Tussocks

Tussocks, Roxbury, Connecticut © Steven Willard

Some words just have a neat sound. I like the sound of “tussock”, just as Penny* likes the sound of “schnapps”, though tussocks won’t give you a buzz.

These tussocks are what is left after wetland grasses have died for the season. I had stopped to look for some interesting deadwood at the edge of one of Roxbury’s wetlands, but as frequently happens, I just wasn’t feeling a the vibe. These tussocks were something I hadn’t expected, but I thought they were worth exploring. It was difficult walking around without tripping and finding myself facedown in the mud, but I made a few exposures (without falling down) and slogged back to the car. I had to take my boots off to keep from tacking mud all over the car.

I really like the shapes, shadows and textures, and I’m happy that I found something unusual. Sometimes you take what you can get, and sometimes that’s better than what you were expecting.

Pentax K10D with kit zoom, processed in Photoshop CS4 and Nik Snapseed®.  To answer a question I have been asked, “why Snapseed after PS”? I have found that sometimes the PS image lacks something when I import it into  the WordPress space. That isn’t a comment on WordPress, but rather a comment about my inability to visualize how things will look in a different setting. I think it’s important to recognize when things aren’t looking the way I intended and take steps to fix them. I’ve been remarkably happy with how Snapseed® on my iPad allows me to make last minute adjustments with little hassle; much easier than going all the way back to PS on my desktop.

*Penny, from “The Big Bang Theory” and I’m not even embarrassed to make the reference!