Photo of the Week 2021-09-13

 

It has been a while, it seems, since I've wandered about with a camera in urban settings. 'Street Photography' has never really been my thing, but I used to enjoy regular walks in different urban areas with my photo friends.

This past weekend, with COVID restrictions lifting, the Guelph Photographers Guild held it's first outing in several months. It was good to get out, good to walk with some other photographers, good to renew face to face friendships.

The location chosen was Historic Downtown Cambridge, Ontario (a.k.a. Old Galt), and several of us enjoyed a morning outing along the banks of the Grand River, the Old Mill ruins, some downtown streets and pathways. Much of the area was familiar from previous visits, but I let my photographer's eye roam, searching for something 'new' to shoot. Standing in front of an imposing old building wondering what it was, I looked up and saw it's name against a delicately clouded sky.

The Old Galt Public Library - B&W

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2017-01-02

One morning recently, I headed out to test a new lens I had picked up. My intent was to do some shots with it on both of my DSLR bodies along with another lens for comparison. The light was very dull and grey due to the heavy cloud cover and I limited my shooting to trees and bushes at various distances across a rolling uncultivated farm field.

The outing was purely intended to be a technical exercise given the poor conditions for shooting ... however, the route to the field I had chosen took me right by a favourite old scene. I had recently heard in the news that there had been a fire at this old abandoned farmhouse and immediately my heart sank. So many of the old farm houses and barns are being lost to neglect and fires and hopes of reviving their charm is lost with them.

Whether from careless use of fire by the homeless using it for shelter or from misadventure of some local youth, this historic stone farmhouse is forever transformed. On this day, I was particularly struck by how it's boarded up windows gave the appearance of lights being on inside ... 

' ... but nobody's home'

Just over two years ago I photographed this same house. In the light mist of an early afternoon it still held some promise of being brought back to life. I fear now that it will be condemned, to be torn down or to be left to fully deteriorate from neglect. 

DJE