Toronto

In common with so much of the city, Toronto’s harbour district strikes the visitor as being reassuringly safe and immaculately clean. It seems that every conceivable inch of this waterfront area has been put to good use. In between the condominiums, restaurants and cafés are small plots of land that have been carefully cultivated to create attractive and thoughtfully landscaped gardens, forming pictureseque foregrounds that contrast with and yet complement the cityscape beyond.

This photograph is dedicated to Loreena McKennitt , the Canadian singer, composer and musician, who sat beside Ian on his flight from Heathrow to Toronto. On the plane’s descent towards Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, its pilots aborted the landing at the last minute (or so it seemed). During the consequent unexpected, unexplained and terrifyingly sudden ascent, Loreena attempted to distract Ian (who had earlier told her that he was no fan of flying) by calmly and kindly providing a fascinating insight into Celtic culture and history, and the way the music of the Celts has informed her own. Loreena’s soothing words were invaluable in assisting Ian through an experience he would prefer to not be repeated. If he ever travels to Toronto again, he’ll insist on rowing there.


Exposure of 1/5 second at f/22.

Canon EOS 5D and EF 16-35mm lens.