Saint John’s Transcendent Old Loyalist Burial Grounds

December 8, 2013 By Brett in Art, History, New Brunswick Tags: Canada, Cemeteries, Halifax Old Burying Ground, John, Loyalist Burial Ground, Memory, New Brunswick, Old Canadian Cemeteries, Parks, Photography, Saint, Tombstones 28 Comments

Weathered Tombstone, Old Loyalist Burial Grounds, Saint John, N.B.

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Cemeteries are places of transcendent reverence, contemplation and connectedness. I’m particularly moved by final resting grounds that are situated in locations that cause them to be part of a people’s day-to-day lives. One of the best and most visually gorgeous of these is the very old Loyalist Burial Grounds in Saint John, New Brunswick, which, like Halifax’s Old Burying Ground, is in the heart of the city’s downtown core. These pictures from a recent trip on a brisk November morning makes clear that the majestic tombstones dating to as early as 1783 are very much a part of the urban environment built up around them. With its winding walkways, inviting benches and vast shade trees, the Loyalist Burial Grounds is as much a frequented park space as it is a place for memory and serves as a peaceful oasis amidst the surrounding hustle and bustle.

Friday Find: Vintage Rotary Phone

November 29, 2013 By Brett in Art, Nova Scotia Tags: Cafe, Canada, Funky, Nova Scotia, Photography, Rotary Phone, Shelburne, Vintage 28 Comments

Vintage Rotary Phone at Bistro 138, Shelburne, Nova Scotia

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Adorning a post near the counter of Bistro 138, a cozy restaurant and coffee shop in historic Shelburne, Nova Scotia, this very funky old rotary phone demands attention among a sea of people surfing their mobile devices. I’ve not seen a phone like this one before — its design and color make for an unusual piece of nostalgia. Located on Water Street in the heart of town, the food and other fare at Bistro 138 is also quite good and its staff is super friendly.

Bistro 138, Shelburne, Nova Scotia

Scenes of Campobello Island

November 27, 2013 By Brett in Art, New Brunswick Tags: Campobello Island, Canada, Coastal Scenery, Cottages, Landscape, Lighthouse, Maritimes, New Brunswick, Photography, Tranquil Scenery 20 Comments

Toward Sundown, Campobello Island Lighthouse, New Brunswick

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Campobello Island is nestled in a scenic pocket of southeastern New Brunswick and is accessible on the U.S. side from the charming village of Lubec, Maine. The island’s Roosevelt Campobello International Park is jointly administered by both American and Canadian authorities, making it unusual for that reason among parks on either side of the shared border. It’s quite a trek to get there but its tranquil scenery is well worth the effort. These are from a recent brief visit.

Colorful Cottage, Campobello Island, N.B.

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Fall Sunset, Campobello Island, N.B.

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Rose Hips, Campobello Island, N.B.

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Floating Cottages, Campobello Island, N.B.

Abundance at the Saint John City Market

November 23, 2013 By Brett in Food / Drinks, New Brunswick Tags: Baked Goods, Canada, City Market, Food, Fruits, Local Market, New Brunswick, Photography, Saint John, Thanksgiving, Travel, Urban, Vegetables 32 Comments

St. John, N.B. City Market

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Americans celebrate Thanksgiving later this week, about a month and a half after Canadians mark their own similar holiday. A trip last week to the picturesque City Market in the heart of downtown Saint John, New Brunswick — filled as it is with vibrant colors, numerous tastes and smells, all manner of local and regional food offerings and friendly vendors — brought to mind both country’s annual Fall celebrations. These images taken during that trip provide a small sampling of this wonderful local marketplace.

Halloween Haunts: Joe’s Scarecrow Village

October 30, 2013 By Brett in Art, Humor, Nova Scotia Tags: Art, Cabot Trail, Canada, Canadiana, Cap LeMoine, Cape Breton, Joe's Scarecrow Village, Nova Scotia, Photography, Scarecrows, Vintage 10 Comments

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Several years ago, while winding through the gorgeous scenery that graces Cape Breton, Nova Scotia’s Cabot Trail we came across a head-turning collection of freaky scarecrows begging to be photographed. This was Joe’s Scarecrow Village, a homegrown roadside attraction in Cap LeMoine with great character that was originally created by local Joe Delaney to ward animals away from his planting field. Halloween seems a fitting time to share these colorful oddities. Sadly, this piece of rustic Canadiana has since been closed.

More info on Joe’s Scarecrow Village can be found here.

