 AM
You’re welcome, Nia. I really like this abstraction.
Steve Schwartzman
July 19, 2019 at 6:19 AM
It’s such a great shot. It has an abstract metallic quality that is appealing–well done!
Tina
July 19, 2019 at 8:26 AM
Thanks. I got as excited as you when I saw this fantasy world. One hopes for such strangenesses.
Steve Schwartzman
July 20, 2019 at 1:11 AM
Great piece of art work
kestrelart
July 19, 2019 at 6:05 PM
Thanks for appreciating it. I’d never seen anything like this.
Steve Schwartzman
July 20, 2019 at 1:13 AM
Happy new indeed! I really like this abstract, and all the more, knowing what it is – amazing. I thought something icy at first, or crackled glass or even hard, cracked sugar! 🙂 I’m glad you experimented.
bluebrightly
July 22, 2019 at 3:40 PM
I’m as happy with this abstraction as any I’ve ever made. I’m sure glad I walked down that overgrown path.
Steve Schwartzman
July 22, 2019 at 8:51 PM