blog
20. Grand Perspectives
Thoughts and images from the Grand River, Ontario, from 2012 to 2014.
The Grand River has existed in southern Ontario for 12,000 years. It is a treasured landmark, extremely significant historically, and a valuable resource for the entire watershed and beyond. Over the years, many artists have challenged themselves to capture and interpret the Grand in their own way, trying to be unique but true to the essence of the river.
The Grand River has existed in southern Ontario for 12,000 years. It is a treasured landmark, extremely significant historically, and a valuable resource for the entire watershed and beyond. Over the years, many artists have challenged themselves to capture and interpret the Grand in their own way, trying to be unique but true to the essence of the river.
04/05/2022
Artist Statement (Grand Perspectives):
The Grand River has existed in southern Ontario for 12,000 years. It is a treasured landmark, extremely significant historically, and a valuable resource for the entire watershed and beyond. Over the years, many artists have challenged themselves to capture and interpret the Grand in their own way, trying to be unique but true to the essence of the river. This series of photographs is my attempt, my way of looking at the Grand River.
The images were taken at various dams along the Grand River, from Fergus in the north to Brantford in the south. Telephoto lenses were used to produce selected close-ups that would not normally be noticed in isolation. These were further abstracted by using the shutter speed to freeze the water flow in selected short periods of time. Then, when printed, the final image was rotated through 90 or 180 degrees. The resulting photographs give an impression of what might be seen by a viewer twisting his head 90 or 180 degrees and observing only an extremely small area of the river for a fraction of a second - obviously a physical impossibility.
With the effects of magnification, stop action and rotation combined, fresh perspectives of the Grand River begin to materialize and numerous viewing possibilities are unleashed. Images of creatures or human figures or other objects can emerge from within the photographs. Unique shapes, lines, patterns and textures are revealed. And perhaps even personal responses to past experiences and feelings are provoked.
Viewers will take what they will from the images. My purpose is not to force or direct thought, but merely to offer up for consideration a somewhat less familiar, and hopefully different take on the Grand River, "Grand Perspectives".
This series of photographs was taken from 2012 to 2014.
Images from the series (click to view): Grand Perspectives #1, Grand Perspectives #4, Grand Perspectives #11.
There are other images in this series that are not on this website. If you are interested in more information about them, please leave a message below or email me.
... back to main listing page
The Grand River has existed in southern Ontario for 12,000 years. It is a treasured landmark, extremely significant historically, and a valuable resource for the entire watershed and beyond. Over the years, many artists have challenged themselves to capture and interpret the Grand in their own way, trying to be unique but true to the essence of the river. This series of photographs is my attempt, my way of looking at the Grand River.
The images were taken at various dams along the Grand River, from Fergus in the north to Brantford in the south. Telephoto lenses were used to produce selected close-ups that would not normally be noticed in isolation. These were further abstracted by using the shutter speed to freeze the water flow in selected short periods of time. Then, when printed, the final image was rotated through 90 or 180 degrees. The resulting photographs give an impression of what might be seen by a viewer twisting his head 90 or 180 degrees and observing only an extremely small area of the river for a fraction of a second - obviously a physical impossibility.
With the effects of magnification, stop action and rotation combined, fresh perspectives of the Grand River begin to materialize and numerous viewing possibilities are unleashed. Images of creatures or human figures or other objects can emerge from within the photographs. Unique shapes, lines, patterns and textures are revealed. And perhaps even personal responses to past experiences and feelings are provoked.
Viewers will take what they will from the images. My purpose is not to force or direct thought, but merely to offer up for consideration a somewhat less familiar, and hopefully different take on the Grand River, "Grand Perspectives".
This series of photographs was taken from 2012 to 2014.
Images from the series (click to view): Grand Perspectives #1, Grand Perspectives #4, Grand Perspectives #11.
There are other images in this series that are not on this website. If you are interested in more information about them, please leave a message below or email me.
... back to main listing page
Grand Perspective #1
Comments (click to expand)