Gradually, sunshine sprinkles the meadow, causing tiny bits of nature bejeweled with dew to sparkle and gleam. Early morning, one of nature's most splendid moments, is readily available to photographers. Taking advantage of dewy opportunities is a sure way to obtain many unique and beautiful pictures. Dew is the condensation of water vapor that often forms on objects during the night. Certain conditions tend to create greater quantities of dew than others.
More dew is formed on cool, clear nights than on warm, cloudy nights.
If such an evening follows a warm, humid day like those of late summer and early autumn, exceptional quantities of dew can be guaranteed by morning. Since cool air is heavier than warm air, cool air tends to flow down hillsides and settle in low-lying pockets during the evening hours. Damp meadows, marshes, and small ponds are commonly found in these low places. The combination of a nearby supply of moisture from the wet ground or pond, cool air settling into the area, and abundant subject material creates a wonderland for the avid dew photographer. Photographing dew is a race between the time when there is finally enough light to shoot by and the time when the wind starts blowing too hard, or the dew evaporates.