Dorset in 1987 and 1993

[vaneramos]

Dorset, Ontario, July 1987:



In 1987 I did an essay on Dorset, the village near my cottage in Central Ontario, for my photojournalism course at Conestoga College. I developed the film and printed the photos in the dark room at school.

Dorset is one of the hubs of community in Ontario's cottage country. It boasts a one-lane bridge and a general store which was once voted Canada's best country store. Besides being able to buy practically any basic necessity, you can go to Dorset just to see a few friendly faces when you have had your fill of solitude and serenity.

These images provide an interesting opportunity to compare my old Canon AE-1 with the new digital Kodak DX3500. The black-and-white photos, scanned from original 8x10 prints, were manipulated using traditional darkroom techniques; the new colour photos with computer software

Three facts strike me when looking at these images:

1. As a photojournalism student, I was much more self-confident about taking photos of people. I'm not sure when and why I lost that.



2. I prefer the images I shot with my Canon AE-1, a 28-mm Canon wide-angle lens, a 55-mm, and a 70-210mm Vivitar zoom. I'm glad I still have that camera, because it will be a long time before I can replace it with digital to my satisfaction.
   
   
3. I recall using those photojournalism assignments as an excuse for voyeurism. I see repressed homoeroticism (those bare arms, mmm!). To me, an evangelical Christian at the time, this purpose was secret, illicit and arousing. I can't remember how I justified it.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Clayton's Grocery & Meat Market, and Clayton's Hardware & Marine, visible in the second last photo, have both closed since 1987. Mr. Clayton has become Dorset's Postmaster. The grocery stands empty. The old hardware, the green-roofed building in the last photo, has become the headquarters for a new drive to create a local heritage museum. The centerpiece is a streamboat under reconstruction at the righthand side of the photo. More photos and information about this project will appear later.

Comments

[art-thirst.livejournal.com]

Very interesting. Now I see why your photos are so good. :-)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Why, because of my experience with dark room work? Now I'm remembering what a difference it made in the way I see.

Anyway, thank you.

[art-thirst.livejournal.com]

Because you have been doing it for some time with concentration on making good images: composition, tonal quality, interesting subject matter, knowing how to take advantage of light which is your main material in photography. :-)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yes, I have had the Canon AE-1 since 1981, when I was 17. I didn't do much photography the last few years, until the digital camera renewed my interest. Now I realize how superior my old one is. I simply can't afford the film. But I suppose the limitations of my digital camera are an exercise in themselves.

[art-thirst.livejournal.com]

Only the very finest quality digital cameras can come close to film in terms of full tonal range although (hobbyist) cameras which flood the market today are very good. Kodak is about to layoff 6000 people because of photography going digital. The price difference between cameras: typical digital camera used=$300-600, high quality digital camera=$1200-2000+. Part of that cost is the higher quality lenses. The next best option? The course I'm teaching again this fall. Taking film, digitizing it, then printing digitally. Of course, I'm talking about museum quality prints. One of my prints, 42 x 56 in., backed with gatorboard, lambda processed, cost me $350+tax. I had two different prints made.

[mattcallow.livejournal.com]

wonderful... i love the bike photo... :)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

That means a lot coming from you, thanks.