The Winter Fence 1
During the winter the city of Richmond decided to cut down wild brush that had overgrown a pathway on Iona Island, where the city airport is located. It seems that some areas were uncovered that for years could not be approached because of the Himalayan Blackberry bushes, an invasive plant the forms an absolutely impenetrable wall. The fence that protected the woodlands was finally revealed. Still the area looks like some massive environmental upheaval took place.
jim roche 2022 all rights reserved
Fence along the Hudson River.
The fence separates the picnic area for workers at the paper mill along the Hudson River. Just below is the falls that inspired the scene in The Last of the Mohegans. Even this early in the morning, just a few minutes after sunrise, the town is awake with lots of traffic crossing the small bridge from one side of the Hudson to the other. The cold was overwhelming, with the added dampness of the river fog coming and going, seemingly to hide from the morning sun. ©2022, all rights reserved. Jim Roche
Winter in the Garden
I arrived this morning at the gardens just as sunrise was taking place. Even two days after the heavy snowfall there was only a single set of human footprints and a few tracks of animals. No one seems to want to be out. Two large pheasants flew out of the garden. Hearing my footsteps on the crusted snow large black crows, a stark contrast to the white/grey snow and sky, flew away, took a look, found me harmless and returned in a flutter. The garden’s buildings, a set of semi-temporary structures which are my main interest are now seen in outline form. Colours muted, stature diminished. In my mind are images from the New Topographics movement, thinking how few were of winter…if any, and images from the Dusseldorf School which had photographers much more focused on landscapes, and you are more likely to see a winter image. I stayed as long as I could feel my toes. ©jim roche, all rights reserved.
Niagara Falls in the snow. ©jimroche 2022
Early morning, just as the snow is starting, I get my first view of Niagara Falls. The third major falls on our trip. The landscape is nearly monochrome due to the snow, and the snow and ice leave a bite on the skin as the droplets and flacks land. Very few people are here, most left very early to avoid the predicted snow storm.
Niagara Falls Power Station ©Jim Roche, 2022
The Niagra Falls power station and power grid kept my attention for a long time during my trip. The light, quickly changing and ranging from dramatic to over dramatic was the note of an oncoming snow storm. We soon left the area, racing east to avoid what in some areas was 5 meters of snow.
Don Valley, Toronto.
The Don Valley in Toronto after a short snowfall. The valley runs through residential and industrial areas, skirting the highway. My interest here is both in the liminal nature of the landscape and the more specific line that can be found between the structured and often industrial nature of the space and the natural areas, often just a few feet away from each other. After the snow several people came by to walk their dogs, and some sitting alone in their cars talking in an animated manner of their phones.
The End of Summer
The end of summer brings empty courts, waiting quietly, a sense of loss and smoke from nearby forest fires.
Another image from the shoreline on a day of forest fire smoke and haze.
The forest fires have been going on for a month or so, and with each shift in the wind new areas are filled with the smoke and haze. The wind seemed to change just as we arrived in Washington State.
