A photographic journal by Brian Mazur

National Gallery

A friend and I had been intending for several months to photograph together but various things got in the way until late August when we decided to visit the National Gallery of Canada. The Gallery holds a wealth of impressive art of various types, but our motivation was to photograph the Gallery space itself. That said, we did set aside our cameras, and take in an excellent exhibition of Gauguin portraits that was running at the time. While waiting for my friend to arrive, I had a few minutes to photograph outside, where I concentrated mainly on Maman, the enormous spider statue that stands in the plaza at the Gallery entrance. Photographers love Maman, and it must get photographed hundreds of times each day. With this in mind, I looked for a few different ideas on how to capture the intensity of this iconic work. Once inside the Gallery with my friend I spent my time mainly looking for abstract compositions and shots with a strong geometrical component. I had a lot of fun, but Gallery visitors might have wondered if I was a bit nutty as I ignored the art and photographed the walls and ceiling, or at other times the skylights overhead! You can judge for yourself if I wasted my time. Afterward​, my friend and I had a nice dinner together and caught up with each other’s news. I love photographing with friends this way – combining creative expression with camaraderie.

As I waited for my friend to arrive, I took some photographs outside the Gallery. This shows the prominent dome of glass at the South-West corner.
As I waited for my friend to arrive, I took some photographs outside the Gallery. This shows the prominent dome of glass at the South-West corner.
There are many photographs of Maman, the enormous spider sculpture adjacent to the entrance of the Gallery. Here, I was trying for a different view, where the shadow reveals what the subject is and only three leg tips are showing.
There are many photographs of Maman, the enormous spider sculpture adjacent to the entrance of the Gallery. Here, I was trying for a different view, where the shadow reveals what the subject is and only three leg tips are showing.
Here is a different view of the Maman sculpture with the Peace Tower of Canada’s Parliament in the background and the Canadian flag as a spot of red to draw the eye.
Here is a different view of the Maman sculpture with the Peace Tower of Canada’s Parliament in the background and the Canadian flag as a spot of red to draw the eye.
Inside the Gallery, I had fun forming abstract compositions of the brightly coloured walls and ceilings.
Inside the Gallery, I had fun forming abstract compositions of the brightly coloured walls and ceilings.
The curved ceiling in several of the galleries provided opportunities to compose dramatic shots with bold sweeping lines.
The curved ceiling in several of the galleries provided opportunities to compose dramatic shots with bold sweeping lines.
Here is another ceiling shot emphasizing dramatic colours and a bold sweeping shape.
Here is another ceiling shot emphasizing dramatic colours and a bold sweeping shape.
Courtyards within the Gallery are filled with natural light during the day and on bright days there are strong shadows cast by the frame of the skylight. Here, I’ve combined these shadows with a view of the Gallery contents through a courtyard window.
Courtyards within the Gallery are filled with natural light during the day and on bright days there are strong shadows cast by the frame of the skylight. Here, I’ve combined these shadows with a view of the Gallery contents through a courtyard window.
Here is another abstract composition where I’ve made use of the colourful walls and ceilings and included the track for hanging paintings as a bit of extra punch.
Here is another abstract composition where I’ve made use of the colourful walls and ceilings and included the track for hanging paintings as a bit of extra punch.
The service ladder and its reflection adds a point of interest to the repetitive pattern of lines formed by the frame of a skylight.
The service ladder and its reflection adds a point of interest to the repetitive pattern of lines formed by the frame of a skylight.
This is a study of geometry and symmetry, where I’ve positioned the dome of the gallery directly in line with the skylight running along a corridor.
This is a study of geometry and symmetry, where I’ve positioned the dome of the gallery directly in line with the skylight running along a corridor.
Looking up within the dome of the Gallery I found this (nearly) symmetrical arrangement of beams and triangles. The reflections in the windows break up the pattern somewhat and make it a little more interesting.
Looking up within the dome of the Gallery I found this (nearly) symmetrical arrangement of beams and triangles. The reflections in the windows break up the pattern somewhat and make it a little more interesting.
Within the dome, the Gallery had installed these triangular blinds. The composition directs the eye to the ring at the top of the frame, and to my eye at least gives the photograph a somewhat religious appearance.
Within the dome, the Gallery had installed these triangular blinds. The composition directs the eye to the ring at the top of the frame, and to my eye at least gives the photograph a somewhat religious appearance.
An exhibition of Dave Heath photographs was running during our visit and a large promotional photograph was on display. I was fortunate to capture an unknown photographer in the perfect position walking past.
An exhibition of Dave Heath photographs was running during our visit and a large promotional photograph was on display. I was fortunate to capture an unknown photographer in the perfect position walking past.
It took me a while to get just the right angle for this enigmatic shot, which I quite like. It wouldn’t have worked nearly as well if all the walls were the same colour.
It took me a while to get just the right angle for this enigmatic shot, which I quite like. It wouldn’t have worked nearly as well if all the walls were the same colour.
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