Stump, Grassi Lake #1
Leon StrembitskyThis photograph, taken during the first workshop I gave in 2003, was on one of the hikes above the township of Canmore on the road to Spray Lakes. There’s quite a steep walk uphill with several interesting stopping points. This is one of two very small lakes right at the end of the trail. They’re more like ponds than lakes really. I took several different photos of this scene, both with and without filters, and also in black & white and colour. Another good thing about this trail is that you can drive to the top of it and work your way down, making it a much easier trek. I didn’t know this when I scouted the location in the summer of 2002 but was glad to know it when we went back with the workshop group.
Information
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Media
photography -
Subject
landscape -
Artwork Type
photography -
Dimensions (framed)
16" x 20"
Cost
Leon Strembitsky
My first love is black and white photography. That probably has to do with the fact that I started out many years ago sloshing around in a makeshift darkroom set up in my parent's basement bathroom. In the last few years I’ve transitioned from shooting large format film, almost exclusively black and white, to a digital slr which allows me to produce colour as well. Regardless, whether the final image will be black and white or colour, I'm always drawn to scenes with strong compositional elements and strong lighting. Most of my images are manipulated and often times quite different from what a literal translation of the scene would show. I do, however, strive to maintain the believability of the image. So, even though there may be a great deal of manipulation, it isn't readily obvious.
People often ask me why I photograph and after much consideration the one thing that I come up with is this...it gives me joy. To find exciting things all around, sometimes in the most familiar places, fascinates me. Showing it to others is my way of sharing that joy. That's all there is to it, no drawn out explanations, no spiritual intervention, no existential undercurrents, just good, strong photographs! After all, when I'm not here to explain it, there will only be the work so it has to be able to stand on its own.