Subtle

Breathe

Two humpback whales swim side by side. Light traces a line down the back of one, highlighting texture, scars and marks, the experiences of life in the oceans. The misty breath off a third whale, unseen, drifts through a moment that is natural, elegant and serene. Lines and tones traced upon a living canvas, revealing the essence.

Grizzly Bear - Highwood Pass, Alberta

The Japanese word Yugen is about shadows and indistinct, even darkly revealed forms.

Mute Swan Feathers - Billings Spit, B.C.

The texture of swan feathers appear here, as fine as a spider's silk and as subtle as frost on leaves. Layers of meaning are waiting to be reveled in the shadows and less distinct areas of this image.

Subtle Swans - Elk Island National Park

This could be classed as an action shot, early swans flying right towards me on an April morning. The background is blurred and rather than a pure pastel, this is more of a tone, so the mood is darker, more yugen. The swans themselves, pure white and slightly out of focus reveal a subtle wing movement, which I find entrancing. The slow shutter speed evokes and suggests movement, rather than the clarity of a faster shutter speed. This is a favourite.

Range Horse - Beaver Hills, Alberta

It was a very cold morning in January and the sun, just above the horizon was casting a strong sidelight. Subtlety or yugen, is about shadows and indistinct, even darkly revealed forms.