Photo of the Week 2023-05-22

 

I find engagement and discussion with other creative spirits to be a catalyst for my own work and a case in point are this weeks images ...

Shot back in 2009 during an outing to one of the industrial areas of Hamilton ON, these images have been marinating on a hard drive ever since.

 

' log 'n crate - H '

 

' log 'n crate - V '

So why is it that these now see the light of day? 

 

Well first ... at a recent gathering, a photographer friend mentioned she participated in another group that explores inspiration, creative processes and personal style. My interest to learn more generated an invitation to join an upcoming session and see for myself. During the session, one participant commented on how going back through previous images, after developing new processing skills, could provide a life, or at least new life to those previously overlooked.

Secondly, at an informal coffee shop encounter, there was some discussion about leaving a significant amount of time between image capture and processing. This is something I do not incorporate in any purposeful way. Often I am quite eager to review, process and publish the latest and (what I think is the) greatest of my work. While I don't expect to change my process, I do see merit in going back through past captures with updated vision and skills.

Still, inspired to go back through the image catalogue and have a look, I found this pair of shots and processed entirely in Lightroom, with what I have learned in the years since. Had it not been for recent interactions with others in the photography community, these may have remained there, perhaps indefinitely.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2021-09-06

The forest cycle ...

 

' down and decaying '

With COVID, crowding, controls and constraints, accessing the public areas of 'the Bruce' has become a "crap" show over the past few years. Parking reservations required weeks in advance at most BPNP locations now make impromptu outings impossible. Quick walks at Little Cove, Halfway Log Dump and Burnt Point now all demand parking and daily use fees totalling $20 per visit. And don't get me started on the annual passes. I bought a Family Discovery Pass last year before they closed the f'n park to visitors making my $130 pass fee a donation to the Federal Government since whey would not honour an extension into this season. 

 

This has had a significant impact on my photography. I now spend most of my time staying at our place or on local roads and secondary trails. Sunsets and skies with occasional wildlife is the usual subject matter around the England abode. Wildflowers, trees, forest light, with a critter now and then catch my eye on my modified treks.

 

The sights and scenes can be different and can require a different "eye" ... in this case B&W.

So this week I bring you 'down and decaying' ... like my hopes for a return to 'the Bruce' that brought me to the area. Will I find my peninsula muse again, or just 'move' on ... time will tell.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2020-03-23

Self isolation, social distancing, staying inside, working from home, sheltering in place ... 

Whatever term you choose, it's provided a great opportunity (excuse) for me to isolate at the computer and dive into my archive. Along with recently joining a 'Forgotten Ontario' group on Facebook, this has me revisiting images from past Urbex / Rurex outings. My first "rediscovery" was a series of images I made back in 2009 at the former (now demolished) Massey Ferguson facility in Brantford, ON. Click here to see  the full gallery of images.

Nearing the end of reviewing the almost 200 images, I came across one that had previously not been given more than a cursory look. Whether it's the light cast on the brick wall, the textures, the wonderful colours, the open door or the quirky angles that are just a touch off balancing, I became completely entranced with this one ...

entrance(d)

... so entranced actually that I decided it needed to be printed and framed for the wall.

DJE