Power line tower at sunrise (click photos to enlarge)

The past few mornings I walked down the power line looking for potential subjects to photograph or something to learn more about. I’m always curious about plants I haven’t seen before or some interesting behavior of an animal. But often it is the simple beauty of something that catches my eye. The low angle light of early morning provides highlights and contrasts, dark background shadows, dewy grasses, calm conditions, and eventually a soft light that bathes an object allowing you to glimpse its essence. The meadow and woods edge habitats embrace the light and invite me to move slower, look closer, and appreciate the subtleties of the commonplace…the shapes and patterns that comprise the natural world around us. Here are a few images from my wanderings.

Backlit grass seed head

Spittle Bug bubbles on grass

Triangulate Orb Weaver abdomen

False Dandelion after seeds have dispersed

Back view of False Dandelion flower as it faces the morning sun

Caterpillar on bent grass stem

Redbud leaf skeletonized by Fall Webworm larvae

Leaf-footed Bug on grass seed head

Virgina Creeper fruit hanging from snag

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail hind wings close-up

With the approach of autumn, treat yourself to a morning meander and look for the patterns of life that make our world so wonderful.

“To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter… to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird’s nest or a wildflower in spring – these are some of the rewards of the simple life.” ~ John Burroughs