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"


Sunday, October 28, 2012

Tranquility Base I


Tranquility Base I
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy


A couple of weeks ago I was part of the Guelph Studio Tour.
The photographers Guild of Guelph had a show and sale in the Dublin St United Church. I spoke with many people that weekend but there is one that stands out.
A lady commented to me about the number of iPads that were scrolling through a smorgasbord of images from several photographers. This was in addition to the prints that were displayed.
Her comment was on the fleeting images and how they did not allow time for a person to truly appreciate (or not) a given image.

"I know", she said "that I could have asked for the owner to scroll back through the images to the one I wanted to see, but I shouldn't have too. If people made prints then I could hold and look at the photograph for as long as I wanted and not have to worry about it disappearing".

Yes I'm paraphrasing but hopefully you get the point.

The world has turned away from the final, all important, step in the photographic process, producing a print.

A printed image is tangible, it's real, you can touch it, smell it, gaze upon it for as long as you like, put it down and come back to it and it will still be there.

In Quantum Mechanics there is a theory that nothing is real until you name it, in that instant it becomes what it is.
In photography a photograph is not real, it is just a collection of data of bits and bytes on a hard drive.

The moment you print it, it becomes real.

Of course I am referring to digital photography. But the digital vs film debate is for another place and time.

Back to her story...
Her comments brought to mind a story of what one person did after the tsunami hit Japan.

After the aid workers took care of the injured she went in to help recover that most precious of items, the family photo album. She was drawn to this simply by the numbers of people who had rescued that one thing.
In fact ask anyone, "if you had to get out of the house and could only pick up one thing, what would it be"?

The Family Album, that treasure chest of long dead relatives, moments in time captured forever, memories beyond value, priceless, irreplaceable they all reside in the family album.

How many of us today have a family album? I mean one that you have started.

How many of us have a Family Hard Drive ?
Photo's on an iPad?

It's not the same is it? So, my challenge to you is:

Start collecting prints in a shoe box, your Children and Grandchildren will thank you for it
and your reward? You will become immortal ....

To live in hearts we leave behind Is not to die.

~Thomas Campbell, Hallowed Ground

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Whispering Moon


Whispering Moon
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy


It has been several weeks since I have had the time to think about all that has gone on since late September.

In the last few weeks I have been to Killarney and the La Cloche Mountains where I met a group of like minded people many of whom share my love of the land.

I have been to my son's wedding which was so much more than a 'wedding' it was a joyous celebration of friendship and love shared my a lucky few.

I spent a whole weekend talking to strangers about photography, what it means to me and the journey it has taken me on. Hopefully showing them some of the wonders on their doorstep and opening their eyes to what we have.

However, this weekend has been a time of playing catch up not photographically but on the home front.

Being away for so many weekends has caught up and the chores were piling up to the point that they could not be ignored.

So this weekend was one for home. I did manage some time to work on images and capture a few more.
Stolen moments to satisfy the creative urge.

I have spent quite a bit of time thinking and having re-watched Bill Masons epic "Waterwalker" my thoughts turned again to Northern Ontario.

More than once I have heard people say this of my photographic work

"Your love for this land is quite evident in your photographs".

Well I may not be able to adequately put it in words but I guess I can put in photographs.

As I write this my thoughts expand and I look wider, I realise it's not just "the North". It's all the wild places, be they Northern Ontario, British Columbia or Newfoundland.

It's this country, this Canada.

The wild places are my places..and this country abounds with wild places. We are so lucky to have them, we must keep them safe for our children and their children.

We can do this by making others aware.

We can do this by taking photographs !

Pleasure is the flower that passes; remembrance, the lasting perfume. ~Jean de Boufflers

Link to Waterwalker.. http://www.nfb.ca/film/waterwalker/

Monday, October 8, 2012

First Dance


First Dance
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy


It's been a hectic couple of weeks.
None more so than this Thanksgiving Weekend.

For this weekend my son David was married, his bride Siobhan,
one of the sweetest, bubbliest, loving people I have ever met.

It wasn't your typical wedding, more of a three day celebration with friends and family.
I managed two out of three ... LOL

To be serious for a moment I turn to George Eliot...

What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life -
to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories. ~George Eliot


Love and laughter to you both, now and always.

Sláinte