A photographic journal by Brian Mazur

Museum of Science and Technology

Ottawa endured a very hot spell at the beginning of July which made outdoor photography unappealing. For that reason, I suggested an indoor, air-conditioned, venue when a friend and I were planning a photography outing. There are many interesting locations in Ottawa, but it had been many years since I had been to the Museum of Science and Technology, and they had recently completed a major renovation. My friend thought that was a great idea, so off we went! We arrived shortly after the museum opened for the day, and the outside air was already becoming hot and humid. Nevertheless, we spent a while outside before entering the museum, to photograph the steam locomotive on display outside, and in particular to photograph the Collections Conservation Centre next door. What an eye-catching building! You’ll see from the photos that I took that it’s decorated in bright, bold, Red, Green and Blue accents that begged for photographs. Once inside the museum, we concentrated on photographing the details of interesting items on display. Years ago, when I last visited, that was next to impossible without a tripod and a long exposure to cope with the low light level, but modern cameras can produce high-quality​ shots handheld. I would have liked to get closer to many of the items, but there were barriers, or the items were out of reach, that limited where we could photograph from or the angles that were available. Nevertheless, I had a fun day and came away with some interesting shots.

This shot of the building next to the museum has been abstracted to one of pure geometry. I’ve taken liberties to rotate and mirror-image the original shot to one that I find more aesthetically pleasing.
This shot of the building next to the museum has been abstracted to one of pure geometry. I’ve taken liberties to rotate and mirror-image the original shot to one that I find more aesthetically pleasing.
In this case I noticed how the shape of the museum building interacted with the building next door, and positioned myself to exploit this interaction in a creative way.
In this case I noticed how the shape of the museum building interacted with the building next door, and positioned myself to exploit this interaction in a creative way.
This is a straight shot of the building next to the museum, but composed to balance the Red, Green and Blue in a pleasing way.
This is a straight shot of the building next to the museum, but composed to balance the Red, Green and Blue in a pleasing way.
As I walked around the outside of the museum, I noticed interesting distortions in how the windows of the museum reflected the outside world, and in particular these lights from the parking lot.
As I walked around the outside of the museum, I noticed interesting distortions in how the windows of the museum reflected the outside world, and in particular these lights from the parking lot.
A feature of the Science and Technology museum are the steam locomotives, which offer a wealth of interesting shapes and textures. This shot is both a study of shapes and textures.
A feature of the Science and Technology museum are the steam locomotives, which offer a wealth of interesting shapes and textures. This shot is both a study of shapes and textures.
This stairway leading to the cabin of a locomotive presented me with an opportunity to capture an image featuring circles and lines in repeating patterns.
This stairway leading to the cabin of a locomotive presented me with an opportunity to capture an image featuring circles and lines in repeating patterns.
Sometimes interesting abstracts appear in the oddest of places. This is the bumper of a vintage car reflecting the lights, displays and guard rail in its vicinity. I took several shots to explore different compositions.
Sometimes interesting abstracts appear in the oddest of places. This is the bumper of a vintage car reflecting the lights, displays and guard rail in its vicinity. I took several shots to explore different compositions.
The wheels and pistons of locomotives offer many opportunities to explore the spatial arrangements of circles and lines in the photographic frame. I included only a small part of the piston in an effort to maintain visual balance in the composition.
The wheels and pistons of locomotives offer many opportunities to explore the spatial arrangements of circles and lines in the photographic frame. I included only a small part of the piston in an effort to maintain visual balance in the composition.
This is a small part of a steamboat engine. I included the dials to give a hint of what this is, but I was interested in the shape of the copper tubing and the repeating pattern of shapes.
This is a small part of a steamboat engine. I included the dials to give a hint of what this is, but I was interested in the shape of the copper tubing and the repeating pattern of shapes.
The strong orange X shape is juxtaposed with the soft mauve semicircle contributed by the tank. The tube feeding the tank helps to lead the eye up and down within the frame.
The strong orange X shape is juxtaposed with the soft mauve semicircle contributed by the tank. The tube feeding the tank helps to lead the eye up and down within the frame.
An anechoic chamber (echo-free room) can be found in the museum and this is a shot of the sound absorbing material coating the chamber. I’ve flipped the shot upside down to give a stronger composition.
An anechoic chamber (echo-free room) can be found in the museum and this is a shot of the sound absorbing material coating the chamber. I’ve flipped the shot upside down to give a stronger composition.
I try to look in all directions as I explore an area. In this case I spotted what I think are heating ducts in the ceiling that offered interesting shapes and were lit with a soft golden light by the museum displays.
I try to look in all directions as I explore an area. In this case I spotted what I think are heating ducts in the ceiling that offered interesting shapes and were lit with a soft golden light by the museum displays.
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