Tag: <span>Avard Woolaver</span>

Published January 8, 2019 by

Happy New Year!

Avard Woolaver, photo, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Happy New Year, 2019,
Spring Garden Road, Halifax, 2019 © Avard Woolaver

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

Published December 22, 2018 by

Happy Holidays and Season’s Greetings!

Happy Holidays, Seasons's Greetings, Avard Woolaver, photography, colour, new topographics,
Burnside, Nova Scotia, 2018                 © Avard Woolaver

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.

Avard Woolaver, Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, 1981, film photography, skating,
Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, 1981                 © Avard Woolaver

Blogging Photography

Avard Woolaver celebration Happy Holidays photography Seasons Greetings

Published December 21, 2018 by

Winter Solstice, 2018

Avard Woolaver, winter solstice, 2018, road, light,
Sweets Corner, Nova Scotia, 2018                 © Avard Woolaver

Today is the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere–when the sun is at is maximum tilt away from the sun. It’s the shortest day of the year, and the longest night. There are many festivals and rituals all around the world to celebrate the solstice. Stonehenge comes to mind. My favourite is in Japan, where there is a custom to soak oneself in the yuzu (citrus fruit) hot bath.

It’s a good time of year to go out for a walk and enjoy the changing of the season. And if you’re like me, you’ll end up taking a few photos along the way.

Blogging Photography

Avard Woolaver light Nova Scotia winter solstice

Published December 19, 2018 by

Photos Using Car Headlights

Avard Woolaver, photos using car headlights, Nova Scotia, winter, night,
Newport, Nova Scotia, 2018                 © Avard Woolaver

Sometimes I take photos using car headlights as illumination. It creates a suspenseful mood and works well in snowy conditions. With this photo, I brightened the lights to get maximum range. If you try this, just be sure to do it in a more secluded area so you don’t annoy other drivers.

Blogging Photography

Avard Woolaver car headlights photography snow

Published December 14, 2018 by

Sometimes Photos Resemble Paintings

Avard Woolaver, Toronto, photos resemble paintings,
Elm Street at Yonge (looking west), Toronto, 1982  © Avard Woolaver

Sometimes photos resemble paintings–whether it’s the lighting, the subject matter, or the mood. Some photographers recreate paintings as photographs like Laura Hofstadter with her self-portrait series. Also many painters use photographs as a reference when they paint.

I had always thought that this 1982 photograph of Elm Street in Toronto looked like a painting, but no painter came to mind. Then my social media friend Amy Dix suggested that it looked like something by English artist L.S. Lowry. I could immediately see the similarity. 

The above photo was taken from the rooftop of Sam the Record Man–the iconic record store. These days it’s the location of The Ryerson Student Centre, an amazing creation of function and design. In 2018, I managed to get a photo of Elm street  through a window, maybe on the 4th floor. It’s great to compare the old with the new, and see the changes over the past 36 years.

Avard Woolaver, Toronto, photos resemble paintings,

Elm Street at Yonge (looking west), Toronto, 1982, appears in the book Toronto Flashback (1980-1986) and is available through Blurb Books.

Blogging Photography

analog photography Avard Woolaver film photography photo book Toronto Toronto Flashback (1980-1986)