Simple Beauty,The Art of Texture, Form & Colour -excerpt

SIMPLE BEAUTY

In Simple Beauty, George transports us into a space where we can stop and smell the roses.

Inhale healthy breezes. Embrace the genial sun. And refresh our jaded scenery.

THE ART OF TEXTURE, FORM & COLOUR

George delves into the depths of everyday images to elicit moments of intimacy and intricacy.

Moments that decelerate the pace, engage the imagination and help us appreciate life anew.

FISCHER

Focusing his intuitive photographic lens on beauty in the commonplace, George Fischer brings to light a vivid world beyond technology, traffic and tension. A place to pause with inspirational gems and moments of splendour. A realm where deeply sensitive images of life spark amazement and awaken joy.

SIMPLE BEAUTY THE ART OF TEXTURE, FORM & COLOUR

$44.95 ISBN 978-1-77108-536-6

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781771

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NIMBUS

nimbus.ca

P H OTOS BY G EO RG E F ISCH ER

2017-08-14 6:13 PM

For all photographers I’ve met along the way who are furthering the pursuit of art for its own sake – and learning to see everything anew.

Copyright © 2017 George Fischer All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the photographer, George Fischer.

Art Director and Designer Catharine Barker, National Graphics, Toronto, ON Canada Copy Editor E. Lisa Moses Captions Selina Barker Photo Credit Sean Fischer, pages 194-195, 277

Ryan Fischer, pages 314-315 Nimbus Publishing Limited PO Box 9166, Halifax, NS Canada B3K 5MB Tel.: 902-455-4286 Printed in China COVER: Stylistic

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

reeds push through the glassy surface of Waskesiu Lake in Prince Albert National Park.

Waskesiu, Saskatchewan, Canada

Fischer, George, 1954[Photographs. Selections]

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Simple beauty : the art of texture, form & colour / photos by

Madrid, Spain

George Fischer.

ISBN 978-1-77108-536-6 (hardcover) 1. Photography, Artistic. 2. Fischer, George, 1954-. I. Title.

TR650.F52 2017

A shallow puddle on a cobblestone road reshapes the stone building above.

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Vermilion tones of iron oxide fire up the soft curves of a sandstone cliff. Îles de la Madeleine, Québec, Canada

Since

Contents

I first began to follow my calling as a photographer more than 30 years ago, the elements have become part of my DNA. Water,

wood, wind, fire, earth and metal deliver inspiration, challenge and bliss. They are my constant playmates, beckoning me not only to record their dynamic moods, but also to look beyond the obvious and draw out their souls. Inside their complex universe are milliseconds of spiritual messaging that escape the ordinary eye, perhaps never to

A fresh take

A new look at the ordinary

return. In this book, I unearth those tiny moments of simple beauty and share them for

For beauty and bliss

your enjoyment, relaxation and sensibility.

Extracting those mystical dimensions has had me hanging out of helicopters, perching

Creative views

at the edges of glaciers, repelling down cliffs and scaling ancient buildings. I have cycled down hazardous rock formations, paddled through icy waters – and more than once looked into the eye of a terrifying storm. In crafting those images, I have also encountered astonishing flora and fauna that add sparkling facets to many stories.

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Zooming in on art for its own sake

169

Sparks of inspiration

Meditation on tranquillity 285

Heaven is in the details

The human element, too, is a vital part of my photographic narratives and has delivered some of my most precious moments. Over the years, I have been blessed with fascinating and fabulous subjects, many of whom have become friends. People of all ages and stages have allowed me to record their artful performances of dance, song and music as well as intimate aspects of their lives. Their willing participation in my still images has conveyed movement, sound, aroma – and brought to the surface unique perceptions of the human heart.

As a conduit of elemental beauty, my lens transports viewers into a space far removed from the tense world of commerce and connectivity, technology and traffic. This book is your “pause button” on the frenetic pace of life that will let you bask in the luxury of tiny artistic gems. Gems that will carry you into a cozy world of intriguing images, congeniality and contentment. And remain a calming influence when you return to reality.

The surf bubbles up around the slick rocks on Jalama Beach.

Santa Barbara, California, United States of America

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A FRESH TAKE My

ongoing interactions with natural, human and animal elements have led me to snare many one-of-a-kind moments by chance or design. Looking

through familiar media from different aspects can turn an ordinary scene on its end – or on its ear.

Peering through moving water and fragmented glass can alter reality or unveil surreal visions beneath common earthly sights. The flirty underside of la tour Eiffel peeks out from a fountain pool. The reflection of the CN Tower in the windows of a tall office building takes on the texture of candy floss. Angled sunlight on limpid waters, swaying grasses and jagged rocks fashions new designer shades of turquoise and blue. A harbour seal curled over a rock in a placid lake becomes an otherworldly beast.

