Saturday, November 15, 2014

The Explorer

Many of you will know Gerald through Hyde Daily Photo or Stockport Daily Photo. Yesterday he tagged me for a Facebook meme, the Black And White Challenge. I thought about it, and decided I'd have a go at it for five days here in my blog. I haven't deliberately shot in black and white, but lighting conditions or weather from time to time have created black and white, sepia toned, or colour drained shots. I decided to go back through my published photos and pick out five subjects that meet the bill. There might be a dash of colour in the shot here or there, but a monochrome image dominates.

Starting off the series is this statue of the French explorer Samuel de Champlain, standing high over the Ottawa River at Nepean Point, with a great view of both Ottawa and Gatineau. This was taken on a rainy afternoon in September 2013. The scaffolding was a temporary measure for the Nuit Blanche festival, as Champlain's statue was the subject of a light show throughout the night. You can find the link for that post here. The statue normally stands unencumbered by such a scaffolding, so this was the only chance I might ever get to be at that level with Champlain. Usually I'm looking up at the great man.


38 comments:

  1. This is so interesting, William, about the statue and the scaffolding. Thanks!

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  2. A slender statue, he seems proud to teach the subject.

    Tomás.

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  3. I remember reading about Champlain for history classes in school.

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  4. At last, someone I know something of... My ignorance of Canadian history was worrying me...

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  5. Great shot of the statue of this for me unknown explorer.
    Must be a wonderful sight looking over the river from up there.

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  6. @Lynette: you're welcome!

    @Jen: I liked it, even though it was a damp day!

    @Tomas: it's one of my favourite statues in the city.

    @Revrunner: he first came up the river in 1613, and so he would have known this promontory.

    @VP: he's quite an interesting figure of history.

    @Marianne: it does, yes. Just a dash of green, but mostly monochrome.

    @Jan: it is a magnificent view from up there.

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  7. Sort of that classic explorer pose. Rain is perfect for a b/w look at your world.

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  8. So that's what he looked like! I remember reading about Champlain and other early explorers in books my grandmother kept on her farm in northern Minnesota. This is a very fine, dramatic photograph!

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  9. Some images actually look better in black and white....

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  10. He looks very impressive standing there. I remember reading about him in school.

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  11. @Birdman: it serves the purpose nicely.

    @Lowell: both sides of this river have changed dramatically since he came up it four centuries ago.

    @Norma: this one works nicely like this.

    @Tex: I should really get up there sometime for a late fall photo op around the statue.

    @Judy: it's a commanding position, and a stunning view from there.

    @Lois: thanks!

    @Sharon: I'm sure he dressed less formally when he was actually working!

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  12. I'm sure he enjoyed the company. It's lonely at the top.

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  13. Way cool from up there! It works really well in almost b&w!

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  14. Oh that is for your portfolio! Great capture, pal


    ALOHA from Honolulu
    ComfortSpiral
    =^..^= . <3 . >< } } (°>

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  15. Nice! Black & white is an option especially in winter when everything's drained of color. My husband keeps reminding me of this & encourages me to "see" things in tones rather than colors. I may use this as an exercise this winter instead of whining about the dullness of everything.

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  16. @Stuart: on a nice day it's a popular destination for people to come up for the view. It's set behind the National Gallery.

    @Ciel: it's such a splendid place to relax for awhile.

    @Cloudia: thank you!

    @RedPat: thanks!

    @Kay: I've got a couple of winter shots in store for this series, as it turns out.

    @Mari: thanks!

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  17. An impressive statue, a photo I enjoyed. Thanks William!

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  18. This works well in B&W. Great choice!

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  19. I like your series. I don't do black and white. Winter is too dark and too white and too long! The sepia tones in the later post are lovely!
    (ツ) from Cottage Country Ontario , ON, Canada!

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  20. Excellent choice! Love this silhouette.

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  21. @Denise: you're welcome!

    @Randy: I certainly think so.

    @Karl: there are other statues of him here in the New World, including I think in Montreal.

    @EG: thanks!

    @Jennifer: winter's a good thing!

    @Linda: thanks!

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  22. great to get a new perspective on a familiar subject - nice treatment of the subject

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    Replies
    1. It was a one time only thing, and I was glad to get up there and have a close up view of it.

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  23. VERY nice photo! I also enjoy the narratives in your posts.

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