Newsletter #192: June, 2021
© Chris Harris. All rights reserved.
Celebrating the 16th year of writing this photographic Newsletter.
Hi everyone,
Two months ago, when I was contemplating changing my Newsletter to bi-monthly instead of monthly, my computer/network system crashed, forcing my hand. I still can’t access a lot of my work including my Exhibitions, so this Newsletter will be slightly different.
Contents:
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2-Day Photographic Workshops: new openings now available
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Open House at the Chris Harris Gallery: a new exhibition
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Combining the Art of Canoeing and Photography: the Bowron River Marsh
1. 2-Day Photographic Workshops: new openings now available.
Informative, Inspirational, Challenging, Creative
” Artistic Expression”
A Workshop in Photography as Art
Due to recent Covid-19 developments and the lifting of restrictions, I am able to invite 3 additional people to both my June 10-11 and June 24-25 workshops.
For information, please visit my website for complete details.
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Open House at the Chris Harris Gallery: a new exhibition
Exhibition and Open House
We are pleased to invite you to the gallery and garden to launch a new print exhibition.
Inspired by great artistic movements such as French and Canadian Impressionism and Expressive Abstraction, Chris is making unique and influential photographic art.
Enjoy refreshments in the garden, and photography as you may never have experienced it before. Chris will share his thoughts, process, and dramatic shift in photographic expression in lieu of a formal presentation.
Saturday, June 26th
12:00 to 5:00 pm Everyone is Welcome
Chris Harris Studio and Gallery
5577 Back Valley Road (1.5km off Hwy 97) Covid 19 protocols will be in place.
105 Mile, BC
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Thoughts about the Art of Paddling and Photography: Bowron River marsh
As I discuss in my workshops, the more ways that artists can express themselves; be it in the arts of music, painting, dance, writing, canoeing, or photography, the better and more complete those artists will become.
As an avid canoeist, I know I can get to where I need to go with only a ‘forward stroke’. It wouldn’t be nearly as poetically beautiful to viewers or as richly rewarding personally as if I also knew the J, draw, sweep, pry, box, and backward strokes (and many more). Each and every stroke is an artistic expression.
When I paddle my Chestnut cedar-canvas canoe, I know I can guide it’s every movement according to my every whim and thought, by carrying out the infinite nuances of every stroke. The rewards, satisfaction, joy, and fulfillment of being able to express myself by knowing how to use my paddle (my camera) in more than one way, is impossible for me to describe.
Likewise, I cannot describe how limiting it feels to use my camera in only one way. The enjoyment brought about by increasing my photographic vocabulary is fulfilling.
This spring, Rita and I went on a 4-day canoe trip to a favourite place of mine; the Bowron River marsh in Bowron Lake Provincial Park. We set up a base camp near an old cabin where we enjoyed the sights and sounds of spring. Here are a few expressions to describe my visual adventure.
This was the setting of our 4-day basecamp on the Bowron River.
Every morning I rose at 4am, and with coffee in hand, I quietly paddled out into the flooded marsh. Bitterns, cranes, snipes, swans, hawks, and eagles provided but a few of the birdsongs in an otherwise silent world.
An expressionist view of the marsh.
One morning I returned to camp to smell brewed coffee, and see Rita looking out into the marsh. I approached quietly.
Along with the songs of a variety of warblers, a beaver swims past a cow moose bedded down among the willows.
We enjoyed a delicious breakfast while watching life unfold in the marsh.
Every sunrise in the marsh was vastly different and a delight to experience.
I have paddled through this marsh well over 100 times; it holds geological, biological, and cultural memory. It also shares an immense memory of beauty.
At times I drifted down the river, peering into the willows. For awhile I saw little to photograph; then the subtleties of contrast within the willows began to unfold.
An impression of a beaver lodge
As the nuances of tonal and colour contrast began to reveal themselves, I made expressive compositions by seeking order within chaos.
Beaver along the river’s edge.
At other times I entered the forest behind our camp. As if using different strokes with my paddle, I used different techniques and movements with my camera. The results were expressions of the forest as I re-imagined them.
Birch in a desaturated sub-alpine fir forest.
A cast of evergreen in a tangled mixed forest.
On our last evening, we celebrate (the box of wine in the background tells it all!) our most enjoyable time in the Bowron River marsh.
