Month: <span>December 2018</span>

Published December 5, 2018 by

Fifth Avenue, New York, 1983

New York, Avard Woolaver, Fifth Avenue, B.Altman and Company, 1983, street photography,

© Avard Woolaver

This photo was taken on Fifth Avenue in New York City in 1983. Walking around New York City with a camera is something I’ve only done twice in my life. Both times were unique and memorable. There is so much happening on the streets, and so many interesting locations.

The mannequin is in the store window of B. Altman and Company, a luxury department store chain founded in 1865. By 1990, the business was closed. In 1985 this Fifth Avenue building became a New York City landmark. It is now occupied by City University of New York, New York Public Library, and Oxford University Press. The Altman Foundation carries on as one of the largest private philanthropies in New York.

From the series: New York City – Flickr album

Photography

1983 analog photography Avard Woolaver B. Altman Company film photography New York New York City street photography

Published December 4, 2018 by

Wellesley Station, Toronto, 1982

Avard Woolaver, Toronto in the 1980s, Toronto, 1982, colour, cityscape, Wellesley Station,

© Avard Woolaver

This photo was taken as I exited Wellesley Station, a subway station in downtown Toronto, just east of Yonge Street. Like many photos I took in Toronto in the 1980s, I had trouble identifying the exact location. In those days, for me, it was the shot that mattered; I cared little where it was taken. But with all of the changes in Toronto over the past thirty years, I’m much more interested in the location of the photos taken in those days.

With this photo I went on Google maps. I originally thought it must be St. Clair, but there was a very different view from that station. At Wellesley Station I could see by the parking lot, and buildings that I had found it.

I didn’t shoot a lot of colour in those days–maybe only 10 percent of my output. So I’m interested in what I chose to photograph in colour, and also the color palette I was drawn to. This one has some warm afternoon light contrasted with the cool blue of the newspaper stands. A moment in time.

Colour Photography Toronto

1982 Toronto Wellesley Station

Published December 1, 2018 by

Acadia University Football Game, Nova Scotia, 1977

Avard Woolaver, Acadia University, football, Acadia Axemen, UNB Red Bombers, 1977

I got started in photography at Acadia University in 1977 by joining the photography club, and taking photos for the school paper–The Athenaeum. I learned how to develop and print black and white film, and take photos in a journalistic style. It gave me a reason get out and take the best possible photos, for it was an honour to have a photo in the newspaper. This documentary style of photography has stayed with me over the years. Timing is very important, and also, where to stand.

The photo is of a game between The Acadia Axemen and the UNB Red Bombers at Raymond Field in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. I tried to borrow a telephoto lens to shoot the game, but had no luck and had to make do with my 50mm lens. This meant that I couldn’t get any closeups of the action, and had to settle for wider shots. Sometimes you just have to make do.

Blogging Documentary Photography

Acadia University Avard Woolaver football