I’ve been thinking about the textures of spring. The things you slowly come to notice. Like the way the air sort of rushes through you instead of around you. The yellow-greens that hover at the tips of the trees like a dancing mist. The velvet carpets that slowly roll out under your feet. Some of them solid. Some of them shifting. How your senses heighten and make everything more absolute. But with this, a softness.
The temperate softening of the landscape. There is a beautiful energy to the spring; a measured growth and a bursting freshness.
All images © Karen McRae
draw and shoot 
Indeed. A temperate softening of the landscape. You’re right! Again, images and words are working together!
By the way, are you experiencing strange goings on with WordPress. I’ve been clicking the “like” button on many people’s posts but when I come back they’ve disappeared. Also as I type this I have no cursor… all very strange…
Hi Steve, thanks!
I’ve not had problems with WordPress really, but they do seem to be tweaking things very often! Perhaps you are experiencing their growing pains…
Beautiful words – and of course, beautiful photos, Karen. The sky just seems bigger these days!
The sky does seem bigger these days! Thank you, Lois.
Your words are almost as lovely as your images. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks so much for your comment, and also for the re-blog.
Reblogged this on The Three G's.
Lovely, every one!
thank you, Sandy.
Beautiful words – I love that shell fragment too.
Helen, coming from you I am humbled! Thank you.
Lovely.
Thanks.
Beautiful pictures! Really sent me off on a dreamy trip. I’m so ready for a soft landing.
Well then, I am happy to provide you with a soft landing. =)
Thanks so much, Anette.
Thank you drawandshoot 🙂
“The velvet carpets that slowly roll out under your feet.” Your words match the beauty of your images! Lovely!
Much appreciated, Mahdu. Thank you.
Beautifully poetic, both words and images. So real and yet so sweetly otherworldly.
Thanks so much, Elena, for your always wonderful comments. =)
This study of subtlety is so well done…your work has calm magnitude
Barbara, thanks for what you have written here. I’m glad you get that from my work.
You are portraying nature so special and wonderful, Karen!
Bente, thanks so much! 🙂
Meditative, deadly calm images what the Buddhism say,
Seeing as not seeing, calm but tender eyes. ! ! !
I like what you have written here, Yoshizen, always such an interesting interpretation. Thank you.
As always, your words are as moving as your work!! I love how you described spring, yet show no flowers which most associate with spring. I love the original viewpoint. Where we’re these taken? They are still images, yet I feel the movement of earth and transition into Spring. Beautiful and wonderful post, Karen!
Polly, a very kind and much appreciated comment! Sincere thanks.
These were taken along the Ottawa River, which is not too far from my house.
Karen,
Your picture “Simplesky” is as magnificent as Le Clown. I just don’t say this lightly.
Le Clown
Magnificence at last. I have fulfilled my quest!
Thank you, Clown!
Are they discarded angels wings 🙂 ..lovely photos.. there is always a gentleness about your work.. Does that reflect your personality Karen ?
Perhaps they are! Have you lost any, Helen? 😉
(I guess I am a pretty gentle person…mostly…)
haha… not much of the angel about me Karen…
beautiful prose and wonderfully soft images!
Thank you very much, Mimo.
thnx for relax
You are welcome! 🙂
Great work.
Thank you, Mehmudah.
Lovely. Nice collection.
Anita, thank you! 🙂
Welcome home!
I really love this line: “Like the way the air sort of rushes through you instead of around you.” it is so true for me. The photos of the shells – 3rd and 6th -and the 9th are just standouts for me. Lovely Karen!
I’m glad you relate to that line, Marina, and understand what I mean by that. =)
Thank you so much.
Lovely! You really put the right words to these wonderful photos.
I’m glad you think that Inga, thank you.
I love your title, Karen, as I love the “softness” of your beautiful photos!
Marina, thank you. I appreciate your lovely comments! 🙂
Sweet buds, beautiful trees, beaches that look a little dirty, a little wild – the sea having a spring clean …? I love them!
Yes, a good way to put it, Gigi. Much thanks for your comments!
You have a beautiful world, Karen…thank you for sharing it as you do. 🙂
It is a pleasure, Scott. And the feeling is mutual.
Thank you.
You are most welcome. 🙂
I forget how I found your wonderful site but I am so pleased I did. Your quiet words and stunning photos are always so restful and full of thought!
Patti, what a very kind comment! Thank you for what you have said, it’s much appreciated.
to photograph captures this energy and transmit it finishes your words. congrats
Thank you so much Angel, I appreciate your wonderful comments!
You need to add to your statement. I am a writer. Your words, your statement that goes along with your photographs is beautiful. I love the shadows of the bones and dried grasses. I got a little behind in your posts.
Carla, that is very kind of you! I sincerely thank you for what you have written. It is heartening! 🙂
Beautiful prose Karen which is brought to life in your photos.
David, I appreciate you saying that. Thank you!
You photos are so gorgeous!!! I love how you captured spring and the serene quality of nature!
Thank you very much.
Soft, tranquil and beautiful. I have noticed all the little changes in our area as well, the subtle colors and textures around me are enticing.
Thank you, yes, the changes are in the works and it’s rather invigorating! 🙂
Beautiful photos, Karen! 🙂 Softness is the essence here, great job! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Thank you, Nandini. 🙂
Super Gorgeous Karen!
Jack, thank you, I appreciate you saying that!
Wow the beauty you see is once again breath taking !
Bella, thanks so much. You are so kind! 🙂
It’s kind of strange this Spring, I, too, am taking time to notice things that are usually taken for granted. I sat in the grass last weekend with “Kodi” and just absorbed the sun’s warmth, the cool caress of the breeze, the sound of the breeze moving through the leaves, the birds chattering and singing… I’ve recently been told if your body comes in direct contact with the earth, it balances you, brings you into harmony. It sure felt like it, becoming aware of nature around me. Thanks for sharing!
I think there is something to connecting with the earth, for sure.
I completely relate to what you are saying. Thank you.
I love the velvet carpet – shifting!
Thank you , Lisa.
It’s nice to see traces of life slowly returning. But still, I have such a soft sport for when you photograph dead things.
Well, you know I’m always on the lookout, you just can’t find dead things every day…
beautiful photography
Thank you.
really beautiful blog… you are a wonderful artist! thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you so much!
Absolutely love photograph number 6, Karen! How do you ever manage to take any photographs with all of these super comments to respond to and other posts to look at? I find it really hard and I don’t get half the number!
Take care!
John
Hi John,
Thank you, you are always so very kind with your comments.
I’ve just stopped sleeping so now I have more time! 😉
love the detail, nice job!
Thank you for your kind comment!
Beautiful words and images. I think you have captured the textures of Spring perfectly. Looking forward to part 2!
Thank you!
😀
So alive!!! x
Thank you, Cath. We had snow today! It melted quickly but it’s feeling rather dull…
I appreciate the asymmetry and negative space of your first photograph, plus the horizontality of the layers in an image that is on the whole vertical.
Steve Schwartzman
http://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com
Thank you for your thoughtful comments, Steve. Much appreciated.
Your photos are truly lovely. So beautiful and peaceful.
Thank you so much! 🙂