Residuals 2

April 14, 2013 | drawandshoot

A little extra winter here the past few days but I don’t think the remainder of ice on the river can last too much longer. The coming days look to be shifting into real spring.

The footprints made by a black bear who has been walking near the river were quite distinguishable in the fresh snow. It’s not too often a bear would be wandering in this area so close to the city but there are corridors of greenspace and waterways that are well used by wildlife. It’s one of things that makes this city so interesting.

Residuals 1

April 11, 2013 | drawandshoot

Marbled meltwater.

We are all longing

April 5, 2013April 5, 2013 | drawandshoot

…to shed our winter coats.

Wrapped trees found along a highway. Sometimes you will see the newly planted trees wrapped like this to protect them from the harsh weight of winter. I really don’t know how effective it is.

I documented some smaller and very different looking ones last year. You can see that series here. After the drought that occurred here last summer many of the trees along the highway look as though they are struggling.

goose down

April 2, 2013June 28, 2013 | drawandshoot

Reflections and remnants – another melding of two separate photographs. From the series Surface, Submerge.

The Water Phoenix

March 26, 2013June 28, 2013 | drawandshoot

This image is made from 2 photographs. One being a surface reflection of flowing water, and the other, remains of a seagull.

The seagull caught my eye because as it was lying in the water at the river’s edge, the wings were moving with the rhythmic lapping of the water, as though somehow, there was still a touch of life.

World Water Day

March 22, 2013March 22, 2013 | drawandshoot

Today is World Water Day.

“World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.” This quote is from the UNESCO website.

If you have had a chance to see much of this blog you would notice that is 93 percent water and 7 percent dehydrated (I haven’t actually done the math for this but you get the idea).
I suppose it is redundant to say that water is fundamental to existence but… But it is. And there are a thousand reasons why I think about this.

We are all integrally connected – to the earth – to water.

2013 is the International Year of Water Cooperation.

Cooperation. There is always room for more of that, isn’t there? In the spirit of cooperation and World Water Day I’d like to share what I think is an inspiring, alarming and important book – about water. About us.

Ocean of Life by Callum Roberts. If you get a chance to read this, please let me know.

Because this little drop of freshwater here; it might fall into the little creek at my feet, meander out to one river and then to a bigger river, and find its way to the sea. It might end up at your feet.

looking for spring and finding a little

March 20, 2013March 20, 2013 | drawandshoot

It seems appropriate that the first buds to open in spring are little catkins dressed in fur coats. You can see why they still might need winter coats around here – the days are still frosted at the edges.

I came across these pussy willows quite by accident this morning – something told me to walk just a little further, and look just a little more carefully. They are just coming to life.