About Town
| A look back at some images from Toronto in the 1980's. Many years later the street scenes have changed and some have remained the same. Parts of the skyline have disappeared along with the icons FAB clothing and the Bamboo Club from Queen Street West. Back in the 1980's or retro era as we like to call it now was all photographed on film. This was before the advent of the DSLR. It is interesting to see which films have stood up to the ravages of time. Images taken on cheaper consumer film such as Kodak Gold 100 or Fuji 100 suffered the most. Images taken with the more expensive Kodak Ektar series of colour negative films stood up quite well over the decades. See the Retro Toronto gallery for the images that survived. |
 
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Every year there are festivals in North America that dedicated to the sport of ballooning. Many of these are located a short day trip away from the greater Toronto area. For those lucky enough to secure a passenger ticket on a balloon flight to quite often is the culmination of a dream or desire to fulfill an item on your personal bucket list. For this week’s update we are lucky to have a dual perspective on a balloon flight. The passenger’s viewpoint photographed by Cistrone Photography and the thrill of the balloon chase photographed by WatsonPhotography.ca. You can view all of the images in the Gallery. |
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The wail of a siren, clank of the streetcar bell, the lumbering sound of a diesel truck and the whoosh of a bicycle quickly moving by are all sounds we hear constantly in the city. Technology in every day living is always within reach. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to visit a place that is full of technology from the 19th century This is when times were different, life is hard and everybody appreciated the simple pleasures in life. Well sometimes you can back to a different era. Tucked away in the serene countryside and along the banks of the Indian River lies Lang Pioneer Village. The village features over twenty-five restored and furnished buildings constructed between the years 1825 and 1899. The majority of buildings were located within the County of Peterborough and moved to their present site along the Indian River. Lang Pioneer Village is a true photographers paradise. Everything is as it was in the 19th century. All of the details are there including farm animals, original rail fences, farm fields, quaint roads and people engaged in village life. Everything you see is authentic from the real lemonade served at the hotel, printing of the village paper, sparks at blacksmith to the carpenter building furniture. To crown things off there are restorations in progress, derelict artifacts, open fields and nearby attractions to make the trip worthwhile. Next door is the Lang Mill and just down the road is the Hope Saw Mill. This is a day trip that is definitely worth five stars. To find out more about the village visit the web site for Lang Pioneer Village. Visit the photo gallery. |
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The Distillery District is located just east of the downtown core in Toronto. This district has been transformed into an arts and entertainment area. It is one of the largest collection of industrial buildings that are still intact from the 19th century. All of the buildings were used for some function related to the production of alcohol. Whether it was related to the drying of grains, distillation or canning all of the buildings are still intact. As part of the preservation and transformation of the site each building still houses some of the original machinery used. Today the Distillery District is an eclectic mix of art galleries, shops and restaurants. It is a popular destination for both Toronto natives and tourists. It is the perfect spot to bring a date for a romantic day out pr to rekindle that fire. Click the link for for more information about the Distillery District or have a look at the images in the Gallery. |
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The winter of 2013 was one of the coldest and harshest on record. The overly cold springtime has affected maple syrup production in many states and provinces this year. The output will be greatly reduced this year. For those people that have never experienced a trip to a maple syrup farm it is a worthwhile day trip. It is an opportunity to see how our forefathers made maple syrup and taffee. To have a look at this unique process check out the MapleFest Gallery. |
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| Winter can limit your photo opportunities! Or does it? Winter fairs, festivals and events may be fewer in number but present a better opportunity due to a reduced number of people. One event that was a short drive from Toronto was the Cannington dog sled races. Cannington is a small village that was built in Victorian times with unique character homes with surrounding century farms in the countryside. Every year dog sled racers from Wisconsin, Vermont, Michigan, Ontario, Quebec and many others descend on the small town. Have a look through the gallery to see why this is not just about dog sled racing. |
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| The fall colours in autumn can be quite dramatic but fleeting at the same time. There is only a short window of opportunity to view the fall colours. One weekend at its peak or two at the most. Many people enjoy a country drive to see the fall colours and other people find it is the perfect time to enjoy outdoor sporting activities as the temperature is cooler. Activities range from running, hiking and whitewater kayaking. All this and more in the Fall Splendor gallery. |
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| As the summer equinox passes we are ushered into a season full of colors, landscapes and the lure of the country fair. The time when the bounty from a fruitful harvest is displayed for all to see. Crisp cool air mixed with the aroma of an apple pie. It is a special time of the year that only a country fair can pull it all together. For those that enjoy street photo graphy a fall fair is a rewarding opportunity to get images of interesting characters. If your visual palette caters to rich color visuals there is an assortment of things to capture; everything from brightly colored amusement rides, vintage tractors, animals and the harvest of fruits and vegetables. Gallery |
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| Nomadic buskers travel the major continents and make stops at small towns like Dundas, Ontario. From a photographic point of view the buskers present photographic opportunity which is contrasted with the unique variety of local residents. Here is a combination of event photography and street photography to capture unique images. Gallery |
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| The Evergreen Brick Works are located just off of the DVP expressway in Toronto. The site has been re-purposed as a multiuse environment that features parkland, offices, community spaces, cultural shows wrapped in a historical setting of one of the only remaining historical brickworks in Toronto. Bricks produced in this facility were used in many of the older office builkdings, home and public institutions that were built in the 1800 and 1900's. Gallery |
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| About Town goes on a road trip to Prince Edward County in southeastern Ontario. This rural landscape features a small town feeling, mixed with agriculture, bicycle routes, wineries and stunning fall vistas along the roadways. Founded in the 1800's by British settlers, the loyalist roots are still evident in this county. Gallery |
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