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

Feathered and Frosted

March 18, 2013March 18, 2013 | drawandshoot

It is hard to believe Spring is just a few days away (photographs from early this morning). It seems likely the next photographs posted here will be laden with fresh snow … the clouds are moving in – Winter is not through with us.

By Degrees

March 4, 2013June 28, 2013 | drawandshoot

We are creeping ever so slowly out of winter and these pale robin’s egg blue tones seemed to have a little whisper of spring in them, (which I am craving today!).

(Water reflections of trees and frosted winter flowers)
© Karen McRae, 2013

Temporary Blooms

February 26, 2013February 26, 2013 | drawandshoot

Just cold enough for the morning fog to arrange shattery fringes on winter flowers.
Still, there are meager promises of spring, promises that are easily withdrawn.

Flurry

February 22, 2013 | drawandshoot

The essence of a day etched by falling snow.

Similar to the previous post, these photographs are made using a slow shutter speed and camera movement, but with very different weather conditions and light.

Blurring the Lines

February 19, 2013February 19, 2013 | drawandshoot

Sketching the landscape with photography. These photographs were made using a slow shutter speed and camera movement. Other than some minor level adjustments they are as the camera saw them.