Charles T. Low Photography

My mother used to say that something was "exactly the same only different," an intentional short-hand meaning that it (whatever it was) wasn't actually exactly the same, only close. Often, both of the small differences and the major similarities mattered.

I apply that to my fine-art photography: themes have emerged (as if possessed of a life of their own), prominent among them being dawn, and ... I live by a large river, so the opportunities are endless.

Except, they aren't, in that there are only so many combinations of water and shore and sky to position within my frame, except that they are (endless), in that neither the light nor the scene ever exactly repeats. I enjoy that duality, that apparent contradiction, which in fact makes perfect sense.

I said to my brother yesterday that "dawn isn't done with me yet," and at the risk of sounding too metaphysical, it does feel that way.

Not that dawn is by any means my only theme. Let's explore a few images (from my art-collection of over a hundred since my previous Sunrise blog), and see what's (not) new.

Given the St. Lawrence River on my doorstep, and the Great Lakes Seaway, I have been photographing passing ships for many years. This is an artistic endeavour, for me, not ship-watching per se, although I do monitor and occasionally contribute to social-media groups such as the St. Lawrence Seaway Ship Watchers, and Ship Junkies - Lakes Locks and Rivers.

Canadian Empress overnights in Brockville regularly, if not often seen from this vantage (and in that light).

Above, having completed a dawn photography session at the river, I looked over my shoulder and saw the full Moon on its way down.

It occurred to me to chase it, to see if I could find an interesting, pleasing context for it. I missed a few because they blew by so quickly, and I didn't want to turn around, but I pulled over on a quiet rural road, and partly by good planning but mostly from fortune smiling on me, this scene presented itself.

It required fast work. The Moon didn't linger there for long! Thankfully, it was not my first day on the job.

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Same but Different

My own view is that the above work is nothing new (for me), and completely novel. Both can be simultaneously true.

It's exactly the same as things I have done before, only different.

Thank you all so much for reading! Kindly comment.

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You may wish to look through my larger portfolio. Almost everything is for sale. I favour large wall art, and also deal in books and other small items: prints, notecards, and postcards.

Charles T. Low
Photographer
Blog #84
2022-08-14

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