Tag: <span>Nova Scotia</span>

Every year ViewPoint Gallery welcomes new exhibiting members with a “NewPoints” exhibition that showcases their work. I am pleased to be part of this exhibition along with Craig Benjamin and Heather Rose. It runs from January 4th – 28th with an artist talk on January 14th. The gallery is located at 1475 Bedford Highway, Unit 109, Bedford, Nova Scotia.

My portion of the show, titled Found Fields, features ten photos from my recently released photo book, available at Blurb Books. Below are the  exhibit photos with their captions.

Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia, 2013 – © Avard Woolaver
This offers a bleak view of the present day—but with a hope that we can end our dependence on fossil fuels.

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Amherst, Nova Scotia, 2013 – © Avard Woolaver
A hope that renewable energy can lead us to a more sustainable world. This scene is reminiscent of Alex Colville’s 1954 painting Horse and Train; I think it’s the same location.

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And the forests will echo with laughter, Nova Scotia, 2011 – © Avard Woolaver
A nod to Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.” These kids were playing among the trees on Canada Day in Hantsport, NS, before the fireworks display.

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Tokyo, Japan, 2020 – © Avard Woolaver
The sheer density of buildings and people in Tokyo can be overwhelming, but there is no shortage of interesting things to look at.

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Hantsport, Nova Scotia, 2023 – © Avard Woolaver
This was the finale of a fireworks display. It was a joyous event that looks apocalyptic if you don’t know the context.

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Brooklyn, Nova Scotia, 2013 – © Avard Woolaver
Off to the right was a road called “Muddy Marsh Road.” It was closed over fifty years ago, and there is little evidence it ever existed. I have memories of driving on this road with my father in a pickup truck when I was about five years old. This image is nostalgic for me and gets at the the beauty and mystery of life.

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Scotch Village, Nova Scotia, 2023 – © Avard Woolaver
If we take the time to observe the world around us, there are interesting photos everywhere.

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Montreal, Quebec, 2023 – © Avard Woolaver
A reminder that art can be timeless. Leonard Cohen’s music and poetry will continue to touch people’s hearts as society evolves and changes.

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Wolfville, Nova Scotia, 2010 – © Avard Woolaver
I think of this photo as “Cross-walker.” It reminds me of Johnny Cash’s “I Walk the Line,” a song of fidelity and sobriety.

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Windsor Forks, Nova Scotia, 2015 – © Avard Woolaver
Religion still plays a big role in the lives of many people, especially in small rural communities where elderly people sometimes outnumber younger folks.

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NewPoints Exhibition, 2024

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NewPoints Opening, 2024 – © Avard Woolaver

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NewPoints Opening, 2024 – © Avard Woolaver

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NewPoints Poster, 2024 – © Avard Woolaver

Photography

Found Fields refers to my approach when taking photos: scenes found in my field of vision. I’ve always been a gatherer rather than a hunter. That is, finding scenes (by chance) rather than intentionally hunting them down. Many of my photos are taken during my daily routine, or just going somewhere. As with many photographers, I’m attracted to the newness of things–going to new places, and seeing new things. But, I’m also attracted to seeing familiar scenes, places that I have photographed many times before. It seems that a particular scene never looks the same way twice.

American photo master Lee Friedlander said it best, “I’m not a premeditative photographer. I see a picture and I make it. You don’t have to go looking for pictures. The material is generous. You go out and the pictures are staring at you.”

There are interesting photo possibilities everywhere. The trick is, always carrying a camera, and taking the time to observe the world around you. Over the years I’ve been refining my vision and technique and am striving for themes and images that have a deeper meaning, (for me, at least.)

I’m currently working on a photo book with the “Found Fields” theme. Stay tuned!

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Windsor, Nova Scotia, 2012 – © Avard Woolaver
Mt. Denson, Nova Scotia, 2023 – © Avard Woolaver

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Gypsum Mines, Nova Scotia, 2016 – © Avard Woolaver

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Hantsport, Nova Scotia, 2023

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Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 2019 – © Avard Woolaver

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Windsor, Nova Scotia, 2018

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Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2010 – © Avard Woolaver

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Newport Station, Nova Scotia, 2012

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Stewiacke, Nova Scotia, 2018 – © Avard Woolaver

Photography

recent black and white, new topographics, street photography.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2022 – © Avard Woolaver

What have I been up to lately? Well, spending a bit more time in urban settings, and using a new DSLR that provides a different perspective from my iphone. These recent black and white photos are a mix of street photography and new topographics which aim to let the tones tell part of the story.

The photos, when viewed on a phone, or even a laptop, are so small. I wish they could be seen on a larger scale as some of them contain a information not easily seen in a small photo.

Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2022 – © Avard Woolaver

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recent black and white, new topographics, street photography.
Windsor, Nova Scotia, 2022 – © Avard Woolaver

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recent black and white, new topographics, street photography.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2022 – © Avard Woolaver

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recent black and white, new topographics, street photography.
Bedford, Nova Scotia, 2022 – © Avard Woolaver

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recent black and white, new topographics, street photography.
Bedford, Nova Scotia, 2022 – © Avard Woolaver

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recent black and white, new topographics, street photography.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2022 – © Avard Woolaver

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recent black and white, new topographics, street photography.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2022 – © Avard Woolaver

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recent black and white, new topographics, street photography.
Bedford, Nova Scotia, 2022 – © Avard Woolaver

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recent black and white, new topographics, street photography.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2022 – © Avard Woolaver

 

 

Black and White Photography

Hants County, Nova Scotia
Brooklyn, Nova Scotia, 2022 – © Avard Woolaver

Photos taken recently rambling around Hants County, Nova Scotia, with my camera. I’m usually on my way to somewhere and stop to take a few photos. It works better when I’m alone, as I get complaints from family members.”You’ve taken this photo a hundred a hundred times. Let’s get going!” (Perhaps they’re right.)

According to Wikipedia, the name Hants is an old abbreviation for the English county of Hampshire, from the Old English name Hantescire. It’s beautiful here, especially in autumn.

Hants County, Nova Scotia
Scotch Village, Nova Scotia, 2022 – © Avard Woolaver

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Kennetcook, Nova Scotia, 2022 – © Avard Woolaver

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Kennetcook, Nova Scotia, 2022 – © Avard Woolaver

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Hants County, Nova Scotia
Windsor, Nova Scotia, 2022 – © Avard Woolaver

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Hants County, Nova Scotia
West Hants Sports Complex, Windsor, Nova Scotia, 2022 – © Avard Woolaver

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Brooklyn, Nova Scotia, 2022 – © Avard Woolaver

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Hants County, Nova Scotia
Scotch Village, Nova Scotia, 2022 – © Avard Woolaver

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Drive Thru, Elmsdale, Nova Scotia, 2022 – © Avard Woolaver

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Upper Rawdon, Nova Scotia, 2022 – © Avard Woolaver

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Hants County, Nova Scotia
Gypsum Mines, Nova Scotia, 2022 – © Avard Woolaver

 

 

Photography

my favourite light
Windsor, Nova Scotia, 2022 – © Avard Woolaver

Winter sun shining directly overhead, illuminating wet pavement. This is my favourite light, and I try to capture it whenever I can. The silver road beckons.

Photography