Tim Hortons outlet near a river with parked cars and a sunset sky.

Gathering Place

Gathering Place, 2018 to 2024, examines our need for physical connection with nature as well as with each other at a time of environmental decline and virtual relationships. These photos were taken over a number of years at a local fast-food restaurant on the shores of the Gatineau River, close to Ottawa, Canada. The property is mostly paved, often littered, and denuded of vegetation. The view, however, is of largely unspoiled wilderness, the river pouring pristinely out of the north. In the warmer weather people come and linger and I took pictures: parents with children, friends gathering, couples showing affection, bikers stopping for a coffee and a smoke, employees at the drive-thru window. This series unites my conceptual and environmental interests with my approach to street photography.

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Man in red shirt standing near riverbank, looking at river under cloudy sky.
A man sitting at the back of a vehicle smoking a cigarette, with three other people sitting by a river in the background.
A young woman sitting cross-legged on a blanket in a grassy field, reading a book. She has a drink with a straw beside her and is dressed in casual sportswear. Barely visible in the background are some trees and roadway infrastructure.
A woman and a boy sitting on the back of a pickup truck outdoors, with a girl sitting on a blanket on the grass nearby. The scene appears peaceful, with trees and open space in the background.
Black and white photo of an elderly woman and man sitting outdoors in folding chairs on grass, with a small dog near the woman, both holding papers.
A woman holding an infant at the open window of a parked car. The child is wearing a colourful bracelet and blue and white jumper. The woman is looking directly at the camera,
A black and white photo of a man and woman holding hands in a park with three geese in the background, behind a fence and trees.
A family sitting in the back of an open van, smiling with two dogs, a small mixed breed and a pug, in a casual outdoor setting.
Black and white photo of a person with both feet on the dashboard of a car, with trees and a bridge visible outside.
A woman sitting outdoors on a black portable chair, holding a baby. Green trees and a cloudy sky in the background.
A black and white photo of a man and woman sitting in a car, with the man in the driver seat looking outside and the woman in the passenger seat looking at the man. He appears serious. She is smiling.
A black and white photo of a man sitting inside a car, looking downward, with a part of the car and background buildings visible.
Four men are gathered around a sports car at a parking lot, with one elderly man sitting inside the car smiling, and three other men standing outside, laughing and talking. In the background, there is a utility vehicle and another car.
A group of people gathered in a parking lot near several motorcycles, with some standing and chatting and others possibly preparing for a ride. There are a few cars parked in the background, and a wooded hill can be seen beyond the parking lot. The i
A woman with short blonde hair leaning toward a green parrot perched on a wooden stand outdoors near a river and a bridge.
A woman and a teenage boy smiling outdoors in black and white, with the woman's hair blowing in the wind and the boy wearing a hat.
A group of children and an adult sitting on the back of a black vehicle outdoors enjoying a sunny day.
A young man with short hair, wearing a short-sleeved shirt, shorts, and sneakers, sits on a small portable stool near a body of water, facing away from the camera, with smoke rising from what appears to be a cigarette or vape in his hand. Trees and h
A black and white photo of a multigenerational family group sitting outdoors on benches during the evening, with a background of trees and streetlights.
A black and white photo of a family of five on a pickup truck at night. Two young girls are standing and mugging for the camera. An older girl and a man and woman are sitting in the truck bed. The man and woman are about to kiss..
A man in a white tank top and a cap is standing in front of a pickup truck, smoking a cigarette. The photo is in black and white with a dark background.
Nighttime scene in a parking lot illuminated by a tall streetlamp, with a group of four people near a car's open trunk, two of whom are standing and gesturing, while the other two stand nearby. The background shows a dark, hilly landscape and a stop
A young couple sitting closely on grass at night, outdoors in a parking lot, engaged in a private moment.
Three chairs of different styles arranged in a row outdoors on grass at night with a backdrop of trees and dark hills. A case of empty Corona beer on the ground.
Empty parking lot next to a river with hills in the background and a lit streetlamp at dusk