Stanley Park — Non-Traditional Views

October 25, 2013 By Brett in Art, British Columbia Tags: British Columbia, Canada, Coast, Harbor Scene, Landscape, Photography, Stanley Park, Urban Parks, Vancouver 35 Comments

Blades of Grass, Stanley Park

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Many photos from Vancouver’s Stanley Park are of the more traditional sights there, such as the native American totem poles about which I posted earlier. I certainly have taken my share of those but I also like less customary images of off-the-beaten-track details from a location such as Stanley Park. These images I captured from the Park are examples of ordinary details that convey a different sort of majesty for that place.

Weathered Mooring, Stanley Park

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Bush and Rock Minimalism, Stanley Park

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Along the Seawall, Stanley Park

Thanksgiving and a Taste of Fall at the Local Market

October 10, 2013 By Brett in Art, Food / Drinks, Nova Scotia Tags: Canada, Canada Thanksgiving, Fall, Fall Colors, Farmers Market, Harvest, Local Market, Nova Scotia, Photography, Rural, Upper Burlington, Vegetables 16 Comments

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Fall bursts forth with dappled reds, glowing oranges, bright yellows and other striking shades to complement the muted greens lingering from Summer. These pics from a visit to a local farm stand near Upper Burlington, Nova Scotia nicely capture the Fall spirit and provide a nice lead into Canada’s upcoming Thanksgiving weekend and this Monday’s holiday.

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Head in the Clouds in Nova Scotia

September 28, 2013 By Brett in Art, Nova Scotia Tags: Aberdeen Beach, Canada, Cape Breton, Capstick, Chester, Cheverie, Clouds, Coastal Scenery, Door Art, Evangline Statue, Fields, Gaspereau Valley, Grand Pre, Landscape, Lunenberg, Nova Scotia, Pastoral Scenery, Photography, Seaside 63 Comments

Clouds Near Grand Pre, Nova Scotia

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While I love all manner of landscape photography, over and over I come back to clouds in all their variety — whether cirrus, cumulus, stratus or any of their many variations. Clouds add drama and moodiness to an image and, for me, help balance a scene. I always notice cloudy days and frame pictures with their billows and wispiness in mind. During my last couple of visits to Nova Scotia, there were quite a few days when the clouds were exceptional and I’ve posted a handful of examples here. I look forward to catching more special cloudy days across the great plains of Saskatchewan, against the reigning heights of Banff and beyond the soaring cliffs near St. John’s, Newfoundland, among many other places across Canada.

Sunset, Gaspereau Valley, Nova Scotia

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Windswept Sky, Near Cheverie, Nova Scotia

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Boat Prow with Cloudy Backdrop, Lunenberg, Nova Scotia

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Stratus and Cirrus Clouds, Near Aberdeen Beach, Nova Scotia

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Art Doors, Near Evangeline Beach, Nova Scotia

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Barn Scene, Near Grande Pre, Nova Scotia

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Dockside Scene, Chester, Nova Scotia

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Cloudy Day, Capstick, Nova Scotia

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Cat Tails, North Grand Pre, Nova Scotia

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Statue of Evangeline, Grand Pre, Nova Scotia

Stanley Park Totem Poles

September 14, 2013 By Brett in Art, British Columbia, History Tags: Art, Canada, Culture, Inspiration, Native American Art, Pacific Northwest Art, Photography, Stanley Park, Totem Poles, Urban Art, Vancouver 24 Comments

Chief Skedans Mortuary Pole, Stanley Park, Vancouver

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Stanley Park is a beautiful, peaceful greenspace on a sprawling peninsula in the heart of bustling Vancouver. The Park’s collection of native American totem poles is eye-catching and conjures marvelment and reverence at the creativity of the people of the Pacific Northwest that made these exquisite carvings.

In these photos from a trip there not long ago it was challenging to separate the poles from the surrounding trees so these don’t do justice to the majesty of these enduring artifacts.

