What speaks to me?

I have long been awestruck by Canadian landscapes: the Great Lakes (especially Lake Superior), the Prairies, the Canadian Shield, the Rockies, the Maritimes, and the austere beauty of Newfoundland and Labrador. I have travelled to East and West coasts of Canada many times. For a long time I thought that one had to travel to exotic locations to find beauty but in recent years I have discovered that beauty is all around us. Driving the back roads of Ontario overhung by maples and oaks is an emotional experience for me having grown up on one of those roads.

My grandfather gave me his 35mm camera when I was a young lad and he no longer wished to take photos. A teacher showed me the fundamentals of using a camera but developing an eye for photographs has taken most of my life and I still have a lot to learn. I photographed paintings for local artists for many years and, without realizing, I learned a bit about composition.

It has been a long journey but I am learning to trust my muse, my inner voice. When I see a potential photograph that speaks to me, that can be a good photo. It’s all about feel, mood, and some unexplained mystery of the subconscious mind. The surprising thing is that the potential photo that resonates with me tends also to resonate with other people. Who knew?

Bob McFee