The play of sunlight and moonlight on the elements creates dramatic shadows and shapes, turning everyday sights into stunning events. A black light standard against a skyscraper startles as it stares down on me with bug-like eyes. Voluptuous curves in fabric, wood, metal and flora seduce with magic impressions that quicken the heart.

Bouncing off orange lifesavers on a dock, the evening sun sets the water on fire. In the right light, even debris becomes art.

I have always believed that a fresh take on the ordinary can supercharge one’s life.

It invigorates the mind, body and soul. It awakens the hope of a new beginning, the wonder of tomorrow, the challenge of the unknown. And photographs are roundtrip tickets to those miraculous moments.

A fountain pool in the Champ-De-Mars reflects the Eiffel Tower’s signature iron latticework.

Paris, France

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The night lights on Tower Bridge harmonize with the relentless flow of passing cars and boats on the River Thames.

London, England

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Reflected in the art installation, Sky Mirror, the Monte Carlo Casino takes on a fairytale aura.

Monte Carlo, Monaco

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Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.

PABLO PICASSO

Flowers, fences and a tree against a looming sky tell a fanciful tale on Ballard Canyon Road.

Solvang, California, United States of America

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FOR BEAUTY & BLISS Beauty

is said to be in the eye of the beholder. Through this book, from my eye to yours, I send you some blissful glimpses into heaven

and earth that startle, seduce and refresh. And the images prove that, in nature and imagination, beauty is more than skin deep.

Gorgeous photographs arouse passions and notions that I can revisit any time.

Breathtaking spikes of cacti, ice and flowers send shivers through my being. Mossy branches, winding rivers and veined rocks exude a certain sensuality, while the verdant rows of a vineyard or the soft undulations of a field beckon seductively.

Suggesting impressionist paintings are photos of misty waters and mountains, flashing swirls of music and dance, and the swaying waltz of windswept grasses.

The quest for artistic views and alluring sights takes me to the far corners of the world. Preserving my memories and impressions in short takes is often a long time in the making. My work reflects a range of eras, from cubism and primitivism to impressionism and neo-expressionism. Some images are metaphors for life; others are records of what is or could be.

Whatever the subject, whatever the place, I aim to find beauty in everything. When it’s a hidden gem, it takes digging or polishing. When it’s a well-known icon, it demands a look beyond the common views to interpret it my way. And sometimes, an unsightly vision takes close inspection to unveil its beauty. What I see may not be what you see; however, our different interpretations are beautiful in themselves. And I challenge you to behold the beauty in every little thing.

Cascades create a curtain down the walls of Glymur, Iceland’s highest waterfall.

Hvalfjörður, West Iceland

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The play of light on heavy spray adds an ethereal quality to the powerful Goðafoss waterfall.

Bárðardalur, Iceland

110

Like delicate brush strokes, naturally painted sandstone adds an artistic dimension to the Pealey Cliffs on Havre-aux-Maisons. Îles de la Madeleine, Québec, Canada

Soft moss clings to the gnarled branches of ancient trees in the rainforest near Juskatla.

Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada

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CREATIVE VIEWS In

my view, the creative process has always meant being on the lookout for inspiration, whether it comes from books or films, travel or adventure, wildlife

or people. Turning inspiration into ideas and then reality requires discipline, planning and a relentless pursuit of the right circumstances, subjects and context. It requires pursuing my curiosity out of my comfort zone so I can peel away layers of ordinary and unearth new strata of originality. I have to ask, “What would happen if…?” or “Why is …?” or “How does…?”

The discipline has always led to extraordinary outcomes, and in this book I share a goldmine of some findings. One of the richest sources of inspiration is architecture, where I can zoom in on artistic textures, shapes and features that are often beyond the reach of the naked eye. Curlicues chiseled into stone, fretwork on wooden peaks, and vistas of glass and steel reveal disparate cultures and lifestyles and soul.

But inspiration lies everywhere, and I cannot view anything with detachment. Rather, I am ecstatic about all offerings, whether they are tangible colours and shapes or ethereal feelings and characters. Because everything speaks to me: brightly hued umbrellas against sand or sky; the futuristic interplay of shadows and light; the fluid transference of reflections in water.

Creativity flourishes in an ecosystem of exploration, questioning and experimentation.

That environment is ideal for generating moments that matter for all time – and stimulate innovative, out-of-the box thinking. By doing so, I not only feed my own brain but also aim to open your mind, raise awareness and satisfy your curiosity.

