Dancing Gnats

Such a lovely day after yesterdays rain. Sod's law I couldn't get out to enjoy it until late afternoon. The leaves are now looking quite spectacular in their autumnal red and golds. There is a war memorial on the heath and post memorial service the attendees took advantage of the late sunshine. I've never seen as many people milling around.

The half moon glistened in the sky and I did get a couple of lovely shots through the branches but this image is the one that sums up the evening. Illuminated by the final rays of the sun, the gnats danced under the golden leaves of a birch tree. It wasn't quite as dark as the image suggests but I did manage to freeze the action of the insects in the failing light before the family in the distance walked through the cloud and dispersed them. Half an hour later and photography without a tripod would have been impossible. Zoom in to see the fairies gnats!