When I was out taking pictures this morning I came across this swirling water composition created by pollen grains on the surface of a little lake. As the breeze pushed the pollen grains along the lily pads made a graceful interception.
There were lots of little insects working away at pollinating the nearby flowers and in turn many birds on the hunt for insects!
A quick post in honour of World Environment Day (A little late in the day but my to-do lists seem to be longer than the days).
© Karen McRae, 2013
draw and shoot 
Nice! I had to wonder how my allergies would be with all that pollen…no matter how beautiful it is.
Yes, fortunately mine aren’t too bad but some people seem to really suffer!
Huge, deep sigh of pleasure.
Yes! A lovely response.
Wow, the first shot is amazing. I thought it was a painting at first.
Isn’t that a cool formation?! I don’t really think I got the best photograph of it but it still looks interesting. Thanks very much, Jeff.
It’s a heck of a lot better than the one I would have got. I’ve been meaning to let you know how impressive I think your photography is.
: )
Great images, but the first one is exceptional.
Thank you, Ron. It was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.
It is hard to believe this is the same country that you photographed this winter – life has exploded! The pollen on the water is like a web moving in a breeze. Thank you for reminding us of what Paradise is.
Things really change so quickly once they get going! Thank you, Judy.
I love that first shot too – at first I thought it was some kind of dusty old cobweb. Very interesting forms in there. That sure is a lot of pollen.
Thanks, Ehpem. It was really quite unique, and dusty, yes!
It is a lot of pollen, sometimes even swaths of ground are yellow from the tree pollens.
The Pollen is beautiful. We’ll captured!
I’m glad you think so, thank you!
Beautiful shots Karen.
Thanks, Trish!
Karen, I’ve never seen anything like that first shot. It’s beautiful and mysterious.
Melinda
Thanks, Melinda, I found it unusual too, the way it gathered in such a pattern. I’m glad you like it!
I guess it is spring in Ottawa! Perhaps you are ahead of us in Minnesota, ironically. Great work. I love dragon flies. They are quite romantic I believe.
Hi Doug, yes we are in full spring!
Dragonflies are a favourite of mine too, they are so majestic.
Thanks for commenting!
Yes, that first one is remarkable. If rock could look ethereal, I think it would look like that.
Thanks, Ashley. I was happy to find such a graceful subject. Unfortunately the photographs are not as great as I thought they might be, but the formation is still sort of cool anyway.
Very, very nice . . . we still have no bugs here. No flowers, either, except the ones we planted.
Wow. Beautiful set, Karen. The 4th image of the dragonfly took my breath away. The delicacy of the wings and the composition is fabulous. What a fruitful morning you had!
So joyous to see spring! I love that first pic too, wonderful abstract imagery – insects are always a source of inspiration for me too.
Clapping hands with glee at these wonderful photos 😀
Beautiful images and the insect macros are excellent, especially the dragonfly ones.
Sheer talent & beauty to have capture these instants! Exquisite photography.
Such a beautiful series of photographs Karen. Just gorgeous.
Beautiful images 🙂
Great work! 🙂
I imagine commander Hadfield could have captured it as a space landscape high over our planet. ( pollen image )
Awesome shots!
I recognise the problem of lists and time all too well and I have to agree with everyone else, that is a fascinating first image 🙂
A splendid selection, especially the first one – a downsized tsunami! – and the dragon flies.
Without your explanation, the first one would have remainde a beautiful mystery. Very nice post – and I particularly like the “rock formation” (that’s what I took it for at first glance) in the first picture and the graphic quality of the last one. All very adequate for World Environment day. Cheers.
ooo dragonfly. love the one right at the top too. it looks like dunes or the surface of a planet
Karen, I loved every one of them. I have to agree with the others. The first one is absolutely amazing, soft, yet with action. Thank you for sharing your wonderful work with us.
Wally
I also thought the dragonfly was exquisite, but then I have a thing about wings!
Lovely summery photos!
Always, I just look the photo before read —- the first photo defy any of my guess 🙂
Well captured planet’s small magic.
To catch Dragonfly is not easy, let alone to photograph it, especially in such close
proximity. —– I knew you got special breathing technique, from your snow-crystal photos, but didn’t know you got Ninja skill to melt into the background as well. 😀
Brilliant shot; the swirling water composition. Beauty arises all by itself; no interference needed; just a sensitive eye to notice. Thanks for sharing.
Very lovely nature, Karen!
All so wonderfully captured. But, that first shot sings an entire opera!
Very nice photos, your spirit goes hand in hand with the environment. Congratulations and thanks for sharing what your eyes see.
Great set, all beautifully captured, Karen. The first shot, in particular, is a lovely and intriguing composition.
What an eye you have! Yes, that first shot is quite mysterious. And how did you manage to “capture” the dragonfly, and show the intricate patterns of the wings so beautifully?
life at its best!
the first and last ones are simply gorgeous!
that first image is really something
The breeze making drawings on the water with flowers’ pollen? Amazing! (Are you a fairy?)
All amazing but the first one especially is pure art!
🙂
Ack! The pollen on the water! A beautiful Japanese illustration!
As always the first one catches my eye so I know I have to look at yours on the big computer screen. But awwww I love the little yellow bird 🙂
Oh sweet Karen! hese are SO beautiful! Do you mind if I use one as my drawing inspiration for my art class today? We have been asked to bring a pic of an insect to create a pattern. Of course, I am unprepared (new house takes up all the time) and now it is the 11th hour. I imagine you saying ” please do” so I will go with my imagination – and besides, these pix are too beautiful not to be immortalised in amateur art work 🙂 hope that’s all okay … 🙂 Big hearts to you 🙂
By all means, Gigi! I’d love to see your art. : )
Thankyou Karen! 🙂 Unfortunately for the purposes of the exercise the little dragonfly of yours that I chose was too delicate! Maybe one day i will show you the alternative dragonfly which is not a dragonfly at all but a galah. Do you know galahs? I think you would like them 🙂
The first shot looks so alien. But so fascinating.
I really like what looks like a surge in that first image. It’s one of those what the? images. The rest are a beautiful tribute to the day.
What an absolute feast of variety! As for the first shot, it is so abstract and spectacular!
Good pictures of nature, Karen, but I’m truly swept away by the top one – looking at it with concentration I can see exactly what it is, but looking at it casually I see a series of high waves pouring to the left – its very striking. Adrian
They are all great shots Karen, but I love the detail in the wings of the dragon fly! Beautiful.
The very first image!!!, is just perfect!
Wow. (that sums it up!)
Fantastic Karen. Little masterpieces 🙂
I love these, it seems life is really buzzing! Incredible the pattern on that first image!
Wow, that’s some incredible photography.
I agree with the fotograffer, they’re really great images, but the first is a stopper!
Yes. That water composition is mind blowing.
Also, I often think about how how cute bugs and birds are. But, when I imagine myself at about their size, they quickly become terrifying.
Love love the first image! It is exceptional!