The photo was taken twenty years before this area of Toronto was transformed into Yonge-Dundas Square. It was always a happening place–ideal for the type of photography I was into, and just steps away from Ryerson. I like the figure up on the scaffolding–a man doing his work, but taking a few minutes to survey the scene. I wish I could have been up there with him, where, in the words of Gord Downie, “we get to feel small from high up above.”
From the series: Toronto in the 1980s
The famous Spadina bus (77B) is visible in the photo. Check out the Shuffle Demons with their 1986 hit that was a fitting tribute to this bus:
From the book Toronto Days. You can preview, and buy it here:
http://www.blurb.ca/b/8537132-toronto-days
From the series: Toronto in the 1980s
More Toronto photos here.
Friday roundup, July 28, 2017. Here are some news stories that caught my eye, and ear, on social media this week: #fbf
Martha and the Muffins – Echo Beach,
Lee Friedlander’s Photos of 1960s T.V. Sets,
Pumpkin the great white shark feasting in Nova Scotia’s Minas Basin,
$20M Annie Leibovitz collection rejected for 4th time by Canadian tribunal,
Arundhati Roy, Zadie Smith & George Saunders among 13 authors longlisted for the Man Booker Prize,
‘Keeping Grandpa alive’: the internet’s photographic treasure hunt,
Wonderful photos from Montreal’s Robert Saucier,
Harry Chapin “Taxi” – Midnight Special (1973)
“Al Green performing at Summer Beat, Toronto, 1984” is from the series: Toronto Days
I recently watched Don’t Blink, a fascinating documentary on the life and work of photographer Robert Frank. Now 92, Frank is considered, by many, one of the greatest living photographers—and seeing this documentary reminded me that his ground-breaking photographs from The Americans are still relevant, nearly sixty years after publication.
It occurs to me now watching Don’t Blink that it is the emotional impact of his work that makes it special. His documentary photos from the 50s seem timeless, especially since the same social and racial issues he exposed then are still seen today.
Robert Frank was one of my earliest influences when I first discovered photography. I was struck by his photos’ emotional impact, their grittiness, their raw power.
In Don’t Blink, Frank is asked, “What makes a picture good?” He replies, “Mostly I get people when they are not aware of the camera. And usually the first picture was the best one. Once someone is aware of the camera it becomes a different picture; people change.” For him, art is a spontaneous and free-flowing process. It’s something we can apply in today’s digital world, where imaging making has become more glossy and contrived. It makes me want to take photos with my gut—pictures that have emotional impact.
If you have not seen Don’t Blink, TVO (TVOntario) is streaming the film for free until July 9 at the link below. I highly recommend it.
http://tvo.org/video/documentaries/dont-blink-robert-frank
Dundas and Victoria, Toronto, 1981 is from the series: Toronto Days
