My Alma Mater
Queen’s University and the beginnings of my Photography
Although I began taking pictures in High School I did not really become proficient at it until I went off to Queen’s University in Kingston Ontario. This was where I began my love affair with cameras and the printed image. Unfortunately, I am somewhat compulsive and frequently my photography came ahead of my studies.
It was at Queens that, instead of working alone in my improvised basement darkroom, I suddenly had real darkrooms to use, with enlargers and equipment I could never afford myself, real publications to print my work, and real friends who shared my interest.
My photography back then was all black and white: it was inexpensive and the developing was very tolerant of error.
Ban Righ Hall on University Avenue
Following Henri Cartier-Bresson’s dictum that “your first 10,000 photographs are your worst”, I took lots of pictures; pictures by the 100 foot roll. Lots of them!
And here we have some of those images: images from my earliest photographic days. This is a tribute to the beauty of Queens University that gave me so much.
Lake Ontario
Queen’s University is located on Lake Ontario just where it empties into the St. Lawrence River. The campus is right on the lake in the oldest part of the town. It is not possible to overstate the beauty of the place in those days.
Each winter I was there the Lake Ontario froze over and we had miles of ice on which to skate and play. Cars drove on the ice, small planes landed on it and students packed parachutes on the ice and then jumped out of their plane to land on the ice and repeat the whole process over again. Life is so good when you are immortal.
Ontario Hall in the Fall
Theological Hall
The Campus
Through the haze of years and emotion I remember Queen’s to be a place of incredible beauty. I walked endlessly over that campus and came to know every corner of it. Even to this day I can feel the stillness and serenity punctuated by the noise that youth makes.
Walking to the Lower Campus
The Queen’s Tea Room
Union at University (Image 120012)
Initiations
Our initiation rituals, at least as I experienced them, were benign and friendly. We did not feel threatened and we threw ourselves into the ritual. And it did serve to eventually foster a feeling of solidarity and belonging.
Freshettes (Img 120054)
Queen’s Science ’64 (Img 120030)
Science ’64 Banner (Img 120037)
Levana Candle Lighting in Grant Hall (Img 120027)
Grease Pole Climb (Img 120044)
Levana Candle (Img 120028)
Science ’66 (Img 140074)
Freshette Wave (Img 120146)
Student Activities
One of the things I remember most was how much there was to do on campus. No matter what your interests, there was a club or a team, or a concert, always something. There was never enough time.
The Pipe Band (Image 120010)
Football
It is not an overstatement to say that in the fall the campus was football mad.
The Cheer (Image 120013)
Watching the Game (Image 120014)
Fans in the Stands (Image 120015)
What’s the Sport of Kings? (Image 120016)
Going to the Game (Image 120018)
Go Gaels Go (Image 120019)
Fans (Image 120015)
The Band in the Stands (Image 120021)
The Play (Image 120026)
Copyright
Unless otherwise clearly noted, all images on this website are examples of my own photography. They are available for your own non-commercial use. If you use them on your own website please include a link back to this site. All images are available in larger sizes upon request. Pricing varies depending upon size and intended use.
Use of Images
Some images on this site are the work of others and where they appear they are clearly noted and link backs to the original sites are included. If you see one of your images used here and you wish it removed or you feel the attribution is not stated clearly enough please contact me and the situation will be corrected immediately.