The Garden at Night - A Photographic Journey

From white to white to white

2011-03-22T07:20:00.000-07:00

One of the things that really strikes me here is the way the sky and the land and the sea meld into each other. Visually it is exciting to try to distinguish where a horizon line begins and ends. Actually, it doesn't really exist. I imagine if I lived here this whiteness would get me down, but to photograph it is very special. The skies are immense as they are out in the prairies. It is very graphic and minimal visually. The light is diffused and soft but fascinating. It is almost hard to see as it is so white.....the tide goes out and then there are rocks visable but there are also chunks of ice..It is very particular to this area. Your eyes are confronted each day with new variations, sometimes subtle but nevertheless significant.. one only needs to have the time to observe....which I do....

Return to simplicity

2011-03-21T17:32:00.000-07:00

It is a strange world I live in. To be able to go from sunny colourful and chaotic Mexico to the serenity and simplicity of the Gaspe is crazy. And yet that is what I have done. I am back up north in this beautiful place to witness the slow break up of the ice on the river and the purity of snow, light and line. This time we are working our way up the north coast all the way up to Cap Chat. Each turn reveals another bay which depending on the wind is filled with huge blocks of ice which are enormous, sculptural and majestic. Different hues of pinks and blues or like today and steely gray punctuated with small pools of water. I am looking for the visual gaps of what I missed on my last trip. The details one finds here only at this time of the year. Spring is slowly raising its head and strange objects are emerging out of the snow just the way my flowers emerge out of the darkness. We have access to one of the most beautiful places in the world right here in our backyard... you must come and see........

Eyes Wide Open

2011-03-12T04:16:00.000-08:00

What I really love about travelling is the newness, the viual stimulation. Everything is fresh and it is as if you are seeing for the first time. At home, I am always looking, but rarely have the time I need and often feel I have done it or seen it before.

The colour here in Mexico is so strong and so saturated, it is very hard to ignore. I often feel compelled to take shots of the colour walls, segments of houses, abstract bands of yellow and rust and blue. It is Mondrian on acid. These are my visual exercises.

This time I had my Canon s95. It is a small fully manual wonderful camera that shoots raw and has a great lens. I bought it because I always wanted to have a camera with me and I walk with it in my hand just shooting from the hip capturing figures and shadows back lit in the wonderful late afternoon light. It is so great having the time and freedom to open my eyes and really see. Each day poses new visual challenges and forces me to try to change what I did the day before. It is so exciting and feeels so natural.

My favourite market

2011-03-06T06:27:00.000-08:00

Every Thursday there is a fantastic market that takes place in Zaachila. The Zapotecs come down from the mountains to sell their wares and to meet their friends. It is bustling, colorful and full of life. All the women create beautiful displays with their fruits and vegetables and you want to buy everything. It is also an amazing place to take photos.

I like to work with a wide angle lens and get very close to people. I am always searching for unusual angles and movement to add tension to the images and to give the sense of compactness and intensity that I feel as I walk around. People are generally friendly but wary of photographers so I need to work quickly. Sometimes I pick a spot and wait for people to walk into my frame. It is a wonderful way to make interesting and dynamic compositions without being intimidated by the people themselves. I take my time, observe and wait for the right moment. It is exciting and forces me to respond to my surroundings in a very instictive way... The energy down here is fantastic!

Photos Everywhere

2011-02-28T19:15:00.000-08:00

I am writing you from Oaxaca Mexico. It is warm and sunny here and it is one of my favourite places. Each time I arrive I immediately go to the zocolo which is the main square and sit and watch life unfold. I drink a special hot chocolate that is only made here and eat a tortilla soup. Every two minutes I am asked by a woman or child to buy a placemat, a necklace or shawl. A guitarist plays a song called Oaxaca Oaxaca very badly and the balloon sellers convince every parent that walks by to buy one for their child. It has been the same for the last ten years, and it is comforting to know that it hasn't changed. I know I have arrived.

Today I spent my time wandering and rediscovering the colourful walls, the extraordinary light at the end of the day and the fabulous margaritas.. There are many photos to be made. I look forward to the next few days.

Oh so grey

2011-02-08T11:36:00.000-08:00

Hi,
It takes a lot of courage , motivation and drive to get out of bed on these kinds of days. The snow has been falling lightly, but the sky feels like it is closing in. The only way to get through this is to take photos. It moves your mind elsewhere and you stop feeling sorry for yourself.

