A photographic journal by Brian Mazur

Downtown Ottawa

The Urban Group of the RA Photo Club organized an outing to photograph ostensibly architecture in Ottawa’s downtown core in the vicinity of Parliament Hill. About 25 people signed up to attend and the plan was that we would meet together at 10 am and then move around together in a few groups and then gather for a late lunch. However, as it turned out, I had another commitment in the morning, so I elected to have an early lunch at home and arrived just after noon. I thought I might still run into a few people that I could photograph with before they left for lunch, but that didn’t happen, so I ended up photographing solo. It was a cool and cloudy day with intermittent rain showers. This may have impacted attendance in the morning, but it didn’t deter me. In fact, the rain was a blessing that enabled me to take many photographs featuring raindrops that would not otherwise have been possible. I did take a few architectural shots, including some featuring reflections, but the rain presented so many interesting shots of details and abstracts that I spent most of my time looking down. I could have spent the whole day looking at the rain on things like trash bins and chairs, but I had promised to be back home by mid-afternoon, so my shooting time was limited to about three hours. I’m pretty happy with the shots that I took in those​ few hours.

Reflections are fun. Here, I use it not only to complete the view of the building, but also to combine reality with unreality, since the missing part of the building doesn’t actually look as shown by the reflection.
Reflections are fun. Here, I use it not only to complete the view of the building, but also to combine reality with unreality, since the missing part of the building doesn’t actually look as shown by the reflection.
A fun house view of part of the parliament building. I particularly like the position of the Canadian flag in this shot, as a spot of red in an otherwise blue/green image.
A fun house view of part of the parliament building. I particularly like the position of the Canadian flag in this shot, as a spot of red in an otherwise blue/green image.
There was an art installation on Sparks Street called Impulse (lighted seesaws with light and sound). With rain drops on their surface, many abstract patterns were on view for the observant photographer.
There was an art installation on Sparks Street called Impulse (lighted seesaws with light and sound). With rain drops on their surface, many abstract patterns were on view for the observant photographer.
Repeating squares with small details that break the pattern. I particularly like how the ceiling lights in the third row from the top change position from one window to the other.
Repeating squares with small details that break the pattern. I particularly like how the ceiling lights in the third row from the top change position from one window to the other.
This shot is all about contrasts: yellow/blue and organic/inorganic. The tree would not have been nearly as colour saturated without the rain.
This shot is all about contrasts: yellow/blue and organic/inorganic. The tree would not have been nearly as colour saturated without the rain.
Horizontal and vertical lines create a static stage on which we have a rusty area of colour and an interesting leaf-like shape to attract the eye.
Horizontal and vertical lines create a static stage on which we have a rusty area of colour and an interesting leaf-like shape to attract the eye.
A burst of colour with an otherwise drab part of the parliament building in the background. I chose to keep the lamppost in the shot to form an implied diagonal with the tree and offer some balance.
A burst of colour with an otherwise drab part of the parliament building in the background. I chose to keep the lamppost in the shot to form an implied diagonal with the tree and offer some balance.
The rain accentuated the many flower gardens in the Parliament Hill area. Here we have bold colour, texture from the rain drops, and the contrasting stamen serving as a centre of interest.
The rain accentuated the many flower gardens in the Parliament Hill area. Here we have bold colour, texture from the rain drops, and the contrasting stamen serving as a centre of interest.
A detail shot of a leaf with raindrops providing texture and shapes of interest. The dominant vein at the top is balanced with the larger rain droplets along the bottom third line.
A detail shot of a leaf with raindrops providing texture and shapes of interest. The dominant vein at the top is balanced with the larger rain droplets along the bottom third line.
Interesting shapes and textures formed by the rain with a bright red leaf offering a spot of drama. My eye travels back and forth between the large shape just below the centre and the leaf.
Interesting shapes and textures formed by the rain with a bright red leaf offering a spot of drama. My eye travels back and forth between the large shape just below the centre and the leaf.
I love the textures and interesting shapes in this shot, which were entirely formed by the rain on a metal chair. I kept the shape in the upper right to increase the mystery of what this is.
I love the textures and interesting shapes in this shot, which were entirely formed by the rain on a metal chair. I kept the shape in the upper right to increase the mystery of what this is.
Here is another shot of rain droplets on a metal chair, but in this case, I framed the shot as if it was a triptych.
Here is another shot of rain droplets on a metal chair, but in this case, I framed the shot as if it was a triptych.
↑Back to Top