Originally from Northern England, Alan Norsworthy has been a photographer since the late 1960's.

He moved to Canada in 1973 and has made Guelph Ontario his home for the last 24 years.

" I remember visiting the CN Tower in the early 70's and the guide said that as far as you could see in any direction is the best farmland in Canada. That comment echoes down the years as I watch subdivisions eat up the landscape."

The area around Guelph offers up a plethora of rural images which Alan captures with his artistic vision. His work covers everything from macro photographs of flowers, sweeping landscapes, historic buildings and old abandoned farms in both colour and Black and White.

"This is where I find my inspiration, I have a need to show people the beauty I see as I walk the woods and fields of Southern Ontario"


Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Belated Photo of the weekend - Massey - sunbeams


FILM - Massey - sunbeams
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy

From my trip to Brantford.
Thanks to John and Jim for setting this up. What a day !
I knew as soon as I was invited what was needed, I knew I had to do this place justice and to me only gritty, grainy, Black and White film would do it.

This day belonged to Tri-X !!

The story behind the shot ....
I found the old chair and dragged it out into a spot of light. I was concentrating so hard on close up shots until Doug called me. "Come over here and look" I walked over, turned around and saw this!
Thanks Doug for pointing it out :-)

Kodak Tri-x 400 developed in Rodinal 1+100 24 min at 18 deg c

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Photo of the weekend - River Dance


FILM - River Dance
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy

I know the weekend isn't over yet but, to me, this is far and away my best shot of the weekend. Mind you I only shot half a roll of Tmax so although the choices may be limited I believe you should quit while you are ahead!
Slowly recovering from my 'tummy troubles' of last week, a gentle stroll by the river seemed to be what I needed.

Kodak Tmax developed in Rodinal, mmmmmm

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Photo of the weekend - Westfield Village - Ghost of Christmas Past ?


Westfield Village - Ghost of Christmas Past ?
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy

Last evening a group of us visited Westfield Village for their annual Christmas show.
There was barely enough light in some of the pioneer homes and stores to be able to see let alone make photographs.
This photograph, hand held at 2.5 seconds, was one of those serendipitous moments. I had given up trying to hold the camera steady and took the camera away from my eye before the exposure was complete, this was the result.

"The Ghost of Christmas Past".

Monday, December 7, 2009

Photo of the weekend - Railings


FILM - Railing
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy

Sometimes the gods smile on you.
Sometimes a friend points the way.
I found this little gem of a camera in Ponds Camera in downtown Guelph on Saturday. Mike gave me a free roll of Tmax 100 to try it out so on Sunday morning I did just that.
I liked how the camera reacted under everything I could throw at it. Especially this one, I love the slight flare on the rail posts !
This little camera is a keeper for sure.

Plus I had to figure out the exposures manually and not forget to set things like aperture and speed as well as focus....
:-)

Tmax 100 developed in Rodinal

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Photo of the weekend - They're back !


FILM - They're back !
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy

The infamous tree's aka "Alan's Tree's".
A year or so ago these were the source of much rivalry. People came from far and near to try to out do each other in photographing them.

Amidst construction, land clearing, and grade changes they still stand proud on the ridge but for how much longer?

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Photo of the weekend - The Silver Foxx


GPG Flash workshop - The Silver Foxx
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy

Actually it was taken on Wednesday evening during our flash portrait workshop.
I really want to learn more about how to shoot portraits

Thank you Bill for being such a gracious Model :-)

Monday, November 16, 2009

Photo of the weekend - Shadows


Cambridge Walkabout - Shadows
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy

Sometimes you see something that makes you stop dead in your tracks and it is usually something simple.

My photo of the weekend is exactly that.
Shadows on a wall.

Some one said to me how glad he was that he had 'found' photography as it enables him to see everyday scenes in a different way.
I wholeheartedly agree !

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Photo of the weekend - Albion Falls Reflections I


Albion Falls - Reflections I
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy

What a glorious weekend, sunny and warm. We (Guelph Photographers Guild) traveled to Albion Falls and the Devils Punch Bowl waterfalls. Shooting from the top of Albion falls I couldn't resist the fall reflections in the still pools at the base of the falls. So despite all the black and white film I shot this weekend this photo is in colour !

Monday, November 2, 2009

Photo of the weekend - Through the tree's to the big house


York Road Correctional Centre - Through the tree's to the big house
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy

On a blah kind of day on a feeling blah kind of weekend I took my D2h for a walk through the York Road Correctional Centre grounds.

Over the life of the prison the almost 200 acres of land were landscaped by the inmates. Now we get to enjoy their labours. Well for a while anyway until it gets bulldozed for a housing development :-(

http://news.guelphmercury.com/article/497527

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Photo of the Weekend - Sisters


Elora Urbex - Sisters
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy

This is what makes urbex and rurex adventures so rewarding.
Hidden away in the dusty, dark, recesses of the upper floor of an old abandoned church I found this.
Of course after photographing it we left it where we found it.
Our intent is not to steal or destroy, simply to record what will all to soon be gone.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

My response to a question

A photographer I know, Tom McGory  raised the question "in light of the new camera's announced by both Nikon and Canon, where do we go from here"?


I think that we are rapidly reaching a point where photographic skill becomes secondary. Soon, if it is not already possible and I suspect it is, we can shoot a high def sequence at video speed and pick a frame. Where is the artistry in that?
I gave up being a part of the megapixel race with the D300 !

There will always be those who want more, so this headlong dash for your money will not stop. So if you can afford to drop $5000 - $10,000 every year on a new gadget, good for you but I doubt you will be a better photographer because of it.

I am one of the people Paula Russell talks about, my F4 is now my constant companion when I go out.

Last weekend I shot more film than I did digital. In fact the number of shots taken has dropped from hundreds to less than 50 per outing.

I have subconsciously taken a step back, composition becomes more important, I look at the edges of the frame more now, I recheck my exposure, etc. I think about what I am doing before I press the shutter button. This is something that, to me anyway, had slipped away with digital. Having the ability to shoot a score of shots of the same scene makes you lazy. Which in turn destroys your creativity.

I could never relate pixels to photographs, photographs were and are a reaction of chemicals to light! Rediscovering the thrill of opening the tank and seeing all those little photographs in a strip brings a bigger smile to my face than staring at my monitor as my camera 'downloads' images.

Photography to me is a journey, not a destination I am rediscovering the joy of the process not just the first step and the end result. For me the race is over, I'm happier now doing it this way :-)

Monday, October 19, 2009

Photo of the weekend - Oct 18

It looks like the fall colours are just about at their peak.I went to visit Balls Falls nr Vineland on Sunday with a crew from the Guelph Photographers Guild

I spent so much time in the woods chasing shadows, literally, I never made it to the top of the falls but I did get to the bottom. :-)

My choice for "photo of the weekend" is not the falls but the old mill located on the property. Autumn in South Western Ontario, I wait all year for this :-)


Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Photo of the Weekend - Oct 11

A busy weekend, what with  Guelph Photographer Guild   brainstorming sessions each morning and stuffing myself with turkey dinners in the evening there wasn't much time for shooting let alone processing!

From my re-visit to Progreston Falls in Carlisle Ontario:

"Resistance"


Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Back !

After a false start and being shamed into trying again by my friends I'm back.

The weather here is slowly sliding into Fall, my favourite season. This last weekend we decided to re-visit some of the area waterfalls, days of rain are good for waterfalls:-)

This is Sherman Falls in Ancaster, taken with my Nikon F4 and Kodak BW400CN film. Yes film