I was up before sunrise this morning, and as the sun slipped over the horizon and chased away the grey blue of night, there was a wonderful moment when the countryside was bathed in the softest of light. It was as if all the colours held their breath for a single moment, blending together in muted harmony. As the bright colours of full daylight returned, I shot indoors to find some photos that might suggest the subtleness of that dawn moment. Some grasses from the High Line Park in New York, masterfully planted by Piet Oudolf.
Dew-laden fungi clinging to trees in the North Cascades.
And more wonderful grasses from Piet Oudolf, this time in New York‘s Battery Park.
Can you find a photo that feels understated, suggestive, subtle in its use of colour? If you would like to join in (everyone’s welcome!) here’s what to do:
- Create your own post and title it Travel theme: Subtle
- Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
- Get your post in by next Thursday, as the new travel theme comes out on Friday
- Don’t forget to subscribe to keep up to date on the latest weekly travel themes. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS!
xxx Ailsa
In photography there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality. – Alfred Stieglitz
Art is the concrete representation of our most subtle feelings. – Agnes Martin
Where's my backpack? 
your photos are so beautiful in their subtlety- breathtaking really.
Thanks, isn’t nature wonderful? 😉 xxx Ailsa
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Beautiful photos, Ailsa! Thanks again for another great challenge: https://naomibaltuck.wordpress.com/2012/08/24/jakes-sunday-post-black-and-white-or-not/
Beautiful, Naomi, I especially love that shot from the Bridge of Sighs. xxx
Thank you, Ailsa!
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“as if all the colours held their breath for a single moment, blending together in muted harmony” That’s exactly how it feels. (lovely to gaze at these pictures, too)
Hi phil, hope your May is going well so far! xxx Ailsa
Love the dew drops!
Thanks Jude, I am fascinated with dew drop photography, haven’t done much of it but could spend hours looking at others dew drop shots. xxx
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Beautiful photographs Ailsa.. Some swans:
https://regionalcognisance.wordpress.com/2015/05/09/692/
Ooh they’re fabulous, Mick, the black is so unexpected and their curves are so graceful. Love it. xxx
Not sure if I could do subtle… I’m more of a barn door tramper-downer! 🙄
Haha, I believe that too, AJ, but I bet you’ll give it a shot. 😉
How does Subtle Sunday sound to you?? 😉
Beautiful images, Ailsa….shall have to see if I can manage subtle!!
Love this one, deliciously unexpected.
http://wp.me/p4ivZl-SP
Gorgeous words, M Zane, and beautifully subtle images. 🙂 Ailsa
Thank you, Alisa. Glad you enjoyed them.
Such beautiful photos. I will have to see what I come up with.
Hope you’re having a good week, Raewyn. xxx Ailsa
those shots are just wonderful! to your flora I add fauna:http://lessywannagohome.blogspot.be/2015/05/travel-theme-subtle.html
Aagh, so cute, I just want to snuggle with them, 🙂
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Subtle sunrise, Australia’s Gold Coast, two days ago…couldn’t go past it. Of course, once it was above the clouds all subtlety was gone! http://aglasshalf-full.com/2015/05/09/a-gold-coast-sunrise/
Stunning, those palm trees silhouetted against that amazing sky, and then seeing the sun come up over the ocean – what a fantastic way to start the day! Thanks for sharing that, I sort of felt like I was there watching it too. 🙂
Yes, it was about 6am, just starting to show some light when I got to the beach and wonderful to see the changing light. Of course, the clouds make it…
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Pingback: Subtlety of Color | The View Through My Aquamarine Eyes
The grasses are beautiful. Here’s mine:https://aquamarineeyes.wordpress.com/2015/05/08/subtlety-of-color/
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Hi Ailsa … Nice Theme. Here are my interpretations
http://alienshores52.com/2015/05/09/the-frozen-light-of-the-moon/
http://alienshores52.com/2015/05/09/days-of-earth-and-sky-alpine-dawn/
Pingback: Travel Theme: Subtle – After the Rain | Miscellaneous Eclectica
Here’s my outback sunset after the rain. https://jennysotherstuff.wordpress.com/2015/05/09/travel-theme-subtle-after-the-rain/
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Thank you for a lovely idea. Am enjoying all the other posts!
https://nihongojapango.wordpress.com/2015/05/09/travel-theme-subtle/
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Beautiful and soft colors, Ailsa. Another sweet photo theme.
Here’s my entry, freshly arrived from Tuscany:
https://drieskewrites.wordpress.com/2015/05/09/travel-theme-subtle/
Pingback: Travel Theme: Subtle | gwh photos
Well done, I especially like your second photo. My entry: https://gwhphotos.wordpress.com/2015/05/09/travel-theme-subtle/
Hi Alisa,
I really enjoyed your photos this week. Here is my attempt at subtle. ENJOY!
http://ceenphotography.com/2015/05/09/travel-theme-subtle/
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Pingback: Subtleties | Le Drake Noir
Pingback: Travel theme: subtle (subtil) | cubusregio
Hi Ailsa, here is my entry:
http://cubusregio.com/2015/05/09/travel-theme-subtle-subtil/
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Threw in a little Haiku just for fun.
DJ
http://msudlj.com/2015/05/09/travel-theme-subtle/
Pingback: Subtle Suggestions | cocoaupnorth
Outstanding subtle images!
https://cocoaupnorth.wordpress.com/2015/05/10/subtle-suggestions/
Pingback: Travel Theme – Subtle | Julie Powell – Photographer & Graphic Artist
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Pingback: Travel theme: Subtle | nowathome
https://nowathome.wordpress.com/2015/05/11/travel-theme-subtle/
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Pingback: Spring Grasshopper Sparrow | Canoe Communications
Subtle song of the grasshopper sparrow: https://canoecommunications.wordpress.com/2015/05/12/spring-grasshopper-sparrow/