In the same way the wind carves out the snowdrifts the current is carving away at the belly of the river ice. I wonder how it would look turned upside down. Would it be etched full of channels and rippled ridges or glassy and smooth? I imagine running my hand over the cold surface. Connecting with the texture. Perhaps I need to pick up my paintbrush. Do something more tactile.
This seems to be my visual response to reading the news today. Thinking quietly “out loud”. That feeling of helplessness like a small current of energy vibrating inside that you’re not sure what to do with.
My initial response is to throw some beauty to the wind and hope it lands on someone who needs it…a thin lifeline.
All images © Karen McRae
draw and shoot 
A wonderful serene sense of emptiness.
These photos are simple and elegant – I like them a lot.
Melinda, thank you.
Remember your questions come spring Karen, and check out the chunks of ice that come to river shore. If I remember correctly they are both dimpley/smooth and etched.
I’d bet there a ton of variety in the river ice because of changes in water levels, current speed, and erosion. Neat question…
I shall remember, Al. And I will walk along the shore and see what I find and report back to you. 🙂
So serene and beautiful.
Once again you blow my mind completely…
Brian, thank you! That’s a good thing I hope?….
The best. 😉
I love your response to helplessness…throwing beauty to the wind. There’s a faith in that which resonates deeply with me. Thank you for sharing it!
You are welcome, thank you.
Gorgeous minimalism. Love the feel to these.
..beautiful..it landed on my nose for a while, a lovely snowflake 🙂
Thanks Cath! 🙂
Your beauty lifeline is much appreciated this side of the pond Karen.. I caught the silver thread.
🙂
good catch Helen!
Sublime. The images and the commentary. Beautiful solace.
Aw, thank you Elena.
stunning as usual 🙂
These are beautiful, beautiful images – so calming, serene and meditative. But why include the last one? I’m sure you have a good reason, and I’m sure I’m missing the point, but for me it belongs to a different world, a different reality.
Hi Louis,
You are right in a way. It’s an interruption, yes, but a purposeful one.
My thoughts and my images flow together here and I consider things carefully. I do appreciate your insight, thank you.
Your snowscapes are really beautiful, and philosophical composition!
Thank you so much canon.
These photos put me at ease Karen. As if I was there. Stunning.
Thank you Jack!
Ugh, one of these days, I’m going to leave the first comment 😀 Because then I won’t feel like everyone’s already said what I want to say… but I can’t leave and say nothing either… the emptiness knocked a little breath out of me… these are wonderful…..
Oh Moofie I love your comment,
“… the emptiness knocked a little breath out of me…”
that is a wonderful response. Thank you so much.
Wonderful words and accompanying imagery Karen. Reading the news today has been a bit heavy, and these images inject a calm stillness to the muddle. Thinking of those in the Midwest US. All images are my favourites.
Hi Marina, thanks so much.
The second photograph looks like an impressionist painting…very peaceful, with soft lines and a liquid sense of motion…
Beautiful as always. I particularly love the first one…serene, elegant, simple…it takes me somewhere comforting.
ethereal and beautiful!
I was admiring the beauty of the images, then I read your (written) thoughts, which resounded so deeply with me. I really liked this post, Karen!
Ray, it’s nice to get your feedback, thank you.
So little to see, so much to imagine. A lovely thought provoking post. The lifeline to beauty is always needed. Too many are caught in the rapids and never slow down enough to see and feel beauty. 😀
Karen,
I have enjoyed seeing these images of snow that you have captured so well. They give that sense of bleak loneliness, rather like the other extreme, desert sand dunes.
Nature reduced to a bare minimum – peaceful beauty.
David.
David,
Yes, complete opposite landscapes that can evoke similar feelings. Sometimes we realize how small we are.
Thank you, K
Beautifully elegant as always, Karen. And that last shot, the one with the bit’s of colour, now that one’s really special…
i like that shot too JP, thank you. I love that there is an electrical wire running along the frozen cement dock… there’s just so much happening if you look.
Karen, Love your winter work and can hardly wait to see what you do with spring. Thanks for sharing your insights.
Thanks so much, I appreciate it!
What special of you is, you know how to make
even the nature to hold their breath.
Those deadly stillness are almost phenomenal.
Yoshizen, you always say such poetic words. I am always grateful for your kind feedback, thank you!
These are so beautiful!
Thank you Sil.
Karen, it’s so nice to watch you paint with your camera!. Beautiful work.
Marina, I like your interpretation! Thank you so much. 🙂
Is that really just the Ottawa River, Karen? You make it look like the sea!
Graham, It really is! The river is quite expansive in some places.
yes, I agree with your comment. lost you for awhile but I’ve found you again
beautiful
Incredible composition, Karen!
That first one, like much of your work, Karen, has such Zen beauty.
In this series, it’s got to be the first image. And, as Fish & Bicycles says, very Zen 🙂
These are gorgeous, Karen! if I were to choose – nahh! I like them all!
Cheers
John