A photographic journal by Brian Mazur

Aviation Museum

I enjoyed my prior photographic visit to the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in 2016, so I jumped at the chance to visit again when the Urban Group of the RA Photo Club secured another opportunity in 2017. To keep things fresh, I decided to concentrate on different subjects than the first visit. It's amazing how quickly time flies at the Aviation Museum (there's a pun in there somewhere) because the two hours that we had the museum to ourselves seemed to disappear so quickly. Having been there before, I knew I wanted a shot of the Lancaster bomb bay that I didn't get before, and I knew I wanted to spend more time in particular with the various engines on display, but even so it's hard to know where to point your camera with so many interesting shots around. I could spend an entire day just photographing engines because they have so many interesting details. And if you're like me, capturing the shot is only half the fun. The real creative part comes later at the computer, to refine tone and colour to add drama and surprise and take the shot to a different level.

A very small part of a very large engine. I've played with the light and colour to add some drama.
A very small part of a very large engine. I've played with the light and colour to add some drama.
The largest aircraft in the collection is this Lancaster, and the museum has thoughtfully opened the bomb bay doors to let us see what are (presumably) bomb replicas.
The largest aircraft in the collection is this Lancaster, and the museum has thoughtfully opened the bomb bay doors to let us see what are (presumably) bomb replicas.
There are several engines on display at the museum. In this case, I found these horizontal cylinders of interest.
There are several engines on display at the museum. In this case, I found these horizontal cylinders of interest.
This is a detail from an engine, that I found more interesting rotated to this vertical orientation.
This is a detail from an engine, that I found more interesting rotated to this vertical orientation.
The museum has an area set aside for piston-driven engines. They make wonderful photographic subjects.
The museum has an area set aside for piston-driven engines. They make wonderful photographic subjects.
Another piston-driven engine at the museum. I'm especially fond of the colours in this treatment.
Another piston-driven engine at the museum. I'm especially fond of the colours in this treatment.
The loop of wire was intentionally selected as the focal point, framed amongst a symmetrical arrangement of curves and lines.
The loop of wire was intentionally selected as the focal point, framed amongst a symmetrical arrangement of curves and lines.
This shot was framed to emphasize the line of the propeller surrounded by the circular cutouts in the fusillage.
This shot was framed to emphasize the line of the propeller surrounded by the circular cutouts in the fusillage.
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