I know that many of you are waiting for that sweet smell of spring, but we still have quite a few weeks to go. So grab your camera and get out. There are so many things to photograph.

I have always loved ice patterns. The way the air gets trapped in the water is endlessly fascinating. It is not going to hang on a gallery wall but it is a great eye exercise.

Just like a painter does sketches, I need to make studies of ice , frost, or my Amaryllis opening. Each shot leads me to the next. The wonderful thing about winter is that it neutralizes all the shapes. Line becomes evident. The light is low and the textures are more pronounced. Benches stand out against the whiteness. There are an infinite number of images to make... Just forget about the subject and look for shapes and line. It keeps your eye sharp.

All you need to do is protect your camera with a Ziploc bag over it if it is snowing and keep your extra battery warm...

So have fun, dress warmly and enjoy...

Satisfied for now

2011-02-01T11:26:00.000-08:00

It has been a few days since my last blog. Car problems and a long ride home have taken up a fair amount of time and email access is not always straightforward. I am presently back in Montreal and am reflecting on the wonderful week I had. I know it is impossible to really get a sense of a place in such a short time. I will return, most likely in March before the winter ends to try to add more depth to the project.This will give me time to really look at the images I have produced, to edit out the ones that do not strike a cord and to contemplate the underlying ideas and concepts I am trying to express. It is impossible to really come to understand a place without living and feeling it over time. We drive the familiar coast and the 132 home all the way to Quebec. Icons of the coast abound. A submarine, a sub wartime watch tour, Jesus in company and the incredible pwerful presence of water, ice and light.I leave with a feeling of Fullness. Stimulated, peaceful, eyes visually acute..I am satisfied for now.

2011-01-29T05:13:00.000-08:00

Today I will be going in the other direction down the coast to New Richmond and Maria. The main purpose is to meet the members of Declic, the Gaspe photo club. They have invited me to give a lecture about the Garden at Night but first we are going snowshoeing together to see a waterfall. I think this is a test for me to see how fit I am. People here are very connected to nature. They love the fact that they can walk out of their houses and go for a walk on the beach or go camping in the woods . They also appreciate the tranquility and peacefulness of their lives. Many have lived elsewhere and are happy to be back.

Roger is very patient. As we drive along the coast I am always yelling STOP STOP and he has to pull over or take a small road that looks interesting in order for me to take a photo. There is no traffic here and so it is possible.

My big challenge is to try to find different things to photograph. The water and sky are so beautiful and seductive that I could take handreds of shots only of that. However, my purpose is to try to get to the essence of what this place is in winter. I ask myself this question 20 times a day. I am looking for a metaphor, an object, a texture which will be the link between all the images.. This is the hardest part for me. It will take several more trips to the area and perhaps I will need to spend more time. These projects are long term and usually take me several years to put together a stong body of work.

heavenly light

2011-01-27T10:42:00.000-08:00

The light here is extraordinary. I awake each morning to a flaming orange sky and as the sun rises I watch the steam rise off the water. It is magical and each time you look at it, it is different.

We having been roaming the coast and are headed for the town of Gaspe which is a 2 hour drive from where I am staying. There are things to photograph everywhere. Harbours where big metal fishing boats are stuck in the ice awating spring. Rivers that freeze in beautiful textured patterns. Then there is Perce Rock which is enormous and watches over the tiny town. It is quiet and quite empty which is lovely. We can virtually stop the car anywhere along the road. I am looking for interesting visual evidence of winter.

There are snow covered lobster traps, moored boats and cod drying racks. But I am trying to show winter in a new way. I know that winter here is novel in itself but I am beginning to realize that it is the light which is so extrordinary. So I am always looking and ready as it changes in an instant.

Can't sleep

2011-01-24T19:04:00.000-08:00

Today was an incredible day.. The snow fell, the wind blew and I felt like I was seeing the world through a sheer white screen. The snow floated across the road and then built itself up to a gust which almost carried me across the road.. It was so exciting to photograph..I felt like I was part of a whirling tornado and I could feel the energy. I prepared my exposures in the car and then jumped out ready for a fight. But it was worth it... It made for really exciting images full of force and movement.. it was so thrilling that I couldn't sleep from the excitement.. It is so beautiful here. The light is special and the expansive skies over the water change every 5 minutes. I can understand how one can get attached to this place.

Where is the sky?