Sky Chief Pole, Stanley Park, Vancouver

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Oscar Maltipi Pole, Stanley Park, Vancouver

Close Up, KAKASO’LAS Pole, Stanley Park, Vancouver

Close Up, Thunderbird House Totem Pole, Stanley Park, Vancouver

KAKASO’LAS Pole (in foreground), Stanley Park, Vancouver

Thunderbird House Totem Pole, Stanley Park, Vancouver

Close Up, Chief Wakas Pole, Stanley Park, Vancouver

Breathtaking Kejimkujik Seaside

August 30, 2013 By Brett in Art, Nova Scotia, Outdoor Adventure Tags: Boulders, Canada, Coast, Kejimkujik Seaside, Landscape, Nature, Nova Scotia, Photography, Shore Scenes, Wildflowers 71 Comments

Seaweed and rocks, Kejimkujik National Seashore, NS

Seaweed and Rocks, Kejimkujik National Seaside, NS

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On the south shore of Nova Scotia about 110 miles (175 km) southwest of Halifax sits the amazing Kejimkujik Seaside, which is an extension of the much larger inland Kejimkujik National Park. Its remote hiking paths along windy shores offer breathtaking views of Nova Scotia at its natural best. These pics are from a memorable hike there on an overcast day.

Windswept pine, Kejimkujik National Seashore, NS

Windswept Spruce, Kejimkujik National Seaside, NS

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Color amidst the rocks, Kejimkujik National Seashore, NS

Color Amidst the Rocks, Kejimkujik National Seaside, NS

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Rocks Among Tall Grass, Kejimkujik Seaside, NS

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Wildflowers, Kejimkujik Seaside, NS

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Lichen-Speckled Boulder, Kejimkujik Seaside, NS

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Halifax’s Beautiful Old Burying Ground

August 18, 2013 By Brett in Art, History, Nova Scotia Tags: Canada, Halifax, History, Nova Scotia, Old Burying Ground, Old Cemeteries, Photography, St. Paul's Church 23 Comments

Gravestones, Old Burying Ground, Nova Scotia

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I find old cemeteries to be serene places for reflection and contemplation, and Halifax’s historic St. Paul’s Church Cemetery, also known as the Old Burying Ground, which dates back to the 1749 founding of the city, is one of the most gorgeous green spaces of this type. Its many weathered gravestones hint at stories of lives both brief and long — and all so long ago. The Burying Ground’s charm is evident by, among other things, the numerous times I’ve seen it used as a backdrop for wedding group photography or a leisurely setting for those simply enjoying a good book.

These photos are from an early Fall trip to Halifax a few years ago. [Click images to enlarge.]

“Sacred to the Memory of . . . “, Old Burying Ground, Halifax

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Memories For the Ages, Old Burying Ground, Halifax

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Solitary Gravestone, Markings Erased, Old Burying Ground, Halifax

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Weathered Gravestones, Old Burying Ground, Halifax

Quebec City at Night

July 18, 2013 By Brett in Art, Quebec Tags: Antique Shop, Architecture, Canada, Chateau Frontenac, Cityscape, Night, Photography, Quebec City 9 Comments

Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City

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A few night time images from most recent trip (Spring 2013) to Quebec City. The night was crazy cold and windy, which greatly challenged my patience and tripod so the images are not as sharp as I’d like.

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Along the Wall, Quebec City

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Evening, Rue de St. Jean, Quebec City

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Night’s Glow, Quebec City

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City Hall, Quebec City

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Night Fall, Quebec City

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Night Above Lower Town, Quebec City

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Antique Shop at Night, Quebec City

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Windy Night Near Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City

Random Images of Quebec City

July 14, 2013 By Brett in Art, Quebec Tags: Architecture, Canada, Cityscape, Historic Buildings, Photography, Quebec City, Quebec Flag, Rooftops, Streetscape 16 Comments

Some random images from a recent trip to Quebec City.
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Tower on City Gate, Quebec City

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Looking Out on the St. Lawrance, Quebec City

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Rooftop Windows and Angles, Quebec City

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Rustic Fire Hydrant, Quebec City

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Looking Down the Avenue, Quebec City

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Church Top, Quebec City

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Sign Kiosk, Quebec City

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Quebec’s Banner Fluttering, Quebec City

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Colorful Roof, Quebec City

Edward Burtynsky and Industrial Landscapes

June 29, 2013 By Brett in Art, Ontario Tags: Art, Canada, Edward Burtynsky, Environmental Impact, Industrial, Landscape, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Mining, Photography 13 Comments

E. Burtynsky — Nickel Tailings No. 31, Sudbury, Ontario (1996)

The Summer issue of Canadian Art just arrived and includes a feature (written by Daniel Baird) about recent projects of Toronto photographer Edward Burtynsky. Looking at Burtynsky’s oversized images of industrial landscapes, it’s difficult not to appreciate their sublime beauty while also being astounded by the impact humans have on the environment.

More about Burtynsky and his amazing work can be seen at his website and at the just-opened exhibition “Edward Burtynsky: The Landscape That We Change” at Kleinburg, Ontario’s McMichael Canadian Art Collection Gallery, which runs through September 29, 2013.

