Tag: <span>photography</span>

Kentville, Nova Scotia, 2012, Wish You Were Here,
Kentville, Nova Scotia, 2012 – © Avard Woolaver

When I was a teenage boy in the mid-Seventies, living in rural Nova Scotia, I spent hours studying the album covers created by Hipgnosis, the London-based design group. This was before I grew interested in photography, but, as LPs like Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” or “Ummagumma” played on the turntable, I scrutinized the covers, trying to penetrate the mysteries of the evocative, layered visual compositions. My “Wish You Were Here” is an ongoing photographic project that’s been in the works for several years. I aim to capture images that have a sense of the surreal yet are readily seen in everyday life. Additionally, I try to capture the sense of whimsy and humour that I liked about those album covers. The images come about through observation, rather than with Photoshop or other manipulations. For me, that’s an important aspect of the project–there’s no manipulation of the image. Reflections, juxtaposition, and scale all come into play.

More photos in the series can be seen in the book Wish You Were Here – available through Blurb Books.

Pereaux, Nova Scotia, 2015, Wish You Were Here,
Pereaux, Nova Scotia, 2015 – © Avard Woolaver

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Truro, Nova Scotia, 2013, Wish You Were Here,
Truro, Nova Scotia, 2013 – © Avard Woolaver

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Windsor, Nova Scotia, 2013, Wish You Were Here,
Windsor, Nova Scotia, 2013 – © Avard Woolaver

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Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2012, Wish You Were Here,
Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2012 – © Avard Woolaver

Blogging Photography

Malta Band Club, Toronto, 1985, music,
Malta Band Club, Toronto, 1985 – © Avard Woolaver

It has been said that music is the heartbeat of the universe. There is no denying its magic, and its force in the world. I took these photos in Toronto in the 1980s. They show people making music in everyday situations, giving the city a soundtrack.

The Shuffle Demons, Toronto, 1984, music,
The Shuffle Demons, Toronto, 1984 – © Avard Woolaver

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Allan Gardens, Toronto, 1985, music,
Allan Gardens, Toronto, 1985 – © Avard Woolaver

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Brunswick House, Toronto, 1984, music,
Brunswick House, Toronto, 1984 – © Avard Woolaver

Blogging Photography

Cogmagun, Nova Scotia, 2019, things I saw today,
Cogmagun, Nova Scotia, 2019 – © Avard Woolaver

These are some things I saw today, taking a load of garbage to the local landfill. It’s always fun to take a little road trip–it doesn’t matter how far (the landfill is about 15 km from my home.) And it makes the photos look a bit better when there is a sunny sky.

Cogmagun, Nova Scotia, 2019, things I saw today,
Cogmagun, Nova Scotia, 2019 – © Avard Woolaver

In the community of Cogmagun, there is this tiny house. I don’t think anyone lives there year round, maybe just in the summer. I take a photo of it just about every time I pass by. It reminds me of the house of folk artist Maude Lewis that is on display in the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.

Mantua, Nova Scotia, 2019, things I saw today,
Mantua, Nova Scotia, 2019 – © Avard Woolaver

This rag-tag collection of signs caught my eye. I’m interested in the Stanley Airport which operated as a pilot training center during World War II. My mother grew up in the small community of Stanley and went to see movies at the base as a ten year old. When I was a boy in the 1960s it housed a parachute training school and I loved to watch the parachutists floating in the sky like dandelion seeds.

Newport, Nova Scotia, 2019, things I saw today,
Newport, Nova Scotia, 2019 – © Avard Woolaver

There was a very high tide in the Herbert River today. This part of the world has some of the world’s highest tides with tide water flowing in from the Bay of Fundy and filling all the connected rivers. This is a popular place for tourists to watch the tidal bore.

Scotch Village, Nova Scotia, 2019, things I saw today,
Scotch Village, Nova Scotia, 2019 – © Avard Woolaver

On my way home, crossing the Kennetcook River where I took more high tide photos. I love this view, looking up the hill with the utility pole in the middle of the road. It was a good day for getting things done, and getting a few photos–things I saw today.

Blogging Nova Scotia Photography

Wentworth Creek, Nova Scotia, 2018, silver road
Wentworth Creek, Nova Scotia, 2018 — © Avard Woolaver

In my younger days when the moon was full, I used turn off the headlights and drive the silver road. Naturally, I did this on quiet country roads where there wasn’t much traffic, and I drove slowly. I loved the silver glow of the road and how it was like driving in a dream world. I might still be doing it now except for the fact that most cars in Canada have daytime running lights–it is impossible to turn off the headlights completely.

I also enjoy the silver road in my photographs. These photos are usually taken in the winter when the road is wet, and the sun is shining directly over the road. It looks like a river of silver light and reminds me of a line from My Favorite Things – “silver white winters that melt into spring.”

My motivation for writing this post comes from Sarah Harmer song I have stuck in my head–Silver Road. It’s from the movie Men with Brooms (2002) and features accompaniment by The Tragically Hip.
“I’ll be way down a silver road I’ll go
Where the moon has it lit up
Turn off your headlights and go slowly
I don’t want it to let up”
I have been a fan of her music since her 1999 album You Were Here but until a few weeks ago had not heard the song, or seen the video (I hardly ever watch them.) Seeing her perform at Stanfest in 2009 was one of my all time concert highlights. I think this beautiful melodic song really matches the mood of driving at night with the headlights off, and hope my photos do, too.

Wentworth Creek, Nova Scotia, 2018, silver road,
Sweets Corner, Nova Scotia, 2016 — © Avard Woolaver

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Newport, Corner, Nova Scotia, 2016, silver road,
Newport Corner, Nova Scotia, 2016 — © Avard Woolaver

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Ellershouse, Nova Scotia, 2013, silver road,
Ellershouse, Nova Scotia, 2013 — © Avard Woolaver

Blogging Photography

Newport, Nova Scotia, 2019, mirror
Newport, Nova Scotia, 2019 – © Avard Woolaver

It is said that the mirror is the symbol of imagery or of awareness. The mirror has the ability to copy the visible reflections of the world in its own figural reality.  I love the use of the mirror in photography, and no one does it better than Lee Friedlander who has incorporated it in his photos for the past sixty years.

Using car mirrors in photos is something I do regularly. I like having the ability to look ahead and behind at the same time, and also the chance to make interesting juxtapositions. I have included a few examples here.

Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, 2012, mirror,
Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, 2012 – © Avard Woolaver

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Newport, Nova Scotia, 2015, mirror
Newport, Nova Scotia, 2015 – © Avard Woolaver

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Newport, Nova Scotia, 2014, mirror
Newport, Nova Scotia, 2014 – © Avard Woolaver

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Windsor, Nova Scotia, 2012, mirror
Newport, Nova Scotia, 2012 – © Avard Woolaver

Blogging Photography