This article features a selection of images that capture examples of Newfoundland whimsy that we discovered during our recent visit to the province. One of the things my wife and I enjoy when doing a photography tour is finding some whimsy along the way. These creative expressions can often say a lot about the culture and attitude of the destination that is being visited.
NOTE: Click on images to enlarge.
In our initial Newfoundland articles we noted that we faced a lot of fog and rain during our two weeks exploring areas of the province. Finding this sign was a great reminder about enjoying one’s surroundings regardless of weather conditions.
One afternoon we were following some coast roads that offered little to view other than rocks and trees adjacent to the road. Finding this large, moose sculpture made from rocks was a real treat.
One of the specific destinations we included on our trip was a visit to Bonavista… primarily so we could visit the nearby puffin colony located in Elliston.
These puffin chairs made us both smile. If we had driven our own car to Newfoundland and taken the ferry across from Nova Scotia… one of the smaller puffin chairs may have made the ride home with us.
Whimsy can appear in the unlikeliest of locations. Like next to a local general store in a rural area.
Or on the roof of a brightly painted private residence. I hope Santa recovers from his tumble in time for the festive season.
The use of strong, primary colours is often found on houses, sheds and other structures. I loved the whimsical curved lines and colour combination on this shed.
Sometimes whimsy can be mixed in with commercial promotions.
Like many other people, my wife and I often gravitate to different visual aspects of a scene. She noticed this unusual presentation on the front lawn of a house as we were driving by.
I was concentrating on the road conditions and would have missed this photographic opportunity completely. We turned around and both got out of the car to compose some images. The homeowner came out and gave us a warm welcome . She encouraged us to stay as long as we wanted, and roam around her front yard.
My wife is an avid gardener and captured this sign. My attention was focused elsewhere and I didn’t even notice it.
I also didn’t notice this interesting carving she found in one of the trees. Most of us have had experiences when out with other photographers visiting the same location, and coming away with completely different images.
The image above and most of the ones that follow are all examples of whimsy from that same front yard display.
My wife and I both agreed that one of the most creative pieces of whimsy we saw during our Newfoundland travels was this creation made out of old tires. Being open to photographing some whimsy can add some interest and creativity to our journeys. Even those with a lot of fog and rain.
Technical Note
Photographs were captured handheld using camera gear as noted in the EXIF data. Images were produced from RAW files using my standard process. This is the 1,288 article published on this website since its original inception in 2015.
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