A photographic journal by Brian Mazur

Ride the Rails

The Urban Group of the RA Photo Club organized a photo expedition on Ottawa’s new Light Rail Transit (LRT) Confederation Line. About 15 club members participated. The plan was that we would meet downtown at the Rideau Station, and then head East and get off the LRT to take photographs at the Tremblay, St-Laurent, and Blair Stations, before returning to the Rideau Station and lunch together at a nearby restaurant. This was my first time on the LRT, and I found it easy to master and enjoyable (although, being brand new, there have been many glitches that have caused considerable consternation, but fortunately none on the day of our outing). I boarded the LRT at the Tunney’s Pasture Station, which is its current Western terminus, and got off at Rideau Station to meet the group. I then travelled with the group, enjoyed lunch with them, and finally returned to Tunney’s Pasture Station, where I took a few extra photographs, before returning home. The choice of stations for us to photograph was driven in part by the artwork on display (the descriptions that follow are based on information subsequently provided by the photo club). The artwork at Tremblay Station is an installation by Jyhling Lee entitled National Garden. On the plaza outside the station entrance is a series of canopies featuring silhouettes of flowering plants seemingly cut out of the reflective material of the canopy ceilings and folded down to produce a suspended garden. This proved challenging to photograph since one flower tended to get in the way of another, but I did come away with a couple of respectable shots. St-Laurent Station features an untitled series of large murals by Andrew Morrow, depicting moments in Canadian history. I took several photos at the station, although none of the murals. The artwork at Blair Station, entitled Lightscape, by Catherine Widgery, is a series of suspended installations featuring brightly coloured panels that catch the light. Regrettably, it was an overcast day with little light to catch, but I did take some photos of the installations and provided a little light after the fact using Photoshop. I quite enjoyed the outing and my first experience with the LRT. Photographically, it was a bit more challenging than our usual outings, and I needed to get extra creative, which I think actually worked out quite well.

Rideau Station. I took this shot while waiting for our group to assemble at the meeting location. It has a strong diagonal set against a contrasting background.
Rideau Station. I took this shot while waiting for our group to assemble at the meeting location. It has a strong diagonal set against a contrasting background.
Tremblay Station. I was intrigued by the repetition displayed in reflecting panels of part of an art installation by Jyhling Lee entitled National Garden.
Tremblay Station. I was intrigued by the repetition displayed in reflecting panels of part of an art installation by Jyhling Lee entitled National Garden.
Tremblay Station. It was a bit difficult to get a clean shot of the components of the art installation by Jyhling Lee entitled National Garden. I took this shot knowing that some minor distractions could be removed in Photoshop.
Tremblay Station. It was a bit difficult to get a clean shot of the components of the art installation by Jyhling Lee entitled National Garden. I took this shot knowing that some minor distractions could be removed in Photoshop.
Tremblay Station. Rather than photographing the LRT train directly, I saw a puddle and chose to work with its reflection instead. I’ve only left a sliver of the train at the top to give context to the photo.
Tremblay Station. Rather than photographing the LRT train directly, I saw a puddle and chose to work with its reflection instead. I’ve only left a sliver of the train at the top to give context to the photo.
St-Laurent Station. I saw the creative way the architect had arranged the overhead lights at odd angles and thought there were abstracts to be found. I’ve used Photoshop to remove electrical wires and simplify the background.
St-Laurent Station. I saw the creative way the architect had arranged the overhead lights at odd angles and thought there were abstracts to be found. I’ve used Photoshop to remove electrical wires and simplify the background.
St-Laurent Station. The windows of the station created interesting double reflections of the lighting outside. I’ve made use of that together with the arc of clouds in the background.
St-Laurent Station. The windows of the station created interesting double reflections of the lighting outside. I’ve made use of that together with the arc of clouds in the background.
St-Laurent Station. In the eyes of a photographer a simple handrail and its reflection on the wall can be a thing of beauty (as least I think so). I’ve intentionally shifted the white balance for creative purposes.
St-Laurent Station. In the eyes of a photographer a simple handrail and its reflection on the wall can be a thing of beauty (as least I think so). I’ve intentionally shifted the white balance for creative purposes.
Blair Station. Artwork at the station, entitled Lightscape by Catherine Widgery, suffered from the overcast day. I chose this part of the installation for its clean background, and added some light with Photoshop later.
Blair Station. Artwork at the station, entitled Lightscape by Catherine Widgery, suffered from the overcast day. I chose this part of the installation for its clean background, and added some light with Photoshop later.
Blair Station. Metal chairs at the station and some earlier rain provided the raw material for this shot. I just need to look around and see the possibility.
Blair Station. Metal chairs at the station and some earlier rain provided the raw material for this shot. I just need to look around and see the possibility.
Blair Station. Basically, just horizontal and vertical lines. The blue horizontal lines were on a glass partition, and some unknown person kindly provided the vertical lines in the form of legs.
Blair Station. Basically, just horizontal and vertical lines. The blue horizontal lines were on a glass partition, and some unknown person kindly provided the vertical lines in the form of legs.
Rideau Station. The colourful lines of the doors to an elevator, with a bit of rotation, led to a very graphic abstract composition. I took many shots of this elevator but find this the strongest one.
Rideau Station. The colourful lines of the doors to an elevator, with a bit of rotation, led to a very graphic abstract composition. I took many shots of this elevator but find this the strongest one.
Tunney's Pasture Station. The blue sky reflecting on this beam drew me to this shot. The yellow is also a reflection off something. All that remained was to walk around to find the ideal angle and click the shutter.
Tunney's Pasture Station. The blue sky reflecting on this beam drew me to this shot. The yellow is also a reflection off something. All that remained was to walk around to find the ideal angle and click the shutter.
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