Cold Blue

December 16, 2013December 16, 2013 | drawandshoot

It’s hard to resist the beauty of a really cold morning (-25c early this morning, according to our thermometre). At the edge of the rapids the turbulent water shifts the forming ice into different shapes and during the cold nights the surfaces grow carpets of feathery frost. The horizon is lost in a fog of water vapour.

A closeup of feather frost on an icy surface

As I was out making photographs I spotted many brave ducks that seem to be willing to tough it out and spend the winter in and around the open water. Pictured are a couple of shy goldeneye ducks above, and what I think is an American black duck below.

A little glimpse of the city which is not far away

[Similar ice compositions to a post I did last year here, but the cold is a month earlier!]

Gold & Silver

December 13, 2013December 13, 2013 | drawandshoot

Mussel shells just under the surface and golden light on ice

A chickadee in flight and leaves in the creek

It’s quite cold here now. Yesterday I bundled up and spent several hours outside. The birds were very busy foraging for food and the chickadees were especially friendly. They would land on my shoulder or hand, unexpectedly, expectantly. A gentle whirring sound of wings in my ears. And the most tender questioning “peep peep” from a nuthatch that flitted close by, wondering too, if I had little seeds in my pockets. I did.

As it becomes very cold the landscape transforms in strange and wonderful ways. The ice forming at river’s edge is bordering on Seussian but I haven’t yet found a way to make good photographs. Photographs that show the magic of it. Part of the fun is trying to figure that out, I suppose. Anyway, if you are looking for gold and silver, it’s not far away. You just might have to dress warm.

Water reflections and starlings in flight ~ there seems to be a flock of them hanging around for the winter

Final Flight

October 9, 2013 | drawandshoot

All my words, too, have taken flight.

The Birds and the Bees …

June 5, 2013June 5, 2013 | drawandshoot

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.