Perspective refers to an outlook and point of view, while prospective is future-oriented, suggesting a vision of what is to come. Both this personal and aspirational approach, encompass the spirit of this student photography project. Presented in partnership with the School of Media, Art and Design at Durham College, this exhibition showcases photographs taken by students in the first year Photography and Video Production program. For the project, the students explored photovoice, a process through which photography is used to reflect lived-experience and connect through the sharing of personal perspectives. They were then invited to tell a personal story through images, documenting their environment and daily experiences.
This project was part of an integrated learning experience where the students learned about the history of the Thomas Bouckley Collection, the power of using photovoice, and the value of looking inward. The Thomas Bouckley Collection, housed at the RMG, has over 3,500 photographs that visualize the history of Oshawa. However, the collection lacks the stories and perspectives of many of Oshawa’s residents. Installed in the Thomas Bouckley Collection corridor, this project is part of The Robert McLaughlin Gallery’s ongoing effort to present diverse perspectives from the community.
The resulting photographs shared similar themes, reflecting the students’ realities and observations: empty streets or paths, solace in nature, changing environments, the visible impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and exploration of community. We want to thank all of the participating students for sharing their lives with us through the power of photographs.
Shane Kreslin, Waiting, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Oshawa GO Station, ON
“I was waiting for my brother to get off the train and wanted to capture the feeling of waiting for a family member or a friend to get off the train.”
Ryan Caley, Twisting Path, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Bowmanville, ON
“The creek is situated right in the middle of Bowmanville, and it is amazing how you feel completely immersed in nature by venturing down some of the less travelled paths while still always being no less than a five minute walk away from a main road or neighbourhood.”
ulon Williams-Stewart, Autumn Leaves , 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Oshawa Valley Botanical Garden, Oshawa, ON
“There is a lot to be said about nature. No matter the time of day, weather, or season, it always finds a way to remain breathtaking.”
Walter Cheung, Durham College, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Durham College, Oshawa, ON
“I picked Durham College as my subject because …the memories that I have created here are unforgettable. This building has a special meaning to me because the year that this building was completed was the same year I started my studies at Durham College. It was also the location of my first course.”
Jordan Rushton, Plentiful Apples, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Maple Grove Orchards, Bowmanville, ON
“It conveys a joyful and relatable experience by capturing something anyone can do. I want these photos to allow anyone to bring back memories or make new ones about an apple orchard.”
Shyanne Rodriguez-Kiritpal, Out of the Shadows, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Dean Park, Oshawa, ON
“Halloween is one of my most favorite holidays of the year. Last year in 2020 when COVID-19 hit hard, there were many cancellations of trips, events, parties, as well as holidays, one of them being Halloween.”
Tyler Lee, Cancelled Date, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Parkwood Estate, Oshawa, ON
“With my photos, I try to tell the story of growing up and losing innocence.”
Trinity Wishnowski, Watching Cat, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Niagara Park, Oshawa, ON
“There is nothing that beats the love I have for my friends…taking photos helps us capture moments we might not get again.”
Vanessa Legrow Garnon, Hear a Breeze, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Port Perry, ON
“I want to show the history of places and people. I want my pictures to tell a story, I want it to show the emotions of the person and or place in the picture.”Trinity Wishnowski, Watching Cat, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Niagara Park, Oshawa, ON
“There is nothing that beats the love I have for my friends…taking photos helps us capture moments we might not get again.”
Travis Frost, Chase McAsphalt, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Oshawa Pier, Oshawa, ON
“My beautiful friend Chase posing at the Oshawa Pier across from McAsphalt.”
Shivam Puri, Hope, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Whitby, ON
“Photography has helped me with capturing emotional and social issues which has the power to influence and change the world.”
Singh Japneet, Always Together, 2021, digital photograph. Edition 1/1
Location: Oshawa Valley Botanical Garden, Oshawa, ON
“I believe an image is a poem without words and I try to portray stories with my images.”
Sohilahamad Bodar, Facing the Clock, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Toronto, ON
“I tried to show Toronto from the eyes of an international student…if I hadn’t got support from the local community, I would have felt homesickness or not accepted. But I didn’t even feel for a moment that I am an outsider.”
Shahriq Hosain, Food Truck, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Winchester Road Food Trucks, Oshawa, ON
“I created images from the perspective of a man who was raised in the city. I create my personal vision through experiences.”
