You might not realize that most of the photographs I post here are made in the city. A city ribboned with green spaces and waterways – corridors teeming with wildlife. A different version of city life. An exploration of the narrow tributaries, the wide rivers and the earthy ‘cracks’ someone has thought to leave between all the pavement. You never know what you might find in these spaces because even though we heap constraints on these wild creatures they place no constraints on themselves (Last spring we even had bears visiting).
The Night Heron and the Warbler (above)
Turkey Vultures, Perched and Circling
It’s common to see the odd turkey vulture circling above the green spaces but in the dwindling light of the weekend I looked up to see a tree draped with ten or more of these birds who appeared to be gazing down at me. They are so odd-looking with their red shrunken heads and wide-shouldered bodies. A few of them lifted their wings to the last rays of warm light.
Being Watched by a White-tailed Deer. A male deer with new antlers sprouting over his ears. You can see things are really greening up around here.
© Karen McRae, 2014
draw and shoot 
Great Photos
Thank you, Andy.
Ahhhh…
: )
beautiful! your images and words are such a treasure.
Thank you, Deb, that’s very kind!
Wonderful pictures.
Thanks very much, Rabirius!
Always a pleasure! Such a soft refuge.
Magnifique, comme à chaque fois…merci!
Spring is not really colorful in your place till now too. It is too late this year. But the birds and animals following with their inner clock and behave accordingly.
You have a way to make out of focused photos even more intresting than prefectly in focus photos! I’ve never seen anything like this! Brava!
Caught in the act! You’ve captured ‘greening up’ beautifully! 🙂
WOW, amazing photos!!! :O
A wonderful series! That they are taken in the city is a tribute both to the photographer and to the city that provides these spaces.
I always hate to have vultures looking down on me though.
Lovely shots !
Exquisite images !
—– you got Turkish Vulture ? Bear ? Incredible.
I love the first one…beautiful pics!!!
Beautiful series of images, Karen, every one of them has something. But my favourite is the top one – did you put it first because its your favourite too? It is quite an abstract shot, and I love that diffuse, misty glow, cut by those diffuse branches and twigs – and the image is certainly lifted by those small, pale gold highlight “droplets” – wonderful picture! Adrian
Beautiful.
Wonderful city photos Karen! 🙂 Sometimes we need to be reminded there is nature in the city also. How cool to be standing face to face with a deer, such a great photo!
I really like the first and the second pictures. Beautiful colors!
Isn’t it intriguing just how many creatures find space and eco-niches through those corridors. Like how you use elements of framing within your shots. Glad spring has come for you.
These shots are in the city? There seems to be a certain mergence with nature that few other cities achieve. You are lucky to have such nature so close.
Wonderful spring! Lovely captures!
This is something that I just love about photography, the ability to create a world within a world. I love how you find natures small wild places and make them seem huge!
No, I would never have thought that most photographs are from a city, if you hadn’t told. That make them even more powerful. I am happy if a city (I bet much bigger than the ones around here) can keep some cracks between the pavement. Very good, and very good of you too explore it. I always believe that everybody can explore their neighborhood, and you are the master, Karen. This series made my day!
A lovely insight Karen and, as Bente says, it makes your photos even more powerful. In a small way it reminded me of a documentary film I saw recently about how all of the animals have returned to Chernobyl because all the people have gone. The sight of the concrete greening up and turning to forest was both weird and beautiful, I would actually love to go there, and you would create some wonderful images if you had the chance. As you say nature knows no constraints, and happily the wildlife seems to be healthy.
Hard to believe they’re from a city. You make them all look Karenish and thus they’re vey special.
I was looking at Turkey Vulture circling above the me like this yesterday. I could have been looking through yours lens. Too bad I didn’t have mine with me. Great series Karen.
Beautiful photographs, Karen. And yes quite a change.
finding peace in an urban circumstance. wonderful
Love this post!
Thumbed out from my iPhone
>
I find that urban wildlife is a tad easier to photograph than wildlife in remote areas . . . the animals away from cities are a lot more cautious of anything moving about.
Nice shots.
I had no idea you were based in a city, all your photos seem so quiet and remote, very distant from an urban buzz. Most impressive to capture the feeling the way you do. Among these, I especially love the almost abstract trees and branches, with their golden colour.
Beautiful and amazing!
Wish I could see something similar near “my” city!
Karen, I really had no idea you were in the city – what an amazing idea leaving corridors of nature like that. London is past salvation in that respect, I think. Your shots are the perfect illustration – capturing the transient, but leaving them in motion.
These are very interesting images Karen. All the better coming from the city as they do. Fabulous!
I love that first image so much it is so earthy and primeval !
I love this series also. So gentle and hopeful. So much light.
Like springtime begins wrapped in an amber veil and then undergoes alchemical transformations including flight and then the antlers begin. Really love this story.
I’m sorry I am only seeing these now… Amazing, they’re alive, pulsing with energy… Your work is very special and I am thankful they’re available here for all of us to see and be inspired by….
Beautiful series of shots. While the movement photos at the beginning seem to hold the most emotion for me…turkey vultures have a soft-spot in my heart for the very reasons you mention. They are kinda funny looking, but their size in flight is impressive. It is stunning to realize that these (and your others) come from the city…you have way with shooting. Cheers!
Deeply immersed in greenery and light and life. Just where i was expecting to find you upon returning from an absence. Great set!
Love this pictures! The first one is magical! 🙂
Bokeh to die for… and spring is most definitely sprung where you are.. I am glad for you and can feel the joy 🙂
All we have to do is open our eyes and you remind us to do just that. So much speeds by in city life, even we do. Birds don’t fly any differently in the city, we just have our heads down. Beautiful work again, Karen.
One vulture is on fire, unbelievable !!!
Not the most elegant Phoenix but it’ll do! That late-day light….