Today I will be going in the other direction down the coast to New Richmond and Maria. The main purpose is to meet the members of Declic, the Gaspe photo club. They have invited me to give a lecture about the Garden at Night but first we are going snowshoeing together to see a waterfall. I think this is a test for me to see how fit I am. People here are very connected to nature. They love the fact that they can walk out of their houses and go for a walk on the beach or go camping in the woods . They also appreciate the tranquility and peacefulness of their lives. Many have lived elsewhere and are happy to be back.
















Roger is very patient. As we drive along the coast I am always yelling STOP STOP and he has to pull over or take a small road that looks interesting in order for me to take a photo. There is no traffic here and so it is possible.

My big challenge is to try to find different things to photograph. The water and sky are so beautiful and seductive that I could take handreds of shots only of that. However, my purpose is to try to get to the essence of what this place is in winter. I ask myself this question 20 times a day. I am looking for a metaphor, an object, a texture which will be the link between all the images.. This is the hardest part for me. It will take several more trips to the area and perhaps I will need to spend more time. These projects are long term and usually take me several years to put together a stong body of work.

heavenly light

The light here is extraordinary. I awake each morning to a flaming orange sky and as the sun rises I watch the steam rise off the water. It is magical and each time you look at it, it is different.

We having been roaming the coast and are headed for the town of Gaspe which is a 2 hour drive from where I am staying. There are things to photograph everywhere. Harbours where big metal fishing boats are stuck in the ice awating spring. Rivers that freeze in beautiful textured patterns. Then there is Perce Rock which is enormous and watches over the tiny town. It is quiet and quite empty which is lovely. We can virtually stop the car anywhere along the road. I am looking for interesting visual evidence of winter.

There are snow covered lobster traps, moored boats and cod drying racks. But I am trying to show winter in a new way. I know that winter here is novel in itself but I am beginning to realize that it is the light which is so extrordinary. So I am always looking and ready as it changes in an instant.

Can't sleep

Today was an incredible day.. The snow fell, the wind blew and I felt like I was seeing the world through a sheer white screen. The snow floated across the road and then built itself up to a gust which almost carried me across the road.. It was so exciting to photograph..I felt like I was part of a whirling tornado and I could feel the energy. I prepared my exposures in the car and then jumped out ready for a fight. But it was worth it... It made for really exciting images full of force and movement.. it was so thrilling that I couldn't sleep from the excitement.. It is so beautiful here. The light is special and the expansive skies over the water change every 5 minutes. I can understand how one can get attached to this place.

Where is the sky?

Today was a travelling day. We are crossing over from the north shore of the St Lawrence River to the Baie des Chaleurs. A snowstorm is in the weather report but it is only supposed to begin at noon. So we got up early and made it to our destination for 12. Can you believe it? It actually started snowing as predicted.. I think they actually tell you the truth up here. I am wonderfully settled in my friend's house and am told that the snow only started arrriving here about a week ago. Very late for these parts. Can't wait to see what happens tomorrow.

It was a wonderful drive. There was no one on the road, probably because we are the only crazy ones. It is so beautiful. The majestic fir trees are covered in snow and the Matepedia river is flowing, which is a surprise as it is quite cold. It is a treat to arrive on the coast and see the water. Unlike the north shore it is not frozen..Wisteful, desolate and peaceful..The sky is the same colour as the land...

From Black to White

It has been awhile since I have been in touch. I am now on a new project and since I had so many wonderful comments on my last blog I have decided to resume writing.

For the last three years I have wanted to go photograph the winter in a very remote region of Quebec in Canada. The Gaspe Peninsula. I have visited this area in the summer months and fell in love with it's special qualities. The water, the space, the people, the tranquility and the realness of all my experiences here. I have good friends live here for part of the year and whom we have visited. It has always been special. I always leave feeling whole and grounded.

I have often asked about the winter and am always told that everything is closed and there is no one here.. Since I don't usually pay attention when people tell me things like that, I sensed that in fact this was probably the Gaspesian's secret. So, I decided that this winter I would come see it for myself. I am presently sitting in my friend's house in Shigawake on the Baie des Chaleurs and there is a snowstorm raging and I cannot wait to get out early tomorrow morning to see what it will be like. It is mesmerizing here.

For the last 3 days I have been slowly making my way up from Montreal. we stopped and spent an hour or so in Kamouraska where the river was frozen solid. Then we drove up to Metis where the Reford gardens are. This is the place where my garden at Night project began. I spent a night at a B&B and then the next day went to the garden where I photographed it in snow in the DAYTIME..

a complete trasformation from black to white..

There was something special about entering the garden on snowshoes, making fresh tracks in the snow and viewing the same garden I know so well covered in snow, filled with strange creatures created out of burlap. Seeing the slivers of water peeking from the streams and finding the last berries hanging on to branches for dear life. Like nighttime it was quiet and spritual, but very different visually and in many ways alot harder to photograph. We then came back at nightfall and took a few shots but didn't last too long.. It was -22 degrees.