Emily Ryde, Conquer Darkness, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Oshawa, ON
“I wanted to capture Oshawa and the Durham Region in one common way by showcasing the issue we all share commonly in these times.”
Sarah St. Denis, Arts Origin, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Durham College, Oshawa, ON
“Arts Origin is a look inside what it is like to be attending Durham College as a first year Video Production student. I captured this image inside one of the many photography studios on campus while my classmates and I were learning how to properly shoot portrait images.”
Nathan Thompson, Future, 2021, digital photograph. Edition 1/1
Location: Oshawa, ON.
“Future was shot off of Center and King Streets, arguably the highest traffic intersection in Oshawa. This intersection is near the heart of town and has street art at nearly every block as well as the most active bus routes in town. Future captures a feeling of hope.”
Nolan Drew, Leading the Way, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Durham College, Oshawa, ON
“A crucial piece of Oshawa to a lot of people is the
student life and experience, as well as the locations they spend a lot of time at. I took a long walk around the Durham College Oshawa campus, and got plenty of pictures of various buildings and beautiful things in the area.”
Megan Gibbs, Peering Beyond the Canopy, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Lakeview Park, Oshawa, ON
“As someone who loves nature, the variety of sights and plants the Durham region has to offer is a true joy to explore and discover.”
Matthew Peuker, Fireside, 2021, digital photograph. Edition 1/1
Location: Langmaid Road, Hampton, ON
“Through my photos, I want to show people that even in the times that feel the darkest, when everyone feels alone, joy can persist. I want to remind people of childlike joy and freedom, where even when fear and anxiety exist, we can still stand up, start walking, and live life with smiles on our faces and joy in our day-to-day lives.”
Marissa Finn, Simcoe United Church, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Oshawa, ON
“My husband was a big inspiration behind this work as he is very into history and likes to take our family on trips around town to show us some of his favourite places and tell us some of the history behind them.”
Kyron Maloney, Beach Calling, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Port Darlington, Bowmanville, ON
“Having parents who immigrated from the Caribbean, nice hot weather and beaches was always something to look forward to during the summers. This place reminds me of my childhood summers spent on the beaches of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”
Kimberly Cooke, Fallin’ with Corona, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Pickering City Hall, Pickering, ON
“The empty benches that would regularly have been filled with friends or families enjoying the fall weather, lay bare and unused due to a virus that attacks us physically and now has wedged a perceptional division in people indefinitely.”
Kyle Mercieca, Social Central, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Riley’s Pub, Oshawa, ON
“When I was in my late teens to early twenties, me and my friends would often go drive and park at the Oshawa parking garage, play some billiards, have a few drinks at the Riley’s Pub, and go on to have a great night. To me, Riley’s was a staple social setting in Durham Region/Oshawa and many memorable nights were spent there.”
Krissha Patterson, Haustvindar, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens, Oshawa, ON
“The great outdoors holds so many mysteries and wonders that we all have taken for granted.”
Duale Mohamed Omar, Kolanji In Front of Graffiti in North Oshawa, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Oshawa, ON
“This photoshoot showcases art, graffiti, fashion, hip-hop, and the urban scene of Oshawa.”
Muhammad Mutahir, Durham College, Leading the Way, 2021, digital Photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Durham College, Centre for Collaborative Education, Oshawa, ON
“I took a photo of the CFCE building because it’s part of the campus where I go to study and attend classes. I also like the architectural design of the building and how it stands out compared to all the other buildings on campus.”
Katie OConnor, Peaceful Bridge, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens, Oshawa, ON
“I have always enjoyed the peacefulness and tranquility that parks can achieve, even in the middle of a bustling city, and wanted to capture that peacefulness.”
Jorge Dorado, Little Bentley, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Lakeview Park, Oshawa, ON
“When I moved to Canada, like many, I had to leave behind great loves. One of them was my dog who, due to immigration and COVID-19 restrictions, will not yet be able to come to his new home. That’s why my interest is to honor the love of my canine son by capturing the day to day lives of people lucky enough to have pets, dreaming of soon being one of them.”
Jarvis Perryman, Building and Sky, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Durham College, Oshawa, ON
“As someone from a small community in Ajax, the architecture around our school is breathtaking.”
