National War Memorial

Confederation Square, Ottawa, Ontario

© Christine Mastroianni, all rights reserved

On the one day that allowed time for exploration during a fabulous weekend reunion in Ottawa, it poured! Now understand that I have no aversion to rain, and welcome any occurance of its presence.. as sustenance, as refreshment, as seasoning for landscapes that would eventually grow terribly boring if always viewed in clear, unfiltered sunshine. So, undaunted, I set out with my friends to drink a few of the sights of our charming capital city.

And even though my particular camera is vulnerable to the seeping damage that would inevitably occur upon exposure to condensation, I managed to take a few pictures! This one of a frequently captured image of the passion and grittiness of war, rendered even grittier with the addition of a little seasoning, served as just reward for my saturated efforts.

Someone's shed door near Conception Bay, Newfoundland

© Christine Mastroianni, all rights reserved

I am walking down the gravel path, feeling tiny pebbles wavering under my sandals but otherwise I am weightless. The air is almost suspended, just barely caressing my skin with a slightest hint of a breeze. The sun feels warm on my shoulders but I am not looking up to see if there are clouds in the sky today. I am thinking.. pondering.. imagining.. as I methodically step forward, one foot in front of the other, my gaze sliding ahead with each step to watch for the next spot to be occupied by my foot. My breath is slow and rhythmic as I let ideas randomly ripple across my mind, placing no real importance on any one of them, just letting them swirl.

My trance is gently interrupted by an energetic dragonfly that is flitting about in pursuit of a little winged morsel. I cease my ramble and pause as my eyes follow its erratic path through the sunny afternoon. It settles onto a tall blade of feathery grass, and in a moment is off again, in search of the next adventure. I decide to imagine that it is feeling content and pleased with its life, because that is how I feel as well, as I saunter down the gravel path on this quiet island afternoon.

Empire State Building

New York City

The sun has descended on all that is crazy, but few have agreed to take leave of the street. They primp and they purchase while expertly texting the perfect location at which they will meet. The creatures, and features, of West Thirty-Fourth are enhanced by the glow from the shops and the towers providing a beacon of cool urban moonlight to help find their way to tomorrow's first hours. The view at this level provides entertainment that only reality dares to create, and mystically blends to a smooth sea of embers on ascending the building of Empire State.

© Christine Mastroianni, all rights reserved

Conception Bay South, Newfoundland - Foxtrap beach access

© Christine Mastroianni, all rights reserved

I am standing on the beach on this refreshingly exquisite day feeling my face being cleansed by the temperate breeze, smelling the effects of the salt water repeatedly glazing the rocks, watching the clouds as they spread out into the azure sky like feathers and cotton batting, and listening as the rocks tumble and vibrate against one another with each pull of the ocean. For the moment, I am lost..... and I have no desire to be found!

Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millenium Park, Chicago

© Christine Mastroianni, all rights reserved

After touring the Museum of Contemporary Art and then the Art Insititue of Chicago, with a lot of walking in between, it was wonderfully luxurious to flop on the cool grass and relieve our aching feet of their restraints. We lay back, barefoot, looking up at the magnificent web of stainless steel hovering over us. This structure has been classified of a work of art rather than a functional structure, although with the crisp acoustics it apparently provides, it is certainly very functional! As we relaxed, we observed children hopping around chasing bugs, parents taking intermittent breathers between chasing their children, but for once, I was not chasing anything! I was just happy to be.

Conception Bay South, Newfoundland

© Christine Mastroianni, all rights reserved

On the rocky beaches of Conception Bay South, Newfoundland, there are many treasures to encounter. Here is a photograph of one such treasure. During childhood visits to the island, it was always such a thrill to discover one of these spiny creatures, or rather, the remains of one. This is just its shell, probably having been plucked from the ocean by a ravenous seagull, ascended to a dizzying height, and dropped......... then devoured!

It was during a sea kayaking trip just a couple of years ago that I was fortunate enough to meet a live sea urchin when our guide had removed a few of them from a lobster pot he'd pulled to the surface. I marvelled as I cradled it in my palm, watching as its spines slowly fluttered and swayed independently in every direction. Then, upon cracking one open, he asked who would like to taste one, its roe being considered a delicacy and all. Not being one to pass up a chance to try something new, I sampled its bright orange goodness.. I did enjoy its texture and saltiness and, strange as it sounds, was surprised to detect a noticeable flavour of canteloupe!

