With the winter season upon us and frigid temperatures outside, it’s nice to remember summer and those hot sunny days at the beach. I choose to remember summer with this photo of Cherry Beach in Toronto, taken in 1982. Sooner than we know it, it will be here.
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.
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.”
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.
I want to wish you all Happy Holidays and Season’s Greetings. Best Wishes to all those who follow me on social media. I hope you can kick back and enjoy the holiday season.
I’ll share a music video by the lovely Meaghan Smith–her rendition of Silver Bells. It was filmed at the skating rink in Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto, a place that is near and dear to me.
