Holding Fast by Chipka
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Description
The manner by which vine-bearing plants attach themselves to convenient surfaces is something dictated by species. In the case of some vine-bearers, tendrils shoot out of the vine-branches themselves (generally opposite a leaf) and sinuously corkscrew around a convenient anchor, even if that convenient anchor happens to be a leaf from the very same plant. In this way, some vines in cramped areas can be seen to climb themselves. An equally-common method of vine anchoring actually utilizes the plant version of crazy-glue—well, an adhesive of some sort, usually exuded from something that begins as a rounded bulb on the end of a tiny branch; it flattens as it dries out, and the woody texture of the anchor probably helps in making sure that the vine in question is firmly anchored. I’ve seen various breeds of ivy utilize holdfasts, and I’ve seen various breeds of wild grape doing the same.
Two weeks ago, roughly, I saw a dead truck consumed by some kind of wild-grape vine. At least I think it was a wild grape vine. Well, it was a wild vine at any rate. Across the alley from the dead truck, the back of a restaurant wore a lush, oddly shiny coat of ivy. I was in holdfast heaven, in terms of what I was able to capture with my macro lens setting. I was in holdfast purgatory, in terms of the somewhat poor lighting conditions, but the good thing about holdfasts is that they hold fast. They don’t go anywhere. Light moves. Light changes. Bad lighting conditions improve. And holdfasts remain. The holdfasts I wanted to capture, were where I remembered them, and in looking for them again, I found others.
I particularly liked this bit of old holdfast growth. There is a fence near the truck and the wild grapes in question don’t actually care where they grow, just as long as they grow. As a result, one may say that there are no distinctions in grape reality between the concepts of truck and fence. As the fence was closer to me (at the time) than the truck, I was quite happy to nab this shot. Corey was with me, and he can tell you more about the truck than I can. All I can say is that it was a dead truck, with green stuff growing all over it: green stuff holding on for dear life. The truck wasn’t going anywhere. And due to the prodigious number of gnarly holdfasts stuck all over the place, the grapevines weren’t going anywhere either.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you're all having a great week.
Comments (23)
NefariousDrO
This is truly magnificent. I always loved the tendrilly kind of vines because they could find cracks and seams you never imagined were there, but this is fantastic in an almost creepy kind of way. So cool!
PREECHER
awesome inagery!!! chills and thrills
kgb224
Stunning capture my friend. God Bless.
Faemike55
fantastic and tripppy photo it is amazing how well these vines hold on, even into the ground (i've pulled ivy in a yard - not fun I'll tell you but you do get some serious leg muscles by the time you are through - tho hold fasts hold onto everything...
KatesFriend
It's interesting to look at the pattern the vine's fasteners make. Like a small scale tree in its own right. Though a tad more alien than an earthly tree. It brings to mind the tree-ish structures seen in 'Guardian of Piri' during the first series of 'Space: 1999'. Without a doubt one of the most surreal stories of 70's vintage television. I would have dearly loved to have taken a tour of that set. You did a really good job at capturing this - in spite of any bad lighting. These tendrils look very small and the clarity of their relief is very good. There's the feel of being at the edge of the microscopic world where conventional becomes alien.
auntietk
I'm gonna start looking for these. That is totally cool!
durleybeachbum
Excellent pic of these little suckers. One corner go my house has just been cleared of Virginia Creeper and the entire surface is covered in the footprints of these.
wysiwig
Fascinating image. And a little disturbing. Looks like a good match for Tara's latest post "It Came From Outer Space!". I hope you don't stand around these vines too long. They might start growing on you!
blinkings
I have a shed that's being devoured by creepers, so I find this strangely frustrating! Cool shot though.........
flavia49
excellent
MrsRatbag
They are fascinating, aren't they? Almost frighteningly sentient, in a good way, if that makes any sense at all. Excellent work here capturing the aliens among us, Chip!
dochtersions
Such an amazing photographic, with lovely details and a kind of golden mood on it!
helanker
WOW! It is like it is growing into the surface of the truck. It is a marvellous shot, Chip. I just love it.!
-Jordi-
This is a fantastic capture!
sandra46
impressive capture
tofi
A most interesting, though uncanny at the same time species you have here, Chip! You always manage to bring everything to life, and had to laugh at the (dead truck) personification :) You can make me smile in the gloomiest and coldest of days! A really fascinating subject and written information was a breath of fresh air to read. Excellent lighting and background for this particular subject! May you have an amazing and productive week ahead!
CoreyBlack
You do such amazing macro shots! Well, all your photos are cool, but your macros are always amazingly sharp. And the lighting is always perfect. This is particularly true of this shot because the side of the truck this thing is attached to seems to be in permanent shade. Great shot, as always!
praep
The perfect climbers - always fascinating how they find the walls and other things to climb actively. I saw a documentation about movements of plants - awesome. Very nice shot - interesting POV.
IO4
Wow, fantastic image! I love the depth of field effect and the slightly surreal, dark look. Wonderful!!
pat40
Amazing.
Fidelity2
Oh, how nice it is. I thank you for it. 5+!!
three_grrr
I'm laughing as I view, and read .. why? Because my poor husband spent almost a whole day cutting back and trying to scrape, wash, and somehow remove that glue like stuff from window frames and soffits after yanking, trimming, cutting back the Trumpet Vine he wrongly planted against the house! Now there is a true HoldFast vine .. it sneaks under siding to hold fast, sneaks under soffiting (maybe that's not a word .. but what you call the soffit but soffiting?) and leaves it's the little soles and palms of the hands and feet that cling so tenaciously? I've not ever really looked at it closely .. but I sure will now! This is just the most amazing capture!
danapommet
An excellent macro photo and especially in zoom - wonderful narrative and I learned new "stuff" tonight!