Below I've included a photo I took of the bottom view of a sea urchin shell that has lost its spines, revealing its symmetry. In my experience, it is pretty rare to find one in such stellar condition. Notice how it resembles a starfish in the arrangement of the white bands and colour blocking.

© Christine Mastroianni, all rights reserved

Picasso's Nude Under a Pine Tree

Giacometti's Walking Man II

- Art Institute of Chicago

I am in love with art galleries. Regardless of their niche, they all seem to possess the same basic desireable qualities: impeccably clean lines, well lit and breathable spaces, ample room to showcase collections properly, and razor sharp organisation..... I'm realising as I'm typing this that these attributes do not live in my house, at least not with such presence, so this is probably why I am so in awe of galleries!

Of course, another reason is their inhabitants. It is such a rush for me to encounter images and figures that I have only ever always admired in books, akin to turning a corner on the street and recognising the person in front of me as one of my favourite celebrities! But Giacometti's person won't think I'm strange if I slowly walk around him and study his physique and imagine his genesis. Well, okay, perhaps there are celebrities out there who wouldn't have a problem with that either, but that's fodder for another post!

© Christine Mastroianni, all rights reserved

John Hancock Building - Boston, MA

© Christine Mastroianni, all rights reserved

Upon first view of the impossibly flawless Hancock building in downtown Boston, I knew I had to get closer to it... significantly closer! I approached it slowly, gazing upwards of course, apparently unaware of the possibility that I could bump into someone by proceeding forward in this manner! Mesmerised by its geometrically perfect design, I just couldn't pull myself away from it. Its lines are obviously structurally parallel but due to the sheer height of the building, they display a teasing notion of convergence. And so aesthetically pleasing! I can't even keep the few windows in my house clean for any length of time! Seeing this marvel of squeegeed excellence stirred in me both a satisfying sigh and a jealous pang.

I was capturing a few shots as I was moving closer, but it wasn't until I was virtually pressed against its sleek, polished mirrors that I found the viewpoint that resulted in sheer elation.

Portugal Cove, Newfoundland (near Bell Island Ferry docks)

© Christine Mastroianni, all rights reserved

Sometimes you don't have to look hard to find something that always seems to make you smile. Here is a simple concept and one that was born out of practicality.. because really, once someone decided to fit the first few pieces together, everything else fell into place.

I imagine one could look for months and even years and not be able to find something that works as well as this. And yet, there it was.. right in front of me.. all I had to do was take the shot.

Warning: If you are afflicted with arachnaphobia, as I am, you will not appreciate my posting the next photograph. "But wait", you are thinking, "how does a person consumed with fear in the presence of a spider maintain the composure required to focus on one?" A valid question and one that renders me equally curious for the answer since it amazes me that I am able to do it.

I credit my increasing tolerance for the eight legged community to my son who is enthralled by insects of any denomination and not only enjoys watching them, but spends his energy protecting them. This means that the barbaric act of reducing a spider to two dimensions is out of the question. Now when I encounter an invader, I've learned to stand back as my philanthropic son captures it and releases it into greener pastures. I also learned to allow these creatures to spin webs (outdoors of course) and even to watch them on occasion - they really are magnficent creatures.

These days, I approach it as a challenge to see if I can photograph one and consider it a personal accomplishment if I am successful. Besides, I know that if I present an image such as the one below, I am a cool Mom. So you see... incredible feats become more credible once you understand what drives them!

© Christine Mastroianni, all rights reserved

By the way, this was an assembly temporarily collected in my son's bug container. The spider had quickly made a web, and was brave enough to check out his rather large roommate when I grabbed my camera. Rest assured that no creatures were harmed in the making of this photograph - including the spider! They were all released into a conservation area and left to fend for themselves.. as nature intended.

I took another photograph of these steps, just one picturesque facet of Bowring Park in St. John's, Newfoundland, without a subject. It depicts a location that is serene, rustic, and quiet. But toss in a pint sized being on a mission and it becomes a completely different sort of image. Now when I look at my original photo, I can't get past the thought that there's something missing!

