The Image Journey Posts

Published March 16, 2017 by

Candid versus posed photos

candid, posed, portrait, street, Toronto, Allan Gardens,
Allan Gardens, Toronto; 1982                           © Avard Woolaver

You have probably been in a street environment where there’s an opportunity to take a candid portrait and you know that calling attention to the camera will spoil the moment. What to do? Many factors come into it; the country you’re in, the purpose of your photograph, whether you think the person objects to having their photo taken. It depends very much on the circumstances–but the bottom line is to have respect for the subject.

Magnum photographer Carolyn Drake relates, “It depends on the circumstances. There is a pleasure in disappearing behind the camera on a crowded city street, and sometimes making the picture before the conversation makes for a more surprising picture. But if there’s someone I want to pose or spend time with, or who for some other reason it seems to make sense to ask, then I will. It’s a judgement call.”

In my experience, I have had success in engaging with the person, and asking, “May I take your photo?” Then I may look for more candid moments as I take some photos. Spending a little time with people and engaging with them may lead to more authentic portraits.

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Photo tip: Try making the subject’s environment part of the portrait. These details can help form a narrative about the person.

Black and White Documentary Photography Portrait Social Landscape

1982 Allan Gardens Avard Woolaver black and white candid documentary portrait posed Toronto Toronto Days

Published March 15, 2017 by

Forest bathing / Shinrin-yoku

forest bathing, shinrin-yoku, forest, winter, Nova Scotia
Forest Bathing, Newport, NS; 2017            © Avard Woolaver

The Japanese have many terms that we don’t use in English. One of my favourites is “forest bathing”– a leisurely visit to a forest. It is becoming more widely practiced in North America but has been a stress management activity in Japan since 1982. Ben Page, founder of Shinrin Yoku LA, remarked in a USA Today story, “A hike is generally oriented as a journey from point A to point B, whereas forest bathing is not about reaching a physical destination. The destination in a forest-bathing walk is more like a mental space of effortless relaxation and awareness.”

Studies have shown that exposure to nature creates calming neuro-psychological effects leading to reductions in stress, anger, anxiety, depression, and sleeplessness. It’s a good reason to take a walk in the woods whenever possible. I’m fortunate to live near a beautiful forest where I can get some exercise, calm my mind, and take some photos.

It’s pleasurable to walk in the forest, even in winter. There are numerous animal tracks in the snow, as well as interesting ice formations, and plenty of crisp, fresh air.

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Photo tip: Taking forest photos in a relaxed stare of mind is quite different from the immediacy of capturing a moment. Take note of how your vision changes when you are forest bathing.

Blogging Colour Landscape Light Observation Photography

Avard Woolaver forest forest bathing Nova Scotia photography winter

Published March 14, 2017 by

What is in the viewfinder really matters

Travelhome and the Range, Coldbrook, NS; 2017    © Avard Woolaver

 

It seems that good photos have just the right amount of content—not too busy, not too sparse. One famous quote from National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson, advises, “If you want to be a better photographer, stand in front of more interesting stuff.” And if you happen to be standing in front of some interesting stuff, there is always the question of how much to include in the frame.

American photographer 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 (whom I also cited last week) 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.”

Lee Friedlander 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.

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Photo tip: If you have a wide-angle lens, try shooting with only that lens for a week or two. Make note of how this perspective changes the content in your photos.

Blogging Colour New Topographics Observation Photography Social Landscape

2017 Avard Woolaver Canon Rebel T3 colour content documentary Nova Scotia photography The Image Journey wide angle

Published March 13, 2017 by

Fishing in Japan

Japan, fishing, Kiso River, Inuyama, 1992
Kiso River, Inuyama, Japan; 1992                  © Avard Woolaver

The Japanese are crazy about fish. Not only do they enjoy eating fish, they also enjoy catching them. At urban fishing centres you can pay 600 yen (about $7) to go fishing in a concrete pool. (The fish have to be put back to be caught again by another customer.)

There is something zen about fishing. In a Huffington Post article Abigail Wise lists the ways in which fishing makes you a better person. It reduces stress and helps keep you fit, not to mention the health benefits of eating fish.

In my years spent in Japan in the 1980s, I saw people fishing in rivers, canals, and lakes. There was something calming about just watching them fish. And, of course, it made for interesting photos.

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Photo tip: The world looks different from above. Try looking for high vantage points to get dynamic high-angle shots.  Russian photographer Alexander Rodchenko was a master of using both high-angle and low-angle photography.

Colour Documentary Film Photography Photography Social Landscape

1992 analog Avard Woolaver film photography fishing Fujicolor film Inuyama Japan Kiso River social landscape travel

Published March 10, 2017 by

Blacksmith’s ledger, 1936

blacksmith, ledger, 1936, family history, nostalgia,
Blacksmith’s Ledger, 1936                    © Avard Woolaver

This photo shows an entry in a blacksmith’s ledger from Clarksville, Nova Scotia, in 1936. The man who made the purchases was my grandfather, George Mason. I stumbled across this recently—it’s something my mother’s caregiver had found in her home. Leafing through the book, I was so happy and surprised to find my grandfather.

This photo tells us a number of things, the first being that times were hard, and of course money was scarce in the Depression years. George ran up a tab of $2.60 in the summer of 1936, and paid it off in January 1937. It cost just $0.85 to remove and replace a horseshoe. According to American Farriers Journal, by 2015, the average nationwide price for trimming four hooves and applying four keg shoes came to $120.

In the aftermath of the Halifax Explosion (in 1917, and, until World War II, the largest explosion in history), ordinary people from all over Nova Scotia traveled into Halifax to help with the cleanup. My grandfather did so, with his horse and wagon. The first time he owned a car was in the 1940s.

My mother, Beth Mason Woolaver with her father, George Mason, 1982                                            © Avard Woolaver

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Photo tip: If you don’t have a copy stand, you can use a piece of foam core with grid lines drawn on it. Use flat, even light and a tripod.  Put the photo or document on the foam core and line it up so the centre of the lens meets the centre of the artwork. A medium telephoto lens works best for this.

Colour Documentary Family Photography

1936 Avard Woolaver blacksmith family history ledger photography