Jacqueline Mackle, North Church, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Oshawa, ON
“Churches are a big part of my life and I find myself drawn to them, there is so much history there and so many untold stories.”
Jessica Welter, The Mass, 2021, digital photograph. Edition 1/1
Location: Camp 30, Bowmanville, ON
“With every image I took at Camp 30 not only am I telling the stories from our history but I am sharing the image in a new light after many years. The story of Camp 30 is not well known but I hope to help shine more light onto this historical monument with my images.”
Pancham Dhupar, Rainy Day Be Like, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Oshawa, ON
“I am an international student…I want people to see what I see every day, through my photos.”
Hayden A. Bannister, Rusty Mailboxes, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Bowmanville, ON
“Bowmanville. It’s the town I grew up in, the town I saw change from a tiny industrial workhorse to a lively small city. It has the trifecta; strong farms, strong industry, and, more recently, small but strong urban areas. Despite this change, I believe the beauty of this town is in the old rusty stuff.”
Harshit Donter, Kizashi, 2021, digital photograph. Edition 1/1
Location: Uxbridge, ON
“Kizashi” is a Japanese word that means ‘something good is about to happen.’ The title was inspired by the old clock in Downtown Uxbridge and the scene behind it that gave me a feeling that something good will happen.”
Alden Giberson, Bus Stop, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Durham College, Oshawa, ON
“My work explores my personal progression as a photographer but it also showcases my willingness to challenge myself.”
Gemma Mazza, After the Rain, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Rotary Park, Bowmanville, ON
“I’ve always had an appreciation for the outdoors and nature that has since grown a lot this past year and a half. Because of this, I’ve spent a lot more time in parks, paths, and trails where I can experience all kinds of moments.”
Eric Lambert, A Powerful Current, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens, Oshawa, ON
“The river reminds me of the times I would go fishing with my grandfather, or “pops,” as I called him before he passed away six years ago. We would chat and joke around and generally just have a good time whilst we were fishing.”
Faizaan Lockhat, Community, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Whitby, ON
“This photograph showcases community, a key pillar that makes up the Durham region.”
Brianna Stokes, Nature’s Bath, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens, Oshawa, ON
“As we live our daily lives and attempt to find some type of normalcy, I tend to find myself leaning on the beauty of nature to find a sense of peace. No matter how much I have going on or how much is changing in my life, I know I can always take a quick walk around the block or trip to the park and find myself in awe of the beauty that is nature.”
Emilia Cipollone, Tug of War, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Whitby, ON
“I am a mother of rescue dogs and always will be. Helping animals is my way of helping the community, and giving back however I can.”
Emily Radacz, Elliott, 2021, digital photograph. Edition 1/1
Location: St. George’s Anglican Church, Ajax, ON
“I chose to photograph graves in Durham for this exhibition and I focused on group headstones. I couldn’t help but think of the stories these people had or could have had. These are peaceful places where all problems become obsolete.”
Colin Lafond, Autumn History, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Camp 30, Bowmanville, ON
“This photo was taken at Camp 30 while I was walking around taking pictures and noticed the bright autumn colours on the tree nearby. I wanted to document the architecture and different buildings while making it appealing and eye grabbing.”
Connor Agnew, Infinity, 2021, digital photograph. Edition 1/1
Location: Paulynn Park, Ajax, ON
“These last couple of months really allowed me to see the artistic world through a different lens. When looking at the world around us objectively, if that’s even possible, it’s easy to see how we take the community we live in for granted.”
Colin Harrop, Fall Warmth, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Ajax, ON
“Growing up and living my whole life in Ajax, I have never really spent the time to appreciate the colours and beauty of the city. Walking to school most of my childhood I never did pay attention to the scenery and wildlife until going around to shoot photos.”
Andrew Baker, Camp 30 Entrance, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Camp 30, Bowmanville, ON
“For this project I had the idea of going to multiple historic buildings throughout Durham region, but after doing some extensive research over a couple of days I decided to do my project on Camp 30 and my perspective on the camp.”
Bobby Quin, What’s the Buzz?, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Parkwood Estate, Oshawa, ON
“What better way to showcase how beautiful the land around us truly is then by capturing it in motion.”
Analyn Whyte, Through the Wreath, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens, Oshawa, ON
“I enjoy taking photographs of nature….[it’s] where I feel at home. I like the look of trees and water and especially enjoy the look of the sky at sunset and sunrise.”
