Month: <span>February 2019</span>

Kentville, Nova Scotia, 2012, Wish You Were Here,
Kentville, Nova Scotia, 2012 – © Avard Woolaver

When I was a teenage boy in the mid-Seventies, living in rural Nova Scotia, I spent hours studying the album covers created by Hipgnosis, the London-based design group. This was before I grew interested in photography, but, as LPs like Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” or “Ummagumma” played on the turntable, I scrutinized the covers, trying to penetrate the mysteries of the evocative, layered visual compositions. My “Wish You Were Here” is an ongoing photographic project that’s been in the works for several years. I aim to capture images that have a sense of the surreal yet are readily seen in everyday life. Additionally, I try to capture the sense of whimsy and humour that I liked about those album covers. The images come about through observation, rather than with Photoshop or other manipulations. For me, that’s an important aspect of the project–there’s no manipulation of the image. Reflections, juxtaposition, and scale all come into play.

More photos in the series can be seen in the book Wish You Were Here – available through Blurb Books.

Pereaux, Nova Scotia, 2015, Wish You Were Here,
Pereaux, Nova Scotia, 2015 – © Avard Woolaver

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Truro, Nova Scotia, 2013, Wish You Were Here,
Truro, Nova Scotia, 2013 – © Avard Woolaver

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Windsor, Nova Scotia, 2013, Wish You Were Here,
Windsor, Nova Scotia, 2013 – © Avard Woolaver

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Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2012, Wish You Were Here,
Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2012 – © Avard Woolaver

Blogging Photography

Newport, Nova Scotia, 2010, Lee Friedlander,
Newport, Nova Scotia, 2010 – © Avard Woolaver

I’ve been a fan of Lee Friedlander since I discovered his photographs in 1978, in a book titled Concerning Photography. His photos are bursting with creativity, intelligence and deadpan humour–they seem to be the visual equivalent of jazz music. He has been one of my main sources of photographic inspiration over the years.

Lee Friedlander, famous for his pioneering photos of the urban social landscape, has a talent for filling his photos with visual content without making them seem overly crowded. Eric Kim writes on his blog, “Friedlander was very conscious of how he framed his scenes, and wanted to add more complexity to his shots through adding content of interest.”

He accomplished this by using a wide-angle lens—usually a 35mm. That way objects in the foreground can remain in focus along with background elements. Though complexity is not always the answer, it certainly adds interest.

Friedlander also welcomed foreground obstructions such as poles and trees as a way of creating visual interest. He explains, “Somebody else could walk two feet away to get those poles and tress and other stuff out of the way, I almost walk two feet to get into it, because it is a part of the game that I play. It isn’t even conscious; I probably just drift into it… its like a found pleasure. You’ve found something that you like and you play with it for the rest of your life.”

I have included some photos on this post that are my attempt to speak the “language of Lee.” They remind me why I love taking photos. In his words, “You don’t have to go looking for pictures. The material is generous. You go out and the pictures are staring at you.” 

Quebec City, Quebec, 2012, Lee Friedlander,
Quebec City, Quebec, 2012 – © Avard Woolaver

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Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2010, Lee Friedlander,
Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2010 – © Avard Woolaver

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New Minas, Nova Scotia, 2013, Lee Friedlander,
New Minas, Nova Scotia, 2013 – © Avard Woolaver

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Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2013, Lee Friedlander,
Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2013 – © Avard Woolaver

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Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2011, Lee Friedlander,
Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2011 – © Avard Woolaver

Blogging Photography Social Landscape

Malta Band Club, Toronto, 1985, music,
Malta Band Club, Toronto, 1985 – © Avard Woolaver

It has been said that music is the heartbeat of the universe. There is no denying its magic, and its force in the world. I took these photos in Toronto in the 1980s. They show people making music in everyday situations, giving the city a soundtrack.

The Shuffle Demons, Toronto, 1984, music,
The Shuffle Demons, Toronto, 1984 – © Avard Woolaver

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Allan Gardens, Toronto, 1985, music,
Allan Gardens, Toronto, 1985 – © Avard Woolaver

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Brunswick House, Toronto, 1984, music,
Brunswick House, Toronto, 1984 – © Avard Woolaver

Blogging Photography

Cogmagun, Nova Scotia, 2019, things I saw today,
Cogmagun, Nova Scotia, 2019 – © Avard Woolaver

These are some things I saw today, taking a load of garbage to the local landfill. It’s always fun to take a little road trip–it doesn’t matter how far (the landfill is about 15 km from my home.) And it makes the photos look a bit better when there is a sunny sky.

Cogmagun, Nova Scotia, 2019, things I saw today,
Cogmagun, Nova Scotia, 2019 – © Avard Woolaver

In the community of Cogmagun, there is this tiny house. I don’t think anyone lives there year round, maybe just in the summer. I take a photo of it just about every time I pass by. It reminds me of the house of folk artist Maude Lewis that is on display in the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.

Mantua, Nova Scotia, 2019, things I saw today,
Mantua, Nova Scotia, 2019 – © Avard Woolaver

This rag-tag collection of signs caught my eye. I’m interested in the Stanley Airport which operated as a pilot training center during World War II. My mother grew up in the small community of Stanley and went to see movies at the base as a ten year old. When I was a boy in the 1960s it housed a parachute training school and I loved to watch the parachutists floating in the sky like dandelion seeds.

Newport, Nova Scotia, 2019, things I saw today,
Newport, Nova Scotia, 2019 – © Avard Woolaver

There was a very high tide in the Herbert River today. This part of the world has some of the world’s highest tides with tide water flowing in from the Bay of Fundy and filling all the connected rivers. This is a popular place for tourists to watch the tidal bore.

Scotch Village, Nova Scotia, 2019, things I saw today,
Scotch Village, Nova Scotia, 2019 – © Avard Woolaver

On my way home, crossing the Kennetcook River where I took more high tide photos. I love this view, looking up the hill with the utility pole in the middle of the road. It was a good day for getting things done, and getting a few photos–things I saw today.

Blogging Nova Scotia Photography

Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, 1981,
Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, 1981 – © Avard Woolaver

Nathan Phillips Square is a large city square in downtown Toronto (12 acres) that is the home of Toronto City Hall. It is a place of numerous activities–skating rink, farmers’market, concerts, demonstrations. There is often lots going on here, but at other times it is eerily empty.

It is a place that I rarely went to for an event; I was usually just passing through. So my photos are usually just little glimpses of what was happening there. Looking back at my contact sheets from the 1980s it seems that I passed through Nathan Phillips Square a few times a year. It was a good place for photos–lots of open space, interesting architectural details, plenty of concrete, and human activity.

These photos were just random moments at the time, but mean a lot more to me now as I rediscover the past life of my 20s. It reminds me that life is short and we must Carpe diem— “sieze the day.” For me, having a camera in my hand at all times helped me remember, You only get to do this once. We have to take time and see it, as clearly as we can.

Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, 1982,
Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, 1982 – © Avard Woolaver

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Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, 1983,
Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, 1983 – © Avard Woolaver

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Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, 1984,
Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, 1984 – © Avard Woolaver

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Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, 1985,
Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, 1985 – © Avard Woolaver

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Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, 1984 – © Avard Woolaver

Blogging Photography Toronto