2011-01-22T15:41:00.000-08:00

Today was a travelling day. We are crossing over from the north shore of the St Lawrence River to the Baie des Chaleurs. A snowstorm is in the weather report but it is only supposed to begin at noon. So we got up early and made it to our destination for 12. Can you believe it? It actually started snowing as predicted.. I think they actually tell you the truth up here. I am wonderfully settled in my friend's house and am told that the snow only started arrriving here about a week ago. Very late for these parts. Can't wait to see what happens tomorrow.

It was a wonderful drive. There was no one on the road, probably because we are the only crazy ones. It is so beautiful. The majestic fir trees are covered in snow and the Matepedia river is flowing, which is a surprise as it is quite cold. It is a treat to arrive on the coast and see the water. Unlike the north shore it is not frozen..Wisteful, desolate and peaceful..The sky is the same colour as the land...

From Black to White

2011-01-21T16:34:00.000-08:00

It has been awhile since I have been in touch. I am now on a new project and since I had so many wonderful comments on my last blog I have decided to resume writing.

For the last three years I have wanted to go photograph the winter in a very remote region of Quebec in Canada. The Gaspe Peninsula. I have visited this area in the summer months and fell in love with it's special qualities. The water, the space, the people, the tranquility and the realness of all my experiences here. I have good friends live here for part of the year and whom we have visited. It has always been special. I always leave feeling whole and grounded.

I have often asked about the winter and am always told that everything is closed and there is no one here.. Since I don't usually pay attention when people tell me things like that, I sensed that in fact this was probably the Gaspesian's secret. So, I decided that this winter I would come see it for myself. I am presently sitting in my friend's house in Shigawake on the Baie des Chaleurs and there is a snowstorm raging and I cannot wait to get out early tomorrow morning to see what it will be like. It is mesmerizing here.

For the last 3 days I have been slowly making my way up from Montreal. we stopped and spent an hour or so in Kamouraska where the river was frozen solid. Then we drove up to Metis where the Reford gardens are. This is the place where my garden at Night project began. I spent a night at a B&B and then the next day went to the garden where I photographed it in snow in the DAYTIME..

a complete trasformation from black to white..

There was something special about entering the garden on snowshoes, making fresh tracks in the snow and viewing the same garden I know so well covered in snow, filled with strange creatures created out of burlap. Seeing the slivers of water peeking from the streams and finding the last berries hanging on to branches for dear life. Like nighttime it was quiet and spritual, but very different visually and in many ways alot harder to photograph. We then came back at nightfall and took a few shots but didn't last too long.. It was -22 degrees.

Night Never Comes

2010-06-10T12:47:00.000-07:00

We waited until 11:30 pm before we could start to take photos. As we are so far north it doesn't get dark until really late.. Spring is also about 4 weeks behind Cornwall. Nice to see the spring blooms once again. At first the ornamental garden looks as if there is nothing much there, but the structures to guide the plants were so surreal I couldn't resist. The poppies were bursting, a winged wonder was poised for flight and even a dead tulip intrigued me. The hardest part is staying awake......

From South to North

2010-06-10T12:37:00.000-07:00

Leaving Eden was quite difficult but once we hit the road and started to see the beautiful hills of the North we felt better. We are heading up to Alnwick Garden (prononced Anick)right on the Scottish border. I will be artist in residence for one week, giving lectures and photo workshops. It is a very different garden created by the Duchess of Northumberland. Some people hate it and say it is nothing more than a theme park and others love it as it is different and refreshing. Full of fountains, waterworks and a poison garden. A different place to explore, different landscapes to look at and wonderful skies.....

All Good Things Come to an End...but

2010-06-02T14:42:00.000-07:00

Well, it is hard to believe but my residency is over. We have packed our bags, stuffed the car and are travelling up to Northumberland for a one week visit to Alnwick Garden as artist in residence. It is sad for me to leave this special place as it has given me the opportunity to learn, see and produce so much without interruption. I felt like I was cocooned here, growing and evolving and honing my eye. It has been very special and much more than I could have imagined. My challenge will be to continue this when I get home...and I will.

The Most Famous Flower Show in the World

2010-05-29T23:31:00.000-07:00

When one mentions the Chelsea Flower show to a garden person, they sigh. Either because they have been there and it conjures up vivid memories or because they have not been there yet. As it happens, it is taking place this week. Not only that but Tim Smit, director of Eden requested that I photograph it at night because Eden had the largest garden ever created at the show.. Incredible!

