A photographic journal by Brian Mazur

Cardinal Boneyard

The Urban Group of the RA Photo Club organized an outing to the Boneyard in Cardinal, Ontario (www.boneyard.ca). This is a family-run collection of old cars, vans, buses, and miscellaneous stuff, covering a large area, that is kept for hard-to-find parts for car and other enthusiasts. Needless to say, old, rusty, smashed, and generally beaten up vehicles are a photographer’s dream too! While their normal business is catering to parts buyers, on this particular day the owners made the site available to photography groups, in exchange for donations that they were collecting for their local food bank. Some groups were given a morning time slot, but my photo club and two other groups had the run of the site from 2 pm until dusk. I carpooled with two friends, although we wandered off in different directions once we started exploring the site. There were a LOT of photographers around, but the site is so huge that there was little issue with one person getting in another’s way. I shot with my 105 mm macro lens the whole time and concentrated mostly on looking for interesting details, although I also captured several landscape shots late in the day when some gorgeous backlighting was available. Anticipating that there would be hazards, I wore hiking boots and knee pads (a wise decision since there were sharp metal pieces and broken glass on the ground). At the agreed rendezvous time of 6 pm, as the light was starting to fade, we returned to our respective cars, and several of us drove into nearby Prescott for dinner. We ended up at O’Heaphy’s Irish Pub (www.oheaphys.ca); if you go there, the Deep Fried Ice Cream is amazing, but you’ll need friends to help you finish it all!

I found the blue/orange contrast in this car decal very compelling. Otherwise, it forms a strong triangular shape which I think works well centred in a rectangular frame.
I found the blue/orange contrast in this car decal very compelling. Otherwise, it forms a strong triangular shape which I think works well centred in a rectangular frame.
Rust, traces of paint, and blistering of metal. There’s a feeling of upward movement by the blister of metal and a violent confrontation underway.
Rust, traces of paint, and blistering of metal. There’s a feeling of upward movement by the blister of metal and a violent confrontation underway.
I saw the wonderful texture in the car handle and explored several compositions. I think the band of red at the bottom that reflects into some of the texture adds some extra interest.
I saw the wonderful texture in the car handle and explored several compositions. I think the band of red at the bottom that reflects into some of the texture adds some extra interest.
Crystalline fragments of glass radiating from an arc of metal, with some strands of a spider web to add a natural element for contrast. I angled the camera so I had a dark background.
Crystalline fragments of glass radiating from an arc of metal, with some strands of a spider web to add a natural element for contrast. I angled the camera so I had a dark background.
Words powerfully draw the eye, and here I have a blue/orange contrast to help, and if that wasn’t enough, I’ve also included the pointing section of trim. Perhaps the car laments it’s new home in the junkyard?
Words powerfully draw the eye, and here I have a blue/orange contrast to help, and if that wasn’t enough, I’ve also included the pointing section of trim. Perhaps the car laments it’s new home in the junkyard?
I had so much fun photographing broken glass! Here the sun illuminates an interesting diagonal shape set against the dark interior of the car.
I had so much fun photographing broken glass! Here the sun illuminates an interesting diagonal shape set against the dark interior of the car.
This again is a broken windshield, forming lines radiating from a semi-circular area on the edge. In this case, I could not see the shot, and several tries were needed, since the camera was pointed upward to the blue sky.
This again is a broken windshield, forming lines radiating from a semi-circular area on the edge. In this case, I could not see the shot, and several tries were needed, since the camera was pointed upward to the blue sky.
This shot was taken late in the day with wonderful backlighting illuminating the overgrown foliage. I took many such shots but particularly like the contrast of the blue car amongst the golden plants in this shot.
This shot was taken late in the day with wonderful backlighting illuminating the overgrown foliage. I took many such shots but particularly like the contrast of the blue car amongst the golden plants in this shot.
This shot speaks to the work of nature to reclaim that which is human made and offers a juxtaposition of the natural and unnatural. The repetition of ovals coming from the right also lead the eye to the plant and help the shot.
This shot speaks to the work of nature to reclaim that which is human made and offers a juxtaposition of the natural and unnatural. The repetition of ovals coming from the right also lead the eye to the plant and help the shot.
I was very excited when I found this blistered car bumper because it offered so many interesting shapes. My knee pads got a workout on this, and several other photo opportunities.
I was very excited when I found this blistered car bumper because it offered so many interesting shapes. My knee pads got a workout on this, and several other photo opportunities.
A detail on a side window. The cougar (I assume) seems to be walking along the crack to escape the cloud of blobs that are pursuing it.
A detail on a side window. The cougar (I assume) seems to be walking along the crack to escape the cloud of blobs that are pursuing it.
In addition to cars, there was a dump for miscellaneous metal. Here I’ve framed the functioning telecom tower in the background with antenna refuse in the foreground, as a new/old study.
In addition to cars, there was a dump for miscellaneous metal. Here I’ve framed the functioning telecom tower in the background with antenna refuse in the foreground, as a new/old study.
More broken glass (literally) framed with a colourful diffuse background. I enjoy the diagonal and the contrast of the sharp foreground and soft background.
More broken glass (literally) framed with a colourful diffuse background. I enjoy the diagonal and the contrast of the sharp foreground and soft background.
This old Chev was on the path leading to the junkyard and received attention from many photographers. I elected to use a tight, straight-on, framing to emphasize the strength of this once functioning car.
This old Chev was on the path leading to the junkyard and received attention from many photographers. I elected to use a tight, straight-on, framing to emphasize the strength of this once functioning car.
A crack leading to rust on the side of a dumpster. I find this rotated view more interesting and natural since most viewers are indoctrinated to look from left to right.
A crack leading to rust on the side of a dumpster. I find this rotated view more interesting and natural since most viewers are indoctrinated to look from left to right.
The metal frame of a chair. I took several shots of this chair since I felt it had lots of photographic potential. I used a narrow depth of field to blur the background and emphasize its graphic qualities.
The metal frame of a chair. I took several shots of this chair since I felt it had lots of photographic potential. I used a narrow depth of field to blur the background and emphasize its graphic qualities.
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