[A landscape ‘sketched’ using camera movement, over-layered with beating wings ~ Following intuition…]
© Karen McRae, 2016
Waxwings
I’ve been seeing glimpses of this flock for several days out my window. They rise and fall as swiftly and gracefully as snowflakes on the whim of the wind. Moving between evergreens heavy with pine cones, mountain ash trees laden with berries, and a huge silver birch with winter buds. It seems each time I decide to go outside and watch them they are gone by the time I bundle up and lace up my boots. I’ve been sneaking shots through the window, but really, they are too fast for me.
© Karen McRae, 2016
Winter Nights
They have only just begun, really. It was a few days ago that the snow finally decided to swing by and tuck in the plants and trees with a thick white blanket. I confess that I love it. What is more peaceful than a shrouded winter night? The snowflakes, relinquished from clouds, slipping by in whispers. Fresh snow for a fresh year.
Best wishes for this shiny new year
[Images made by using a pop of flash at the beginning of a long exposure and then a little camera movement during the exposure.]
© Karen McRae, 2016
Hanging Memories on Ribbons
© Karen McRae, 2015
Goose Down 2
This is a reworking of an image from a couple of years ago. The graceful form of the bird struck me when I first came across it; the water was shifting the goose back and forth in a slow rhythmic motion and the submerged down looked so soft and painterly. I have layered the bird photograph with an image of cloud reflections on water and I think I like the inky blue that spills over to the delicate palisade of golden threaded flora. Now I am thinking about how I might translate this into a painting…
© Karen McRae, 2015
It’s Still Autumn
River’sEdge1, Early December 2015
River’s Edge2, Early December 2015
River’s Edge1, Early December 2014
River’s Edge2, Early December 2014
In the infancy of December 2014 the air was very cold and the river was all frozen jagged edges – sculptural and almost colourless. It felt like deep winter. But there is no ice in this early December, no snow. Just gentle waves lapping the soft shoreline.
[click on an image to see the bigger picture – top images from this Dec, bottom images from last]
© Karen McRae, 2015
Ligularia
Pink-fluff seed heads of a ligularia plant in my garden. When the plant is in flower the petals are a bright yellow, but it’s these delicate rosy seed heads of autumn that truly catch my eye.
© Karen McRae, 2015
The Spirited Ones
Tiny chickadees in and out of the hand. I feel these images may give a sense of the sensations; the whirr of the wings at your ear and the ever-so-gentle touching down on your fingertips. A quiet joy.
[Click on the tiled squares to enter an image gallery]
© Karen McRae, 2015
Late Summer Swim
These photographs are from a late summer fashion shoot with gorgeous costumes designed and sewn by Vanessa Mayville. These images have been floating around in my mind for few days so I thought I’d post a few.
[Models ~ Vanessa & Avonlea]
© Karen McRae, 2015
draw and shoot 