We arrived in the afternoon to greet thousands of people, viewing models gardens created by the best landscape architects in the UK, many booths filled with everything from garden ornaments, gardening gloves and incredible sculpture to cream teas in the gardens It was a garden fantasy..
We surveyed all that we could but returned later that night, and had the bastion of garden heaven all to ourselves..almost. There were tons of security guards and dogs watching our every move... A real special priviledge nonetheless....

Time is Closing In

2010-05-24T14:51:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that my time at Eden is almost over. Suddenly every night seems precious. I have been trying to find a perfectly still night to be able to photograph outside the biomes. There always seems to be a breeze.The other night it was misty but quiet, so I insisted we go out and dragged Roger with me into the garden. I found these amazing tulips and a fantastic evil looking
meconopsis.. then the wind picked up.....Well worth the effort....

Anthropomorphising

2010-05-19T16:29:00.000-07:00

To be or not to be . It seems that everything I am photographing these last few days is being transformed into something else..They are playful, frivolous and chatty..The Eden circus of which I am the ringmaster..

I am loving my lenses and will have to figure out how to get these from Nikon. They allow me to enter a photographic plane that moves away from reality.

Linda is hung

2010-05-18T02:54:00.000-07:00

Hanging a show is a full time job.. there are so many details that have to be worked busy. This is the first time I have printed such large prints and I have spent many Sundays and evenings getting everything prepared. It is always a bit unnerving having a show. Your soul and energy are up on display for all to see. I always feel alittle insecure, not certain as to whether there isn't something that could be improved upon.... I guess it is stage fright of sorts..

Finally, the opening took place last night, and I have to say that I am really pleased with how it looks........ and it seems that everyone else who came feels the same way.

Views from Within

2010-05-11T01:32:00.000-07:00

The beauty of living, breathing and dreaming a place is a luxury for an artist. The freedom to return, night after night forces me to revisit, review and recreate what I have already seen. I feel like I have become obsessed with Eden. I am searching for the ultimate image. The one which embodies the soul of this place. And so I have moved in closer, looking within the structures, the flowers, within my mind. It is so exciting.

The Book Launch-Finally!

2010-05-03T11:26:00.000-07:00

Yes, The English Garden at Night is finally official. It was launched this past Wednesday night in London at Hoopers Gallery. It was a great evening, a good turn out considering I don't know many people in England. Quebec House helped sponsor the evening and there was lots of wine and good
things to eat... Roger and I both sported our hats and the response was great..... I wandered around London for a few days and it is a fabulous city, busy, hectic and anything goes.. Witnessed the May Day celebrations and the blooming of the cherry trees in Hyde Park..both exciting... I did a lot of street photography which I haven't done for many years... It's a great place to observe people although no one looks you in the eye......

Printing madness

2010-04-26T15:54:00.000-07:00

For the last three days and nights I have been printing up a storm. Twenty five 28x42" photographs that will make up the Eden at night exhibition. It was very exciting because it is the first time I am printing such large prints myself. I had access to the monster 44'" printer at Eden and along with the fabulous calibration that my sponsors Imaging -expert did, (which prepare the files so that they get printed exactly as I want them) I ended getting fantastic results.. I love printing big and would love one of these printers of my own. I worked like crazy because I realized several days ago that I would be away in London for a week for my book launching and that the framer was going to be on holiday the following week which would leave 3 days to prepare the show....too risky.. So it is all finished and we delivered it to the framer on Sunday.. Roger ran around organizing the framing and cooking up meals to keep me going... lucky girl aren't I? The wonderful thing is that now I am free to photograph and experiment as much as I want...

No time Off

2010-04-21T03:21:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe that three weeks have already passed. I am now in heavy production. We are shooting in the biomes every night and I am editing by day. Fortunately, the nights still arrive early and so we are finished by midnight..unlike last June when we could not begin until 11:30pm.

As I enter the tropical biome just before dark, I am treated to the smells of moist earth and the sounds of birds. It is very still, very mysterious and very hot! I walk around surveying the plants and points of views that could make for interesting images. The obvious has been done in previous nights. I now look for the subtle, the detail, the abstract. I need to see things with new eyes each time I begin......

