Toronto Architecture in Black and White
Architectural Photography
I live in Toronto Ontario Canada and committed to photographing mainly Toronto architecture. Within Toronto there are many buildings that lend themselves to photo art but seeing that Toronto is so spread out it can require some travel to find these hidden treasures. I find that black and white photography lends itself to architecture photography and adds a rich feel to architecture prints. A building with unique lines and design is usually what I search for and I try to envision the finished black and white print while I'm photographing the location. When I find a building I feel would make a good fine art print I usually don't photograph the entire building, instead I choose portions of a structure to shoot with the intent of showing the building as a piece of art. Some structures possess a festival of lines that merge and depart in the most wonderful ways creating a Zen like quality hence the title for my architectural photography project "The Zen Metropolis". Creative photography as an art can be interpreted in many different ways. It is my hope that my black and white architectural photographs of Toronto, will be viewed as a documentary of the creative and sometimes abstract visions of the architects who designed these pieces of artwork that surround us in our daily lives. -AB-
The Art of Black and White
Why would a photographer create a black and white photograph when there is the option of color? It's an interesting question and one that the photographers and collectors of fine art photography ask themselves to ensure they are working in the best suited genre. Black and white photographs hold a completely different look and feel then a color image. A color image shows all the tones that the human eye is accustomed to processing where as a black and white image leaves the color out and the tonal range is left for the viewer to process and fill in the blanks. This "filling in the blanks" is what creates the personal interpretation of a black and white photo. Photographs with the right mix of content create an intriguing and unique artistic experience for the person who is viewing the print. Various lighting and photographic techniques will also allow photographers the freedom of expression that will enhance the viewing experience of someone who owns or is looking to purchase a print. -AB-
Store Fronts
Gradually over the coming months and years I will be photographing store fronts in Toronto and the GTA. What started this interest is the Seaton Butcher Shop below. There is something about these buildings that intrigue me. They show the wear of daily life and urban decay.