Dejah Wocker, Johnson & Johnson, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Walmart, Oshawa, ON
“The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all in so many ways, from an increase in job loss to the death of people closest to us.”
Eva Modica, Best Burgers, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Olympus Burgers, Port Hope, ON
“I wanted to capture the essence of a family run restaurant in Port Hope, as they are the heart of the town.”
David Dixon, Ghost, 2021, digital photograph. Edition: 1/1
Location: Montgomery Park Road, Pickering, ON
“Thank you, mom, for driving me to shooting locations in the cold, in the rain, and at night. You are the best and you make a great ghost.”Eva Modica, Best Burgers, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Olympus Burgers, Port Hope, ON
“I wanted to capture the essence of a family run restaurant in Port Hope, as they are the heart of the town.”
Aaron Lagler, The Lighthouse, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Heydenshore Boardwalk, 589 Water Street, Whitby, ON
“Coping with insomnia for the last few years of my life, nothing has tossed me further into the depths of loneliness during these times than having to face it alone…The thing that pulled me back to reality most was my art. My art confronts solitude as a form of solace, reminding me that it’s okay to be alone, it’s okay to feel alone; sometimes it’s what we need.”
Patrick Chayer, Playtime, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Kingside Park, Oshawa, ON
“This photo is about my life as a child and the places that have had a huge impact on my life.”
Sartaj Singh, Fresh Buns, 2021, digital photograph. Edition 1/1
Location: Toronto, ON
“I recently moved to this city, thus wanted to explore the city life at night.”
Montana Budd-Haynes, Loss Where Hope Once Stood, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: GM Assembly Plant, Oshawa, ON
“I tried to capture what I believe represents Durham Region…including the emotional and historical connection that Oshawa has to the General Motors Assembly Plant.”
Ekansh Yakhmi, Workers, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition AP 1/1
Location: Punjab, India
“I have captured farmlands and a scene of harvesting from my community in Punjab, India.”
Jason Kruetzmann, All Roads Lead to Home, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Conlin Road East and Harmony Road South, Oshawa, ON
“It took me a long time to find somewhere that felt like home. Through my teens and twenties, I travelled the country, chasing that elusive “home” feeling. Nothing ever felt right until I moved to Oshawa. The growth and potential of this city is awe-inspiring, and I’m proud to call it my home.”
Natasha Miles, Present, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Port Perry, ON
“Being by the water brings me peace and a sense of calm and connectedness; it is a time of reflection and closure as the waves ripple towards me.”
Norbert Turoczi, Places To Be, 2021, digital photograph. Edition 1/1.
Location: Toronto, ON
“I focused on showcasing my city’s most valued asset, the people who live in it. Toronto is a fast-moving city; no matter the time of the day, there will always be floods of people marching up and down the street.”
Brooke Warner, Woman Warrior, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Oshawa Fire Department Station 1, Oshawa, ON
“As a photographer and a passionate volunteer within my community, I strive to capture important people and places that make a difference in the community. Jessica Crombie is one of five female firefighters in the Oshawa Fire Department stationed at the Department Headquarters, Station One. Each station specializes in a different area of training; Station One specializes in survival training.”
Erik Smith, Tradition, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Dr. Roberta Bondar Public School, Ajax, ON
“This picture captures fond memories of walking to school every day with the community of friends and people I once used to know. I also challenge anyone to visit the baseball stadium at Dr. Roberta Bondar and not find a pop can stuck in the pole.”
Emilie Maltais, Little Adventures, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Oshawa, ON
“As a mother, I know how important each moment and memory can be, and I hope to be able to catch as many as I can so that I may preserve them in time.”
Rebecca Otto, Parkwood Sculpture, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Parkwood Estate, Oshawa, ON
“I am not from Durham Region, so I got to explore and learn about the history of Durham through sculptures. Across Durham Region there is a wide variety of sculptures each telling an innovative story about the history and the life before. For each sculpture I photographed it related in a symbolic way to my life and experiences.”
Michael Mlynarczyk, Construction, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: King Street, Downtown Oshawa, ON
“Oshawa is a city full of character, especially downtown, home to great little restaurants, boutiques shops, unique stores, exciting people, developments, and much more. It has its flaws and the potential to be a great place, which I have noticed whenever I’m out in the city, there are constantly updates or improvements being made.”