London is Bursting with Colour

2010-04-15T04:45:00.000-07:00

London is in full bloom..magnolias,camelias, cherry blossoms and dafs everywhere. Quite wonderful to smell the fragrances and see green again..We stayed at the Chelsea Arts Club which is an extraordinary historical meeting place for artists and company. Pool table, bar, restaurant with a very long table where everyone talks to everyone. Roger was very pleased to have his full english breakfast each morning.

Our purpose was to hang a show at the Garden Museum, however I discovered that the framed pieces were not ready....that's what happens when you use another framer(not roger),so off we went to the Victoria & Albert museum where we saw the unbelievable ceramic, blown glass and jewellery collections. We were knocked off our feet.

Next day went to hang the show with the frames finally done..The Garden Musem is next to Archbishop of Cantebury's residence....first time there we knocked on his door looking for the museum...we weren't invited in for tea...

London is an amazing city, bustling, busy so much to see and the food is fantastic! Bring cash.....

I am perfectly coloured

2010-04-11T11:01:00.000-07:00

For the last three days I have had the pleasure of spending time with my UK sponsors, Permajet papers and Imaging-Experts. Nikon and Shiraz Rip will come at another time.They came down on Friday, toured around Eden and then help me set up my kiosk in the Core building where I will be setting up each afternoon to edit and print out my previous nights shoot. I will have a computer, printer and monitor where everyone can see the images as I work. The idea is to engage with the public, answer questions about my work and give people a preview of the exhibition. On Saturday, I spent the day calibrating the colours on the big printer and computers that will print my exhibition.. I feel like I don't know anything. Udo Miachiels of Imaging-Experts walked in with plotters , analyzers and colour profiles and spent 2 days setting up the machines so that I will have perfect prints each time....Amazing. But now I will have perfection.. I could never have done this on my own, and these wonderful people came here and spent time to help my project be a success. How lucky I am.....

Tomorrow we are off to London for 2 days to hang an exhibition at The Garden Museum....It is bloody hectic here but great fun!

Night's Wonder

2010-04-08T15:00:00.000-07:00

We now have spent
two nights in the biome. One in the tropical and one in the Mediterrean. Our first night was a bit of a struggle as my camera fogged up for an hour from the change of temperature. Once things cleared and we began working, we found some fantastic exotic plants to work with. My new lenses are fantastic. I can get in really close with the macro or really wide angle with the fisheye lens. The wonderful thing is that we don't have the ususal pressure of a three night shoot. I know I will have weeks to create and rediscover and I feel so relaxed about this. I was so excited after last night's shoot ,that I couldn't sleep.

2010-04-06T01:32:00.000-07:00

It is amazing how fast you can settle into new surroundings. Our stuff is scattered all over the house, the kitchen fridge and pantry has been and we had a nice home cooked meal last night. I even joined a gym and worked out...SO I am a happy girl. Today we head to the site to get passes and badges and will tour around the biodomes to see what is blooming. We will be shooting tonight.....Cannot wait to try my new camera and lenses from Nikon. A 14-24 zoom and a 105mm micro..These will give me a whole new perspective.... very wide and very close.....

New Digs

2010-04-04T14:20:00.000-07:00

Today was a day for travelling. We left Maidstone and travelled down to Cornwall,past London and through Kent,Sussex,Gloucestershire, Devon and Somerset. It took 6 hours but the sun came out and it was a glorious day. We arrived at security , picked up Went down to theour keys amd moved into our new home in a 15th century farm house. We have a comfortable bedroom. a great kitchen, livingroom, diningroom table and a sun porch..Plus, no one else is here.. Went down to the local pub for dinner and caught my first glance at the domes which shone in the evening sunset. They are spectacular ,galactic awe inspiring.. I can't wait to wonder around tomorrrow..

Away I Go

2010-04-03T02:34:00.000-07:00

Well, hard to believe I am here after a year of planning, organizing, raising money and getting sponsors. But we left with FOUR suitcases, rubber boots and a raincoats and are on our way down to rainy Eden. I am excited, optimistic and nervous all at the same time. We have no idea what our accomodations will be like, all we know is we have a room in a farm house for the two months we will be here. Hope we aren't sharing with any barnyard animals....We have spent the weekend at Roger's Aunt's place and there was a big box waiting for me when I arrived. Nikon had sent over a D700 camera and two incredible lenses. A 14-24 zoom which is like a fisheye lens. and a 105 macro.. Both are bright, sharp and invite all sorts of new possibilites for shooting at night. I can't wait to get started.