morning mist

i woke early one morning, walked down to the dock. It was quiet and the air was still. at the other side of the lake there was an inlet with a narrow opening to the larger lake... and the mist was pouring - in slow motion - from the inlet down onto the lake. the silhouetted trees are mostly jack pines – the same sort that the group of seven painted so often.

tall grass prairie path

i like paths. paths are like invitations for journeys. we never know where a path will lead until we follow it. so paths seem to represent mystery and the unknown... the future.
this particular path through tall grass prairie and blue spruces is near the fork of the red and assiniboine rivers, at the heart of winnipeg
although this scene looks quite “natural”, it was created. this little area of tall grass prairie was intentionally planted. the trees were planted. the path was created. kind of like a prairie version of a japanese zen garden, i guess.
i prefer this type of garden to the standard english formal garden, where everything is arranged in simple rectangles and circles. it’s not that i don't like english gardens... I just feel that the idea has been done to death. a zen garden is much more subtle and complex, bridging the line between the natural and the designed.
plus, there is something about the design of a japanese zen garden that resonates with something calm and aware, deep inside us.
in my recent exploration of photography I have noticed that I seek out subjects that induce feelings similar to the ones that I get from japanese gardens.