Photographer’s Note
I have lived in Dufferin County for 25 years enjoying its beauty in terms of the land, the rivers, and the kindness and generosity of the people. Upon hearing more about the proposed mega-quarry, I decided to photograph the areas that will be affected by the quarry both within and surrounding its location. My purpose was to create a visual description of the areas and a way of life that will be altered irreparably. I believe that visual images can sensitize or re-sensitize us, in this case, to nature and its potential destruction. In this project, I employed the photographic techniques of realism and simplicity. Therefore, the landscapes were photographed as they are. In order to avoid distractions that might draw the viewers’ attention away from such essence, I chose to keep the images as simple and uncluttered as possible. At the same time, I stylized the images photographically using lines, shapes, angles, color and perspective to convey the moving reaction I experienced while seeing and photographing the landscapes. In the photographs displayed, my hope is to create an emotional reaction among viewers and possibly contribute to the on-going debate about how we view and negotiate the use and preservation of our land now and over time.
Donna Wells
email: donnawells1@me.com www.donnawellsphotography.ca 7