THREEARK

A Photograph is 2D

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

It's easy to forget that a photograph is a two dimensional object. I feel that it's important that we remind ourselves of this fact on a regular basis. Our entire composition is laid out in two dimensional space, either creating the idea of a 3D world or completely breaking it. We can also use this for our own gain. By framing this tree stand in a specific way with clever focusing I was able to create the illusion of a single tree standing out amongst a background even though in reality I'm just trying to trick you.

Foymont Abandoned RCAF Station

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

RCAF Station Foymont was built and operational in the early 1950s until the mid 1970s. Most buildings are now abandoned and many of the residence buildings are still standing (though badly damaged). There was no obvious way inside without bringing a ladder - though to be completely honest with the state of the buildings as is that would likely be more danger than this location is worth.

The most interesting aspect to this trip for me was the cult-like Christian messages excessively scrawled all over the buildings. Marker notes of "Happy Birthday Jesus" accompanied long-dead wreaths. Literally every single window on the buildings featured small portraits of either Jesus or the Virgin Mary. Looking inside revealed even more religious paraphernalia. It went far beyond belief and into the realm of the fanatical.

It was pretty interesting to see nature start to reclaim the entire base.

There was a startling amount of messages and signs that would have taken hours to set up. It was rather creepy to see in such a remote area.

Coasts VI

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Probably the strangest photo in the Coasts series. This is real and not manipulated.

Coasts V

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

This one is from last summer near Meteghan, Nova Scotia. It's definitely one of the more colourful photos in this series thus far. I can't wait to get back home this summer to shoot the Atlantic again. I recommend clicking it to see it a little larger.

This one was really hard to get to due to the trees and vegetation blocking the very edge. Although this series is far more traditional than a lot of my other work it's by far the most difficult to do. Rewarding too.

I Make Aliens

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I wasn't going to post any more of the Balanced work here on my blog but this one is too comical to resist. I managed to mirror a picture of a steam engine into this duo of alien beings. I don't know how I come up with this stuff sometimes.... The whole series can be seen here.

Prototype

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I'm not known for doing a lot of portrait work and the little bit I involve myself in is often rather surrealist in nature. I have been drawn to it lately and I want to see how my style meshes with the genre. Consider this a prototype for things to come.

Huge thanks to Tamed Raven on this one.

Terminus

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

You face that wall.

Forward

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Always moving forward.

We Have Come to a Halt

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I am growing rather tired of most landscape work as it's becoming increasingly difficult to take images that really resonate with people. Landscape photography has always been intertwined with environmental movements and as such I believe it is important. I'm trying to keep it relevant to me by focusing in closer in an almost minimalist way - without losing the greater scene.

We have had a strange combination of snow and freezing rain over the last few weeks. The snow is taking some interesting forms.

Balance X: Let 'Em Talk

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

This may be the final image in the Balance series. This series was purely experimental as I tried to understand how symmetry affects composition and viewer interaction. I feel as though I have no more questions to ask - at least for now. I have also included a version with the armature I used if you are unfamiliar with Root-2 designs. Symmetrical works allow you to do some unorthodox things with the underlying armature, it's rather interesting.

Balance X with overlay armature.

Balance IX: The Sun That Stings From the West

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

It's odd how perfect bilateral symmetry can give machinery an almost biological undertone.

Shadows Start to Grow

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Props to whoever can guess what this is.

Take a Walk

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

An image that continues my night time explorations around Canada's Capital Region - this one on the Quebec side of the border in Gatineau. I have spent hundreds of hours over the years exploring other art forms in the shadows and yet this is my first attempt to show how I see that world in photography. The night allows you to see an area in a completely different way, a honed eye will pick out shapes and paths in the environment that are almost invisible during the day.

Options become apparent in Gatineau, Quebec.

Balance VIII: We Create Walls

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Does technology and infrastructure lead to freedom?

The Artist Inside

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

It's what's inside that counts right?

Venus Was Born in 1988

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

VENUS street art in a busted up military building from the Cold War era.

Unstable Ground

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:34:00 +0000

This one was taken the other night shortly before security ruined the party.

The Precursors of War

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

They both lead.

You're In My Way

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

A shot of an abandoned building halfway between Ottawa and Gatineau. This shot was interesting as it almost never happened. It's a long exposure and a security guard wanted to kick me out directly as the exposure started, I had to stall for a few moments as the exposure finished. He was confused why I was in such a sketchy area so late at night but I let him struggle with it as my photo finished before taking off. As an added bonus the light from his approaching vehicle illuminated a portion of the doorway that would have been shrouded in darkness otherwise.

Get out of my way.

Light of Day

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Here is one more image from an abandoned cattle farm on the outskirts of Ottawa. The building looks to have been vacant for quite some time. Writers have much of the premises covered (notice the nice Moloko tag in the back) and a lot of the ceiling is in the process of falling down.

Balance VII

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

This was created from a cold war era military installation that is in disrepair. This probably won't be the last image I create here.

Morph IV

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I figured I'd keep this weeks set of postings to photos from the same location. This photo as well as Morph III are both from the same local as my Monday posting.

Paths we take.

Morph III

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:29:00 +0000

Another 8 shot multiple exposure. Since this series is really not about minimalism I wanted to include some images that were far more complicated. Finding this busy abandoned cattle farm was far from an accident.

And it will find you.

So You Be Forewarned

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Maybe it's the background in graff but 90% of my images seem to be hanging off high objects or gaining access to questionable locals. Getting too old for this? Nah.

"As I wake in the darkness and I look around, there is no sound. It's so tranquil, it's so calm like you. But now I hear a noise, is there any way out of this nightmare?"

Graff Saturday: Gatineau

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Taylor) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:06:00 +0000

Although Gatineau/Ottawa isn't as known in the graff game as Montreal or Toronto there is a healthy scene here that is always moving forward. I periodically post graff photos to my Facebook and Google+ so check that. Every now and again I'll post some close-ups here on the blog.