Canadian Photography

After finishing my undergraduate degree in southern Ontario, I had the opportunity to move to the United States in 2011 at the age of 22. Twelve months later in August 2012, I made the decision to permanently immigrate to Los Angeles. This collection of photographs were taken in the years leading up to this departure, spanning a critical phase of personal and creative development from 2009 to 2012.

The images in this collection are representative of my preferred photographic style, which tends toward mundane landscapes depicting empty and unkempt suburban sprawl. The faded colors, abandoned scenery, and voyeuristic approach are inspired by the work of Todd Hido, Gregory Crewdson, and Edward Burtynsky as well as various lesser know, post-modern urban photographers.

It would be understandable to infer that these seemingly bleak images of Canada reflect a negative outlook on my home-country or a period of personal sadness or struggle. This is not the case. While these photographs are not especially attractive (or even interesting), they are, to the best of my ability, honest. They are honest in their portrayal of the human experience, specifically the struggle to define a sense of order and individuality within a cruel and unrelenting environment.

To highlight this struggle, the photographs in this collection tend to circle around signals of suburban collapse and reconstruction. From cracked driveways and collapsing roofs, to unused satellites and rusting hoops, the signals of economic decline are subtle, but pervasive, suggesting both the cultural importance of the family home, and the underlying difficulty in maintaining it.

Canada, outside the boundaries of its Northern expanse, is a land blessed with nearly endless reserves of cultural malaise and suburban anxiety.