The curvy stainless steel structure of the Walt Disney Concert Hall resembles billowing silver sails.

Los Angeles, California, United States of America

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178

Decorative dormers peek through a heavy blanket of snow.

Near Mont Tremblant, QuĂŠbec, Canada

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On the Andreas Canyon Trail, dehydrated fronds hang bunched near the bottom of a palm tree.

Palm Springs, California, United States of America

184

Layers of striped stone form thousands of giant cones in Bryce Canyon National Park.

Utah, United States of America

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Bright, chalky colours on a wall evoke a lively impressionist painting.

Bocas del Toro, Panamรก

196

Braided tassels swing off the end of a multicoloured cloth flecked with gold thread.

San Blas Islands, Panamรก

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252

A small puddle on the stone walkways of the Piazza del Duomo seems to turn Giotto’s Campanile, a part of the Florence Cathedral, into chrome.

Florence, Italy

A blue sky creates a rich backdrop for the inspired architecture of the F&F Tower (formerly Revolution Tower).

Panamá City, Panamá

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282

A strip of houses along the port of Nyhavn are painted in varying classic tones.

Copenhagen, Denmark

283

MEDITATIO NS

ON TRANQUILLITY I

have always found that a certain orderliness of patterns, textures and colours evokes tranquillity, which is a tidy state of mind. Easily lulling the psyche into

serenity are elements such as delicate mist around corners and curves, peaceful waters lapping against shores and shoals, summer breezes stirring the powdery sand or crisp snow nipping at the fingers. In pursuit of such moments, I have found that tranquillity is also contagious, so am passing the mood along through these images.

The quality of calm is readily found in the sights and sounds of nature. The patterns of pebbles, arrangements of rocks, reflections of light and interplay of plants create zen-like icons. Sturdy structures erected by humans or formed by nature exude a strength that soothes and secures – or display colours that paint the world in relaxing hues. It is also found in simplicity and solitude, often needing only one petal or dewdrop, one leaf or frond to transport the spirit into a place of serenity.

Tranquillity also resides in small blessings that peek out from commonplace sights.

The soulful eyes of an Icelandic horse. The wonder of the deep at the foot of a cliff on a dark blue bay. The furry texture of forest moss.

Many of my images, once etched on the mind, can serve as micro-oases of tranquillity to be recalled on demand for moments of escape from busy lives. Thoughts of a waterfall may calm you in a traffic jam, while the sliver of a peaceful beach could melt the crowds away. Whatever you need, conjure it up and seize the moment.

A rising sun warms and tints the grain as it awaits harvesting. Îles de la Madeleine, Québec, Canada

285

A tropical breeze stirs the sheer white drapes dressing the public areas of the boutique hotel El Otro Lado.

Near Portobelo, Panamรก

302

An overhang of jagged rocks juts into the steadily flowing Dettifoss waterfall.

Vatnajรถkull National Park, North Iceland

303

Enormous basalt columns are a hallmark of Iceland’s extraordinary terrain.

Vík í Mýrdal, South Iceland

320

Shadows etched by a setting sun waltz across the water near Riverside Drive.

Clayton, New York, United States of America

321

At the edge of Little Doctor Lake, a sandy hillside seems to pierce a motionless rock.

Northwest Territories, Canada

328

NEXT PAGE: A screen of early morning fog drifts past a foreboding summit near Runkuraqay Pass on the Inca Trail near Pacaymayo.

Cusco Region, Peru

A beautifully formed lotus flower basks in the summer sun.

Kyoto, Japan

329

You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.

MARK TWAIN Hot white beaches are kissed by cool sapphire waters in the Indian Ocean’s Arabian Sea. White Sands resort, Dhidhoofinolhu Island, South Ari Atoll, Maldives

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Smooth ripples on the surface of a deep body of water hint at a habitat for sea monsters.

Milford Sound, New Zealand

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georgefischerphotography.com

George Fischer is one of Canada’s most renowned and prolific landscape photographers. He has produced more than 50 books and 50 art posters as well as numerous prints. George’s work has appeared on the covers of countless international magazines and newspapers, and in the promotional publications of tourism agencies around the world. The publication Canada: 150 Panoramas sold out quickly and was reprinted to help celebrate Canada’s sesquicentennial. Exotic Places & Faces is a stunning compilation of his extensive travels. George’s book titled Unforgettable Canada was on The Globe and Mail’s bestseller list for eight weeks, selling over 50,000 copies.

From his base in Toronto, Canada, George is working on several new books, including Portugal, the Azores and Manitoba.

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