Sometimes a simple image can tell a powerful story. This image for me is all about connection and disconnection. About the physical and virtual. About generational differences and experiences. About having lived, and just starting to live. Although in the same physical space as the adults, the young girl is completely connected to the phone and disconnected from her surroundings. On the other hand, the adults are enjoying the fire, conversation and company by the lake. Even the differences in colour and clarity in the image help to build the contrasts between the two different worlds. The warmth from the glow of the fire, vs the cool glow from the virtual word of the phone. The nuanced value contrast in the real world vs the stark value contrast in the virtual world. Thought for the day
"There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self." Ernest Hemingway
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Almost every traveler has experienced an airport layover. Layovers can be frustrating, tiring and boring all at the same time. While waiting what do you do? Do you watch the clock for endless hours or spend time browsing shops for things that you don't need? Well what about doing something different. Think of a layover as an opportunity to take out your camera, look around and observe. Airports provide all types of subject matter from architecture and urban lifestyle to still life and abstract. So at a recent layover I focused on capturing the hustle and bustle of passengers and crew rushing to their destination. Thought for the Day
Luck isn't just about being at the right place at the right time, but also about being open and ready for the opportunities presented to you. Have you ever wanted to make your photos more dynamic? Have you wanted to convey a sense of motion or focus the viewer's attention? One nice way to do this is to use your zoom lens and zoom in (or out) while you're taking the shot. The following photos were taken of a jazz band performing in a night club. Although I like the photos, to me they don't express the energy of the music - the dynamic interplay between band members or the intensity and fluidity of the melody and rhythm. So, I decided to play with the camera to see what I could capture. In these hand-held photos I was zooming the lens in / out while exposing the image. The trick is to get the shutter speed just right. You don't want the shutter speed to be so fast that there's little or no effect or so slow that the entire image is blurry. Ultimately you have to experiment based on the focal length of the lens and the f-stop setting. Note: If you hover over the images below you'll see shot information. Another interesting way to create a sense of movement by using lens zooming is shown in the first photo below. The street was closed to vehicular traffic and this incredible flow of people were walking on St. Clair and the streetcar right of way. By zooming the lens I was able to emphasize the flow of people walking past me. Another way to create visual focus is to rotate the camera. The young woman that's shown in the photo below was deep in thought. By rotating the camera I was able to remove distractions and focus the viewer's attention directly on her. Thought For The Day
"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." Pablo Picasso I've always been fascinated by construction projects. The creative mess is like an art project, while it's in progress it's chaos. This was the time of the "Battle of St. Clair" with widely differing opinions on the benefit of the project.
The construction project involved multiple phases. These photos were taken during the St. Clair redevelopment from Bathurst to Gunns Road. Although a considerable mess at the time, the rejuvenation of the street has provided some positive benefits with new businesses moving into the area, increased ridership, and new condo developments along St. Clair. Why show these images in monochrome rather than in colour? Although I like the colour photos, I thought the black and white images showed the textures better and rather than distracting the eye helps the viewer to focus on the structure and patterns in the image. Do you agree? Thought for the day Sometimes people think they need to be in a special location to be inspired. I find that going for an extended walk, wherever you may be, can help you get inspired. That's certainly what I found while taking an extended walk along St. Clair during the construction project. |
Eric David
Eric David is a visual artist / fine art photographer that lives and works in Toronto. Archives
March 2020
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