E. Burtynsky — Inco-Frod Open Pit, Sudbury, Ontario (1985)

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E. Burtynsky — Oxford Tire Pile No. 9a, Westley, California (1999)

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E. Burtynsky — Rock of Ages No. 1, Barre, Vermont (1991)

Images of Butchart Gardens

June 8, 2013 By Brett in Art, British Columbia Tags: British Columbia, Butchart Gardens, Canada, Leaves, Photography, Victoria 15 Comments

Butchart Gardens — Maple Leaves on Water

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The spectacularly beautiful Butchart Gardens in Victoria, B.C. has many gorgeous flower gardens, but I gravitated toward the serenity of its many trees as these images show from a trip there a few years ago.

Butchart Gardens — Gnarly Limbs

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Butchart Gardens — Moss and Branches

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Butchart Gardens — Tree-Lined Walkway

Todd McLellan: Taking Things Apart

June 1, 2013 By Brett in Art, Ontario Tags: Art, Canada, Deconstruction, Disassembly, Machines, Photography, Todd McLellan, Toronto 13 Comments

Todd McLellan — Push Mower Apart

Toronto-based photographer Todd McLellan loves to take apart machines — especially more solidly built older ones — and capture all the related parts in striking photographic compositions. I really like these — they appeal to both an aesthetic and design sensibility as well as my penchant for building things. See more of his photos and other work on his website here.

Todd McLellan — Bike Apart

Todd McLellan — Typewriter Apart

Todd McLellan — Chainsaw Apart

Imagining Canada: NY Times Photo Archive on Canada

June 1, 2013 By Brett in Art, Books / Literature, History, Society Tags: Canada, Canada Photos, Deanna Durbin, Leafs vs. Rangers, New York Times Photo Archive, Photography, RCMP Photo, Royal Canadian Regiment, TORO Magazine 2 Comments

I learned a lot by focusing on Quebec-themed posts over the past month. With June now here, time to shift gears for a while back to good old random Canadiana.

For a nice transition, here’s a sampling from the recently published Imagining Canada: A Century of Photographs Preserved By The New York Times, a book I obtained shortly before last month’s trip to Montreal. Over the past century The New York Times has covered many developments in Canada and Imagining Canada showcases some of the photographs that accompanied that coverage. The images in the book and below only scratch the surface of the extensive archive acquired from the Times in 2009 by Canadian businessman Christopher Bratty and selections from which have been highlighted in the long-running “Photo of the Day” feature on TORO magazine’s website.

The photos are grouped by subject in the book, with each chapter accompanied by a brief, thoughtful essay on Canadian culture by notable figures. The introductory essay by editor William Morassutti reflects on the relationship between Canada and the U.S. and the fact that, even if below the radar, many people in the States have been paying close attention to Canada for quite a while.

RCMP in Banff 1941

Leafs vs. Rangers 1966

Deanna Durbin 1948

Royal Canadian Regiment in Halifax 1919

Notre-Dame Basilica de Montreal

May 25, 2013 By Brett in Art, History, Quebec, Society Tags: Architecture, Canada, Cathedrals, Catholic Churches, Montreal, Notre-Dame Basilica, Old Churches, Photography, Quebec 16 Comments

Quebec Month / Installment 15

Even to a casual observer of Quebec culture, the predominance of the Catholic church, at least historically, in the province is evident in many ways, not the least of which is the prominence in many towns of a centrally located Catholic church and the widespread naming of streets and other places for saints. The Notre-Dame Basilica de Montreal, an impressive gothic structure situated in the Vieux-Montreal area of that city, is perhaps the crown jewel of all these. My lovely wife took these two images of the intricately ornate interior of the Basilica.

Closeup on Architectural Detail Around Montreal

May 25, 2013 By Brett in Art, Quebec Tags: Architecture, Buildings, Canada, Cityscape, Montreal, Photography, Street Art 4 Comments

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Quebec Month / Installment 14

Pediments, bas relief sculptures, window moldings, fanciful brickworks, roof fixtures and decorative doors are among the many intricate architectural details that vie for our attention as we walk down a street and absorb all that is before us. Here are some pics of such adornments from a recent trip to Montreal.

