January 2019 - The Image Journey

Published January 22, 2019 by avardw

Ontario – Keep it beautiful, make it sustainable

Toronto, Ontario, 1981, Keep It Beautiful, Ontario, Make It Sustainable, — The Beaches, Toronto, 1981 © Avard Woolaver

I took this photo in 1981, in an alleyway in the east end of Toronto. A lot has changed since then including the slogan on Ontario license plates. This one says “Keep It Beautiful,” which was the slogan from 1973-1982. Since 1982 it has been “Yours to Discover.” With Ontario’s current high debt, and a climate change crisis underway, I think a more appropriate slogan should be: “Ontario – Make It Sustainable.”

The car is a 1965 Chevrolet Impala station wagon, purchased from Robertson Motors (Chev/Olds) – Coxwell and Danforth. The dealership, car, and plate are probably long gone now. Yes, a lot has changed, but with government policy and forward thinking, I hope we can enjoy a sustainable future.

Blogging Photography

1981 Avard Woolaver Keep It Beautiful Make It Sustainable new topographics Ontario Toronto

Published January 17, 2019 by avardw

39 years later things look different

Windsor, Nova Scotia, before and after, 1980 , 2019, — Windsor, Nova Scotia, 1980 and 2019 © Avard Woolaver

Photography is a great way to show the passage of time. The top frame was taken in 1980, and the bottom one was taken 39 years later in 2019. It was taken in Windsor, Nova Scotia. The scene, that looks west toward the Annapolis Valley, was a farmer’s field in 1980. There was a gate which was an interesting illustration of Windsor’s status as “gateway to the Annapolis Valley.” There were oil tanks in the background and No Exit signs reminiscent of Hotel California.

The scene looks quite different 39 years later. Highway 101 on the left is being twinned–changed from a single lane to double lane highway. On the place where I took the photo, there is now a roundabout. There are power lines, a stop sign, and a pedestrian sign. But most notably, there is a Petro-Canada service station and Tim Hortons restaurant on the right.

Change is inevitable, and hard to say what constitutes progress. Small farms are disappearing and urban areas are on the rise. In these two photos we see a transition from agri-culture to pop-culture. At some point, around 2006 I think, the gate was left open and commerce came charging in. What will this scene look like 39 years from now? I can only hope it’s filled with wind turbines and solar panels.

Blogging Photography

39 years later before and after Nova Scotia Windsor

Published January 10, 2019 by avardw

High Angle Photography

High angle photography has always interested me. You get a different perspective with a bird’s eye view of the world. High angle shots have been used as a technique in cinema to create drama and make the subject seem weak or vulnerable. Or, as a wide shot to establish the scene.

In my younger days living in Toronto, I used to climb fire escapes to get a different view of the streets and architecture. These days, I take fewer risks, but I still look for high angle locations. The photo above was taken from the reading room at the Halifax Central Library. It’s a fifth floor cantilever that juts out over the entrance and provides and great view of the nearby intersection.

It brings to mind the song Gift Shop by the Tragically Hip where Gord Downie sings “we get to feel small from high up above.”

Blogging Photography

Avard Woolaver colour Halifax high angle photography new topographics Nova Scotia

Published January 8, 2019 by avardw

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, everyone! It’s early in January and many people are looking with optimism on the year to come. Many have made New Year’s resolutions to make improvements to their lives. A study has shown that there is a large failure rate with resolutions–about 88%, but that doesn’t stop us from giving it a try. After all, it’s better to try and fail, than not try at all.

This year I resolve to become a better listener and to ask more questions in conversation. I want a closer connection to my family and friends, and a stronger sense of belonging to the world. Also, I’ll strive to help the environment in any way I can.

Time is fleeting. For me, it’s important to document it in photos because people die, and things change. We make resolutions and hope for the best. Happy New Year.

Photography

Avard Woolaver Happy New Year photography resolutions