The weather has been amazing here. A lingering of summer sun and warmth, but with cool nights and the start of crunching leaves underfoot. I had to go see what’s happening at the creek.
The most interesting things I find are the reflections. I have photographed them in every way, it seems. Still, there is always something new. The surface is a wavering mirror of the seasons. A reminder that everything is in constant flux. The shifts of light and cloud, the variable movements of the water in and out of small eddys, the colours and compositions from the graceful trees. And then there is the debris that lies under the surface and how the light reaches it. Every moment is different. There is something meditative, too, about watching the lazy movement of the creek – as you shift focus through the lens you might wonder if you are watching nature’s own lava lamp.
I came to a place where the tiny water walkers were continually drawing and redrawing the surface. They agreed to allow me to photograph their brief sketches as long as due credit was given. : )
This is the art of walking on water:
I have to say it looked a bit like a game of bumper cars with the zippy water striders all continuously knocking into each other. A beautiful day to play.
[These images are part of an ongoing series exploring surface reflections of water, moving and still: Surface, Submerge: Reflections in Water]
© Karen McRae, 2013
draw and shoot 
I think what I like most about your photos, Karen, aside from the sheer beauty, is their quiet and meditative quality. They take me to a calm place and remind me to stop. I love creeks and water reflections. I love that second to last one – the circle pattern and the two striders together – just walking by the circle of time.
It is so calming to be by water. It seems it doenst matter how fast or slow it’s moving, it just feels right!
Thanks, Judy. It was a beautiful day for finding time to be outside.
It looks like abstract art, just exquisite!
Thanks very much, it was interesting watching the water shift and ripple from the little water striders. I’m glad you like them!
Yes in deed, reflecting water is the port to another dimension.
Its even refuses us to define what we are looking —- sky ? tree ?
its surface or its inside, here or another world, now or in the past ?
So many questions – that is perhaps the beauty of it all.
Mmm. Nice. I love your writing too.
Thanks, Allen. I think I fumble along with the writing part so it’s nice to read your comment.
Beautiful, as usual! Nature’s lava lamp — I like that!
It really feels that way, Marina, with the slow burbling movement.
: ) Thanks very much!
The striders and their reflections add a certain flare to the work. All beautiful, of course:)
They were a fun subject, Elena. That’s the wonderful thing about nature, you never know what you might find. Thanks!
Some kind of golden charcoal making dna and cubist circles. Pretty beautiful work at hand here!
Work at hand, yes, I was lucky to find the tiny artists at work. : )
“golden charcoal making dna and cubist circles” – love your words, Steven, thank you.
Just lovely. The color scheme is minimal and I like the palette — Nature’s handiwork.
Yes, subtle sketches already in the works – you just have to be looking. Thanks, Kay, I’m glad you like these.
Beautiful reflections of water, beautiful reflections of mind.
I appreciate you words, Marso. Thanks so much.
Your photos are the most beautiful dreams.
Brenda, I’m glad you think that, thanks very much.
xx
Very nice Karen. I love the delicacy of most of them, but just to be contrary, the second last one is my favourite even though much less subtle. The light and dimpled water surface beneath feet is wonderful.
It’s quite fascinating how they leave those tiny little dimples on the surface, and the light was rather lovely that day – a few clouds to work with. Thanks, Ehpem!
Great collaboration – there can’t be many instances of photography and dance taken out of doors. Wonderful, mesmeric shots, Karen.
On water too!
Water dances, yes, they move in a rather interesting way, always morphing the surface. I’m glad you like these, Richard, thank you!
breathtaking shots, big up!;)
Thank you!
An interesting series. One may never tire of water and reflections.
Thanks Wood Dragon, it’s true about water and reflections – there are infinite possibilities.
A meditative selection. I particularly like the last three.
Thank you, Louis. It all sort of comes into focus for the last few and you get a little glimpse of the dancers! : )
Wonderful photo’s, Karen. Love the vague reflections of the branches going abstract with the moving water-surface. Water is fascinating, hypnotizing and sure there is always something new.
Thanks for your comment, Harrie. I’m glad you like these.
Hypnotizing is a good description when it comes to water.
It is good you gave due credit to the water walkers. Great photos, Karen.
Yes, well they did most of the work! : )
Thanks, Bente.
I’m enjoying these recent photos very much, Karen! Bravo! 🙂
Much thanks for that, Steve. My little creek is not as vast as your gorgeous sea but there is always something to find. : )
Oh ! I wondered. A collaboration. Who is Karen collaborating with? I love the little water walkers. So glad they danced for you. You guys put on a terrific show. And the best, we can pull it up and see it again 🙂
Hi Carla, yes I just happened upon these tiny artists at the right time! : ) Thanks for you lovely comments.
Such lovely images. Both visual, and in your writing.
Thanks very much, Karen!
Magic!!! 🙂
It seems pretty magical to be able to walk on water, doesn’t it.
Thanks, Marina.
Lovely idea to collaborate with the tiny water walkers! Are they the same as what we call pond skaters I wonder?
Yes, I think these little characters have many nicknames and pond skaters is one of them. Thanks for your comment, Emily!
Dream like, lovely.
Thanks very much.
I loved this post, Karen… both the thoughts and the pictures… and I’m saving it, so I can gaze again and again. Thank you.
Shimon, your comment is very touching. Sincere thanks for your words, I’m happy you like it.
One of the lesser known powers in physics, surface tension! Lovely!
Yes, pretty cool, isn’t it. those tiny little surface impressions by their feet amaze me. Thanks, Vassilis!
beautiful reflective mercury shimmer
A lovely choice of words, Anthony. Thanks so much.
beautiful images and lovely words Karen!
Thank you, Adrian!
Metamorphosis of light and color. How beautiful!
Thank you, Roland!
A surface like water is a charlatan: it holds the promise of impenetrability while mocking the world by conjuring up a fanciful copy of its surroundings.
Perhaps you are right. But I have been seduced by this charlatan many times and I can’t see that changing…
Love the ‘water zippers’ and the ripples – (we call them ‘boat men’ in these here parts.) The top image is really gorgeous with the mosaic of reflections and tones.
Thank you, Chas.
There are insects here we call boatsmen, too, but they are quite different, more swimmers than water walkers.
Beautiful artwork. Love how peaceful they all are.
Hi Inga, thanks very much. Yes, a lovely peaceful day it was.
Absolutely stunning, the one with the perfect ripple and lone strider is my fav. It’s like metal that has been hammered to a soft flow.
Thumbed out from my iPhone
I like that description. A molten liquid like substance.
Thanks, Heather!
This is so sweet and so sensitive, again! 🙂
Thanks very much, Gigi! : )
So inspiring !
Thanks Kristel, I’m glad to hear that.
Your photographs are so beautiful, so inspiring. Thank you for sharing your wonderful eye with us. J x
Hi James, thanks very much, I’m glad you enjoy them.
Your blog is lovely, and it would seem you have many talents!
: )