Manhole Covers of Quebec City

May 19, 2013 By Brett in Art, Quebec Tags: Bell Canada, Canada, Cityscape, Manhole Covers, Photography, Quebec City, Quebec Hydro, Street Art 10 Comments

Quebec Month / Installment 13

Underfoot and mostly unnoticed as we trek to our destinations, manhole covers rest snugly in their circular grade-level perches all around Quebec City. With their spare adornment, they are immovable except with great effort, securely guarding their underground treasures of utility.

Old Farm Tractor Along Charlevoix / St. Lawrence Shore

May 19, 2013 By Brett in Art, Quebec Tags: Canada, Charlevoix Region, Coast, Coastal Scenery, Landscape, Old Farm Tractor, Photography, Quebec, St. Lawrence River 11 Comments

Quebec Month / Installment 12

Driving a couple of hours north of Quebec City in the beautiful Charlevoix region, we came across this bright red tractor along a scenic stretch of the St. Lawrence coast. Farm tractors are rarely situated this close to a shore line, so its rustic charm beckoned the camera.

More Random Montreal: Bikes

May 17, 2013 By Brett in Art, Quebec Tags: Bikes, Canada, Cityscape, Montreal, Photography 4 Comments

Quebec Month / Installment 10

Delivery Bikes

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Bikes For Rent

Random Montreal: Bright Lights

May 13, 2013 By Brett in Art, Quebec Tags: Architecture, Canada, Cityscape, Lighting, Montreal, Photography 5 Comments

Quebec Month / Installment 8

Multicolored Marquee, Rue Sainte Catherine

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Theater Lights, Rue Sainte Catherine

Montreal’s Vibrant Walls of Graffiti

May 9, 2013 By Brett in Art, Quebec Tags: Art, Canada, Graffiti, Montreal, Photography, Street Art, Urban Art 6 Comments

Quebec Month / Installment 5

Wow! Montreal has a lot of amazingly cool graffiti — and not just the quickly dashed out monochromatic tag variety. In that city, wielders of spray paint have taken the graffiti form to a more vibrant, artistic level that brightens rather than blightens. Here are some of these artfully done works that caught my eye as I recently roamed the city’s streets.

[Click on Image to Enlarge]

Pastoral Splendor On the Ile d’Orleans

May 9, 2013 By Brett in Quebec Tags: Canada, Country Scenery, Farm Scenery, Farm Silos, Ile de Orleans, Old Barns, Old Cemeteries, Old Wagons, Photography, Sainte Famille Church, Seaside, Tombstones 9 Comments

Rustic Barn with Red Doors, Ile d’Orleans

Quebec Month / Installment 4

Situated just a few miles north of Quebec City is the Ile d’Orleans, a smallish island of about 20 miles in length (about the size of N.Y.’s Manhattan Island) and one of the earliest areas settled in Quebec. Its coast-hugging main road is filled with postcard-perfect pastoral vistas bordered by wide expanses of the St. Lawrence and distant rolling mountains.

Small Barn Overlooking St. Lawrence River, Ile de Orleans

Early Spring Farm Field, Ile d’Orleans

Old Farm Wagon, Ile d’Orleans

Green Space On the St. Lawrence, Ile d’Orleans

Tombstone with Cross, Sainte Famille Church, Ile d’Orleans

Farm and Silos, Ile d’Orleans

Old Barn with Rusted Roof, Ile d’Orleans

Cemetery, Sainte Famille Church, Ile d’Orleans

Sainte Famille Church, Ile d’Orleans

Distinctive Street Signage in Montreal

May 4, 2013 By Brett in Art, Quebec Tags: Bell Phone, Canada Post Mailbox, Canada Street Signs, Metro Sign, Montreal Parking Meter, Montreal Street Signs, Photography, Quebec Stop / Arret Sign Leave a comment

Quebec Month / Installment 3

Whether directing, instructing or prohibiting, street signs constantly influence our actions along city sidewalks and roadways. Montreal has its own distinct variations, as can be seen here.

: Montreal Street Sign

Colorful Montreal Shop Signs

May 4, 2013 By Brett in Art, Quebec Tags: 3 Brasseurs, 3 Brasseurs Sign, Archambault, Billard Sign, Cafe Cleopatra, Cafe Depot, Caffe Art Java, Canada Shop Signs, Fruterie, Hotel Place D'Armes, Juliette & Chocolat, La Presse, Laurier Restaurant, Le Chapelier, Montreal Poutine, Montreal Shop Signs, Photography 5 Comments

Quebec Month / Installment 2

Vividly colorful shop signs of many shapes and varieties dot the Montreal streetscape. Here are a few that caught my eye while walking around there recently.