Night Train (a Series)
This painting series was a bit unique for me. It had a common theme in terms of the subject matter – all of the images were drawn from what I saw (and captured with photos) during the night while on a train between Edmonton and Vancouver in November of 2007. What was unique for me was the use of oil pastel on a number of the works, and oil paint on a couple of larger ones.
“Rolling Through the Night”, oil on canvas, 41 by 51 cm, Nov 2008
“November Rockies Dusk”, oil pastel on paper, 23 x 30 cm, 2009
“Passing in the Night”, oil pastel on paper, 23 x 30 cm, 2008
“Night Siding”, oil pastel on paper, 23 x 30 cm, 2009
“Dawn Arrival”, oil pastel on paper, 23 x 30 cm, 2009
“Supporting the Dawn”, oil pastel on paper, 30 x 23 cm, 2008
“Morning Train into Vancouver “, oil on hardboard, 61 x 71 cm, 2008
Usually Colorific, but Not This Time
Autumn is famous as the season of glorious displays of color, but that doesn’t have to be all that intrigues a photographer at this time of year. Here are some black and white images of what has caught my eye this early October:
Strong Verticals
Especially on a wet fall day the strong contrast of tree trunks makes for a dramatic image.
Near and Far
Wet Corner
Reaching Upward
The autumn season is also when the river is at its lowest level, exposing sandbar “beaches” not normally seen. And those beaches reveal some interesting forms, very suited to black and white (or mostly monochromatic) presentation:
Sandy Beach
Waves in the Sand
Under the Bridge
Verticals and Horizontals
The above photos were all taken October 1st and 2nd (2016), in the river valley in Edmonton, Canada.
Autumn Color
Here are some color photographs from early October 2016, featuring the colors of the season (or not particularly)!
Wrinkled Green Trunk
All Blues
Just a Crow
Like Fireworks
Between the Blues
Rainbow Shrubbery
Orange-Red
Tree Shadow
Moodier in Black and White
Here are some photos taken on the same outing as my hike last Sunday in Edmonton’s Mill Creek Ravine – but taking out the color the images have a much moodier feel.
Spring Slope
Stairs and a Patch of Snow
Trunk on a Diagonal
All Quiet Under the Bridge
Tangled Slope
and as a bonus, a black and white image from beside the river in Edmonton’s Louise McKinney Park:
Promenade Beside the Ice
5 Favorite Photos From the Last Week of July
If you follow me on Flickr you may have already seen some of these photos but here are some favorites from the last week ( 1 from each day that I took photos).
This first one is a photo of a sunflower growing next to a garage and fence in a back alley in my neighborhood. I was struck by the bright yellow of the sun flower and also the background color. I used a slow shutter speed and camera movement to blur the image and emphasize the color over the details.
Abstract 245-566
Again in this next one, color is the thing and motion blurring is the technique:
Abstract 246-058
Soft Evening Sky I was taken with a telephoto lens looking at the distant edge of the river valley in Edmonton, as the last rays of evening sun kissed the tree tops and provided a red glow.
Soft Evening Sky I
This next photo was purely an experiment in atmosphere. There was no subject, to speak of. I manually focussed as near as I could, just to capture the atmosphere generated by the background plants, a meter or two away, with their blue/green shades:
Abstract 248-131
Finally another motion-abstracted image – this of the Capilano Bridge in Edmonton. I used a telephoto lens and a shutter speed of probably 1/5 second. I panned the camera parallel to the bridge to keep the white and red edges on the bridge sharp and intense.
Capilano Bridge
I have received the comment that these photos look like paintings – I agree. Lately many of my photos that I like best have that quality. It is my intent to actually use these photos as reference or inspiration for paintings, but I am happy with the images as they are as photos. What do you think?
Boats, Bridges and Bikes
A few of my favorite black and white photos from the last week:
Grounded
Morning Sun
Rough Wall
Bridge Rail
A Bike and a Bridge
In the Cold Dark City
Here are some black and white photos from a cold, snowy January evening in downtown Edmonton. The evening was cold but I wasn’t. Bundled up as I was and moving about, I actually felt warmer out on the street taking photos than I often do sitting around inside the house. Being something like -30C with the wind chill, there weren’t many people on the street and certainly no one else with a camera, so I think I saw things that others will not have seen, and I got some good shots that I would like to share:
Northside of Jasper Avenue (East of 97 St.)
Bridges
Empty Sidewalk, Deserted Benches
Wall Advertising from Another Era on a Historic Building
Cleared Path Through the Snow Drifts
Steamy Skyline
Top of the Riverbank Path
These photos were all taken within about a 2 block stretch east from Jasper Avenue and 97th Street in downtown Edmonton. These were the images that I think look best in black and white but I also have a number that I will leave in color and will share in my next blog posting.
Randall Talbot - Artist 