Up early on our last morning, we load our canoe, and quietly paddle down the river.
In a slight drizzle, a moose bids us farewell.
All of us at Chris Harris Photography thank you for your subscriber support!
Check out my Portfolio’s
Check out 2-Day Photo Workshops
Check out 7-Day Residency Photo Workshops
View earlier Exhibitions
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See you in August!
Love your words and work. I can feel the paddle strokes in your description. Yes, we love canoes. Sadly we must part with my Dad’s cedar canvas complete with sail and lee-boards. Great to see your art.
Just writing about those paddle strokes made me want to head back out! Thanks. Chris
Chris’ images are so inspiring. I can hardly wait for the July two-day workshop!
The date is fast approaching; see you soon! Chris
Such amazing”oh, just let me touch that” art, photography, nature. Thank you for sharing so graciously. Quite humbling.
Wonderful to hear your enthusiasm Suzanne; thanks. Chris
Hello Chris and Rita
So much mesmerized with the reflections. Our beautiful world!
Have lived among her many loved animals in the Gaspe wilderness , moose and Brooks so packed with trout we had buckets lifting out the lunch my mom would prepare for us 1/ children.
Ahh .
Now in Pointe CLSIRE where traffic and blasts of coal fired US freight trains shake one’s sense of peace.
With so much so fragile .. like we all are. We still however see the beauty of the occasional butterfly..
We need more voices from artists on the way our beautiful world that you share is drifting like the dead heads in front our old Matapedia fishing camps,,HALEY SALMON POOL.
the worlds finest salmon pool ( stolen from my grandparents by Morgan Trust. Now known as the US multi ‘Millionaires Club! ‘
Loved the photos! Hello to Rita. Was great meeting u at the lake front here and later at Pointe Claire Camera Club!
We must be resilient!
I am still working on the very highly hazardous wood burning. No emissions reduced in these called clean burning stoves certified EpA ( Ruling EPA 2014)
Des my Twitter: Wood Smoke Free
Doctors and Scientists Against Wood Smoke Pollution.org
26% of Canada’s Carbon. So much we must stop if our children are to get a glimpse of what we have had the blessings to see and experience with our beautiful world friends and nature!
Only memories .. for them ??
well Chris, sending regards..
Keep well and enjoy!
Stella Haley
Thanks Stella. I do remember meeting you in Point Claire and your enthusiasm for the environment. Keep up the great work. Chris
MAN you sure know how to use THE LIGHT WOW terrific. Sorry to hear about your computer. Every photographers fear !!!
Thanks Bill; it’s all about the Light!
Great work
Thanks Michael; good luck with your knee!! Chris
I hate to hear that your computer network crashed. Hopefully you have backed everything up so that, in spite of the costs, you can restore most of what was lost. Thank-you again for your monthly or bi-monthly newsletters – they are a photographic inspiration every time!
Thanks John. I certainly didn’t loose any images; just a bunch of other problems to solve! Glad you enjoy the newsletters! Chris
WHOA there partner, I think you forgot the can opener in the red canoe shot !!!!
It’s in there!!
Wow – the scenery from your Bowron Lake campout is spectacular. It always amazes me how you manage to capture the atmosphere so beautifully.
Thank you Laura. Chris
Thanks for the beautiful pictures of the Bowron River Marsh.
Those were amazing moments peace and quiet…thanks Janet. Chris
Such a spectacular set of photos! And the various paddle strokes employed make them so diverse and interesting. Glad you had such a wonderful trip.
Always enjoy your newsletters immensely Chris! One day maybe we can do such a trip together.
Nice hat by the way! Rita needs one too!
I wear that hat all the time Rick! A trip…yes. Maybe that calcareous lake with the blue spots. Workshops are just starting but hopefully in August. Chris
thx Chris, always look fwd to your newsletter and photographic journey!
Great to hear from you Darrel. Hoping all is well. We haven’t been down your way for a long time.
I love your amazing newsletters….we think of our trip to your gallery in 2019, with much gratitude and cherish
your picture “Golden Sunrise” which we have displayed in our home. With admiration and gratitude….Lois Mesner & family…Victoria BC
Thank you Lois. Please drop in again should you travel this way! Chris