After being utterly infuriated with University after my "last" term ever, photography was a nice change. The course itself is only as difficult and time consuming as you want to make it. As soon as I started taking photos, I knew I was going to make everything quite difficult for myself. But that was ok, because I loved every minute of it.

My final project was titled My Friend, Playground. I wanted to do something technically difficult and rewarding; so I decided to try my hand at night photography. Serena suggested I take pictures of playgrounds (as a bit of a joke), but the idea resonated with me. Below are the final photos, along with my artist statement. (For the record, I really hate artist statements.)






Like many other North Americans, my childhood playtime centered around the local playground. I fondly remember the care-free days of scrambling around the various slides, bridges, poles and swings until I was completely tuckered out. The playground represented fun and excitement to me; a place to push my problems aside and be free.

Years later, I found myself looking at the same playground, which I used to be so familiar with, in a whole new light. Each playground has a very unique feeling and presence about it; especially when observed during it's time or rest, the dead of night.

In this series I attempt to explore my emotional response to several playgrounds throughout Saskatoon, the city which I grew up in. Each playground is unique and mysterious while observed during its nightly slumber; exuding so much character that I cannot simply imagine them as combinations of wood and metal, but as real living entities.


Sadly I don't think I'm very good at scanning prints / negatives. Though that may be due to my lack of decent equipment rather than skill. I don't think the blacks come out quite as well in these scans. Oh well, they will do for now.

Next post I plan to catch you up to speed with the rest of my summer thus far. Highlights include Math 116 success and my brand new job. Exciting.