I made the above series of photographs a while ago and had decided that they were pretty much failures. Except.
Except there is something about that luminous winter light and those subtle tones. And perhaps I am reconsidering these images because I recently saw the visually sumptuous movie ‘Mr. Turner’ and these sort of ‘landscape sketches’ have taken on a slightly different meaning. Or perhaps they are still failures, I haven’t quite decided. Either way they are an interesting part of the image making process (for me) so here they are.
Different light on a different day.
[Each one of these images is a ‘drive-by’ photograph, made from the passenger seat of a moving car]
© Karen McRae, 2015
draw and shoot 
What a fantastic and beautiful range of images, Karen. Thank for sharing.
Thanks for taking the time to have a look, Isabel. I’m happy you find something interesting in them.
I like the idea of landscape sketches Karen. I certainly wouldn’t consider these failures.I love the winter colours. The last image is my favourite. That blue and beige work so well together! 🙂
Yes, the last image I consider successful, I think. Perhaps the others are merely unsuccessful within my original intention. on of the things I like about these sort of images is that they are often surprising. Anyway, the light was lovely! Thanks very much, Adrian.
The last one is stunning – I’d call the others interesting steps on your natural journey towards it.
Love.
I’m glad, thank you. : )
On a recent trip across Wisconsin from Milwaukee to Madison on a snowy, wintry day, I found myself in the passenger’s seat with my camera and tried out your drive-by technique. It took me a while to figure out how to slow my shutter speed down enough to get a nice blur, but I finally got one approximating. I have no idea how to do the layering thing, but I had fun “playing Karen” with the camera and the landscape for my own curiosity!
Oh, I’d love to see some of your images, Scilla! Did you make any that you were intrigued by? Let me know if you post any! : )
xx
No, I don’t think these are failures. They speak to me of a journey too.
Maybe the journey part is what they are really about. Thanks Trish.
xx
Captured atmosphere with the warmth of the light, — they are quite charming photos.
Not having a stand-out center of blur is not a matter of failure = more spreading atmosphere.
Yes, lots of atmosphere. I’m happy you find them pleasing – ‘charming’ is a lovely comment, thank you Yoshi.
I think these images rush really well together as a team. I love that you re-visit.
Thanks, Brenda. I suppose ‘rush’ is a good word for these.
Very interesting to hear your feelings about these pieces and the context in which you revisited and reevaluated their impact. I enjoyed the rushing horizontals of these images very much as well as the light and air *in everything.*
I can see the similarity to Turner’s landscapes, very sketchy but very luminous, not failures at all!
They’re such beautiful pictures; I almost feel like I am looking at through the passenger seat of a moving car.
I particularly enjoyed the bottom image.
Brushing of winter ~ the light of winter shines through these images which make them so interesting… The last shot, with the way the light hits the grasses in movement is quite drawing and beautiful.
The photos are great, there is no need to be so sceptical. And thank you for sharing the trailer to Mr. Turner film – I will definitely watch it as I discovered his works of art only a short time ago.
magnifique série une fois de plus…merci !!
I agree with Chillbrook…..
how can u take this? so fantasy 🙂
I see the dreamy subtly of the landscape here. The way we see it and often dismiss it. These images remind our eyes to LOOK and SEE and become entranced with their beauty. They are an invitation to step into the dance and revel in it. I’ll have the see “Mr. Turner”.
Very nice, my favorite the last.
These are wonderful, Karen! I love the silvery light emanating from them – it has a such a strange metallic quality.
Gorgeous impressions painted with wonderful winter light. (I must see that film.) Sketchy, skittish and very present – I like them a lot.
Always been fond of this technique, I find it so dreamy and mysterious at the same time!
Love each and every one of them! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Great stuff, Karen >>> not only some of your images, but Turner too! To me, quite simply, he is a hero – and a vast inspiration too. There is a quote of his that, for me, speaks volumes – “I did not paint it to be understood, but I wished to show what such a scene was like.” – that says it all, and it can equally be applied to photography. Thank for the clip from the film!
And Turner’s words apply to so many of your images too, like these. As always, I have favourites, the ones that do it most for me. The third one down for those dark, bending, looking like they are windswept branches – it really conveys the fury of the passing moment.
And at the bottom, the different light on a different day – oh those blues in combination with the pale golds of those reed heads – wowee! Good stuff! Adrian
nice abstractness 🙂
the light, tone and feel are really wonderful!
Reblogged this on THE MAJESTIC COLORS OF NATURE.
Reblogged this on Rose Adderley and commented:
Linking to blurring idea of reality
yes – lovely – there is truly something gorgeous about winter light. and love the blue in that last image.
I especially like the 4th and final shots … the contrast of the apparently still objects in the flow, or the stability with the flux
Hi Karen, I think it’s the only time I’ve said, “I love drive-by shootings”. 🙂 The colors and suggestions of form are serene and the image with the oat grasses as contrast is wonderful.
Hi Karen – I recognise this type of shot immediately – to quote Jane Lurie .- drive by shootings are wonderful, and sometimes you just cannot stop the car in time, or there is nowhere good to stop without getting run over, or else the driver has run out of patience with your need to stop at every corner 🙂 – the series looks great – each one individually might be considered a “non-pass” but together they are like watching “life frozen in motion” if that makes sense, or impressionist landscapes – wonderful – Poli
I really love these. It’s funny, but awhile back I noticed that most of my iPhone photos were blurry. My phone is glitchy and slow, I’m constantly overcaffeinated, and my hands shake. Needless to say, I need a pretty heft dose of IS to produce a crisp shot. 🙂 BUT. One day I decided to just go with the flow and use the blur to my advantage. I made a collection of images in which I deliberately turned or yanked the camera sideways while shooting. Honestly? I think those are some of my favorite images. All that to say: kudos to you for seeing the possibilities inherent in failures and flaws. That’s just what artists do. 🙂 I’m so glad I discovered your blog!! Can’t wait to explore more…
Failures? ! You crazy woman! I really like these very much. I love that muted neutral palette and the ghostly feel.
I really like the soft focus of your photographs. They have a tonalist feel to them that I really enjoy. Very nice! Rita
I especially love the last one
I know many of would love to come up with what you consider “failures”.
I’ve done quite a few drive-by’s a few years ago, on multiple weekly trips between Montreal and Ottawa, when we were moving to Montreal… but none like yours. I strive to freeze time while capturing movement… I had planned to resurect of few of them, to show them during the upcoming weeks.
May I add : Mr. Turner is truly a magnificient movie on a truly great artist. Such a master with light.
Perfect …