What is a vibrant tourist town, swelling in population from 800 to 8,000 in the bright, photogenic summer months, Westport can also look quite drab in the dark and misty days of winter. When the snowbanks are covered in dirty, brown snow pushed from the roads, a light rain will add to the feeling of despair and hopelessness. These aren’t times for promotional photographs selling the village to potential newcomers. Nope, days like today are meant to get out and document; to make some photos with a good friend and talk about lighter days to come. Good thing I have such a friend in Joel.
Photowalks are beneficial on so many levels: getting outside and exercising, taking an hour or two to really see your environment, to practice your craft, and to share a common experience with another person (or other people). I find it’s easy to stay behind the computer screen, saying it’s not a “good day” to photograph. But if you love the art of photography, pushing through those feelings of “tomorrow will be better” can be rewarding today, just by setting foot outside the house (or studio).
I’m going through a real grainy phase. I’m exploring what it looks like to bring out the textures that inheriently come out of my camera sensor. For so long, everything had to be in sharp focus with a real attention to minimizing sensor noise. Now I’m embracing those little dots, shooting at higher ISO’s and intentionally softening my images by not having so much in focus. I’ve been inspired by Daido Moriyama for my black and white photography and Saul Leiter for my colour work. If you don’t know these masters of photography, do yourself a solid and delve into some of their work. I have a few of their photobooks if you want to stop by the studio and enjoy them. You are always welcome.