Kayleigh Algar, Planes of the Past, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition: 1/1
Location: Tyrone Mills, Bowmanville, ON
“Travel has always been a part of me, a part of my culture, and a part of my community…With every passing moment in a new environment, I can see the stories that have been told there. This time, the stories that have been shared all revolve around a mill producing flour and manufacturing lumber in the Durham Region.”
Liam McManus, From The Past to No Mask, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Courtice, ON
“Both sides to the image tell a story…the pandemic was not easy for anyone, including me, so I wanted to show that in a picture.”
Jonathan Miller, Weather Vane, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Windfields, Oshawa, ON
“I think that the story of how the places we live in came to be is most often neglected. Exploring our current living spaces for links to the past is another way that my work attempts to connect history to place.”
Cameron McNeely, Contamination, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Kinsmen Civic Memorial Stadium, Oshawa, ON
“As a new resident in the Durham region, I decided there is no better way of experiencing the area than to explore downtown Oshawa, the heart of this city, and its surrounding area. This photo reflects my first impressions of the city of Oshawa and my experience so far as a new resident.”
Robyn McGrenere, Solitude, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Lakeview Park, Oshawa, ON
“As someone who is not from the area and grew up in Trenton, ON with nature all around me, moving to a bigger city was quite the change. Shortly after moving here, I discovered the Lakeview Park Beach and instantly felt more at home.”
Logan James, Expansion of Port Perry, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Across from Old Simcoe Road and Paxton Street, Port Perry, ON
“While attending Durham College I am living from home in my home town of Port Perry. As an artist and on a personal level I wanted to create a collection of images that show the ongoing development of my neighbourhood… This is a big change for myself and my town, as throughout my life there has been little development of my surroundings.”
Jacobin Mathews, Magician, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Steve’s Leather Fashions, 70 Bond St. W, Oshawa
“I am from Kerala, India where one of my best childhood memories consists of my mother taking me and my brother to a tailor shop every new year for new clothes.”
Taylor Will, The Boardwalk, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Waterfront Park, Ajax, ON
“As a first-year international student living in Canada, taking photos everywhere I go has been one of the best ways for me to not only explore and familiarize myself with my new surroundings in the Durham region, but also help me bring the stories of my new adventures to life when sharing them with my friends and family back home.”
Jaden Howson-Visser, The Art of Staining, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Guelph, ON
“Being born in Guelph and raised by my father who is a portrait artist for a living meant I got to see a lot of the art community at work not only in the public eye but also behind the scenes… This is local artist Lynn Chadwick soldering together stained glass art for a church.”
Bryanna Fudge, Building of Hope, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: CMHA Durham, Oshawa, ON
“I chose to photograph the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) building because since the age of fifteen, I have been using their services. Being so young and going through two large milestones was challenging. That building is lifesaving. Walking in those doors, you are welcomed and accepted no matter what your life story is.”
Jacey Boyer, A Century Home, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Port Perry, ON
“When I think about my community, Port Perry, I think about all the historical buildings. There are many across Port Perry and they always catch my eye.”
Stuart Foster, Transit, 2021, digital photograph. Edition 1/1
Location: Durham College, Oshawa, ON
“I documented how I experience Oshawa, and Durham Region as a whole. I decided to photograph a few of my frequent spots around the city, and more importantly how I got there.”
Jacqueline Woods, Home, 2021, digital photograph. Edition 1/1
Location: Oshawa, ON
“My childhood home… helped stimulate my creativity and curiosity for photography.”
Aaron McInnes, Retirement Home Workers, 2021,
digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Oshawa, ON
“These are my parents who work at a long-term care home as food service aide workers for the elderly… they are the hardest working people I know and a big inspiration to me.”
Jayde Duhn, Fifty Shades of Orange, 2021, digital photograph.
Edition 1/1
Location: Parking garage, downtown Oshawa, ON
“These sunset images that I chose were taken in downtown Oshawa. I took them while on a walk. One of the messages I wanted to convey was that even though we live in a city, it is still possible to see the beauty our earth has to offer.”
Please be sure to visit both the onsite exhibition at The Robert McLaughlin Gallery on display until June 5, 2022, as well as the online exhibition that includes all of the student’s work here.
