Robert in Toronto's photostream  

"Some photographers take reality and impose the domination of their own thought and spirit. Others come before reality more tenderly and a photograph to them is an instrument of love and revelation". - Ansel Adams

Representation both reveals and constructs reality: that pretty much sums up my approach to photography and all the other arts.


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2008: In Toronto, where I live with my partner, Paul, Flickr is bundled with my internet services. Nevertheless, I only began to use it in August 2008 when I realized that I needed to save the photographs on my lap-top prior to buying a new one. Rather than download the pictures to discs, I registered for Flickr and began to upload them here instead. There are thousands of them, even though I only started working with a digital camera in 2003. While my original plan was to use Flickr only for storage, I soon found that I was doing more with it. Sorting through my photos, I began to organize them into Collections and Sets and, in the process, to edit some of them too, using Picnic. Eventually, I probably will reorganize them all, for I have discovered weaknesses in my initial categorizations that I'd like to correct. And, as well, I've begun to subscribe to groups where, inevitably, I will make contacts as I proceed to post pics. I should add that I have the time to do all this, because I'm retired, having spent 35 years working in and writing for and about the theatre, which I also have taught. I've always had a pronounced interest in visual arts but only now am beginning to approach photography as more than a intermittent past-time. I appreciate receiving comments on my pictures and I welcome new contacts.

2011: Almost four years later, and much has happened. I'm still uploading photographs, but my engagement with Flickr has changed. I now belong to literally hundreds of groups, administer and moderate a number of them, have too many contacts to keep track of, and have narrowed my focus in terms of the photos I take. Finally, portraits entered my visual vocabularly, after I began to shoot people in candid situations. I now do studio work, on occasion, and often shoot people who are willing to pose for my camera--which, like everything else, has changed a number of times. In fact, I have owned three different cameras since I first posted my profile, and have used a variety of others. Where this all is leading (must it GO somewhere?) I don't know, but, along the way I find myself granting more and more publishing requests, and take pleasure viewing my photos in magazines, journals, books, blogs, galleries, catalogues and newspapers. After having a number of my images used by unauthorized sources that I didn't approve of, I felt obliged to change my copyright status to "all rights reserved" and have been happier since I did. Still, more than anything, it is the process of aiming my camera that excites me the most, despite my interest in editing that grows as quickly as my picture-count. What, where and who I see never ceases to amaze me. I am so thankful that I have eyes, and that the camera has taught me to use them to fuller advantage. For this, I guess I must thank Flickr too....

note: All images in my photostream are originals and may not be copied, reproduced, printed, modified, published, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way without explicit prior written permission. Neither can images be used as a model for artwork unless you have negotiated a copyright release.





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