June 27, 2013

A Replica Fort (Louisburg, Cape Breton)


Digital original, two frame stitch
The last time I visited Louisbourg was in 2002 when I was still working with film. The first image of this trip points out the difference the new digital world can make; using my 17mm tilt-shift, I made two exposures, one with the lens shifted all the way left, and another all the way right - then in post I put the two frames together, effectively producing an image with about a 10mm angle of view. With film, this would have been impossible (even ignoring the fact it is in colour, and I only worked in B&W the last time I was here).
Digital original
This image has almost the same point of view as the above photograph, but made with a 400mm lens, it has more than 40 times more magnification, focusing on the distant spire and crenulations, as opposed to the moat in front of me.
Digital original
Walking through the Governor's Apartments and the King's Bastion Barracks, I enjoyed working with the natual light, coming through the relatively small windows. The rich directional light was great to work with - the only thing that would have made it better would have been a model (in period clothing of course) to set into the scene.

June 15, 2013

An Evening on the Island (Charlettown, Prince Edward Island)

Digital original
After a day of teaching, a friend and I walked around Charlottetown , photographing in the quiet light of the early evening. As I often do, I alternated between working with my widest and longest lenses - the above photograph of the back of the legislature being made with my 400mm lens.
Digital original, 3 frame exposure blend, 2 frame stitch
One of the last images of the walk around town was this celebration of these stairs. I really like the simple, clean facade of the building, but the flowing steps coming down from the main door present a great contrast to work with photographically.
Digital original
After driving north from Charlottetown, a friend and I waited on the north shore of PEI for the sunset; fortune shone on us, and the moon rose shortly before, providing a great contrast in the sky as it darkened with the end of the day.

June 14, 2013

The Confederation Bridge (Bayfield, New Brunswick)

Digital infrared original, two frame stitch
On a drive to teach a workshop in Charlettown, PEI, I stopped off on the New Brunswick side to photograph the Confederation Bridge. I initially was disappointed, as the earlier dramatic sky had clouded over, but the infrared camera still rendered it as a brilliant contrast to the heavy concrete and stone of the bridge below.

June 01, 2013

A Morning Waterfront Field Trip (Halifax, Nova Scotia)


Digital infrared original
The first images this morning were of the new Emera Headquarters on the waterfront; the morning light was beautiful, reflecting off the windows facing the sunrise.
Digital original
As I walked along the waterfront, working with a student, I was drawn to the contrast between the new galvanized steel, and the older granite of the pier behind.
Digital original
The final set of images were by far the most engaging of the field trip; a casual glance below a pier showed a world of brilliant green, and minutes later I was jammed in between two posts, working with the 17mm lens, and making some of the most surreal photographs of such a familiar space.