So what do you think about him?

Is he reaching new heights? Climbing the kindergarden ladder? Forging out on his own and seeking new experiences?

Is this his maiden voyage to the top of this hill or is this the eleventh time he's run up and down around and up again? How many times will he make the trip before deciding he's done it enough? Does he also run down or just up?

How would you describe him? Curious? Brave? Defiant? Is he running away or running towards something?

Is he getting exercise? Getting tired? Getting his way?

Does he make you want to find out what's up there?

© Christine Mastroianni, all rights reserved

Looking out from the Ocean Sciences Centre of Memorial University,

St. John's, Newfoundland

© Christine Mastroianni, all rights reserved

It's peculiar the things that induce homesickness sometimes. Take this dreary looking landscape, representative of an uncomfortably damp afternoon, of heavy air saturated with the kind of chill that seeps far into your pores and refuses to leave. The ocean is temultuous and the sky ominous; it's unclear whether the rainclouds are going to pass over or if they are about to smother what little brightness remains. It is destitute of any signs of life, not even a determined seagull. This is certainly not the Newfoundland that one sees celebrated in tourism advertising!

But for me, and perhaps for anyone else who can smell the briny air and feel the fluttering of the mist on their skin just from looking at such an image, this is the Newfoundland they know. It's not always like this, as you have seen from my other images from the area, but it's part of it. This is her relentless, gritty face, one that only someone from downhome could love. I like to think that this is one of the reasons Newfoundlanders are so resilient! And how we can so confidently believe that no matter how melancholy today appears, it won't persist.

Cloud Gate - Millenium Park, Chicago

© Christine Mastroianni, all rights reserved

Few things are cooler than taking a leisurely walk in the park on a luxurious summer day and turning the corner only to encounter an enormous drop of liquid mercury! That's one description of Anish Kapoor's fluid sculpture, Cloud Gate, that captures the attention of everyone in its range, drawing them in for a closer look. But the closer you get, the more intense its spell as you discover just how intriguing is its reflection - at once crystal clear and mystically distorted. With every move your view changes; it's addictive to just walk around it as you become mesmerised by its sharpness and personality. It's not just smooth, it has an arch underneath that does even stranger things to your likeness. And that's not to mention the magic it bestows on one array of Chicago's awesome skyline! It was a fabulous photographic subject and I imagine that if I lived there, I'd be visiting it often to see what is does at different times of the day, during different weather conditions, in different seasons...

© Christine Mastroianni, all rights reserved

Flamingo by Alexander Calder - Downtown Chicago

In addition to having the opportunity to walk through a magical kinetic world created by Alexander Calder at the Museum of Contemporary Art, I also got to stand under a much heavier piece as well. This ravishing bird is perched in Chicago's Federal Plaza, which is currently under some construction but unable to detract from the structure's magnificent beauty and stature. I was in awe as I walked under its massive limbs, delighted by all the various imagery I discovered, depending on which angle I was viewing. Whenever I photograph sculpture like this, I wonder how I can possibly come up with something different than what everyone else has seen, but nonetheless, this one emerged as my favourite creation.

© Christine Mastroianni, all rights reserved

I shot this during the return flight from a recent first trip to Chicago. I've been thinking about travel a lot lately, delving into exactly what is so alluring about getting on a plane or a train and just getting away! Is it the thrill of seeing life in front of a new backdrop for a little while.. something new and stimulating to keep your eyes and viewpoints limber? Is it the satisfaction of temporarily relieving yourself of your duties, however enjoyable or mundane they may be in your everyday life? Is it getting to sleep in?

I guess really, it's all about shaking things up, isn't it.. expanding your knowledge base, challenging your adaptability.. your eagerness for adventure. How much you get out of it depends on how much you are willing to stretch yourself. After all, being in a city where you are just another accessory for its avenues and curbs should spur you to speak a little more boldly, forge ahead in a dress you would never think of wearing at home, and perhaps enjoy a delectable meal of sushi for the first time. And then you return home a little richer, a little more seasoned, and most certainly completely refreshed!
© Christine Mastroianni, all rights reserved