Digital, 2015.
Shadows and reflections at Toronto’s Don River.
Author: Gina Staios Photography
A nature and wildlife photographer from Toronto, Canada. A sunset enthusiast and a lover of landscapes and the outdoors.
Belonging
Young or old, male or female, wealthy or under privileged, we all have that one belonging we treasure and keep close to our heart. Some may have more than one and some may value one more over another. Regardless, they all remind us of important memories. My Human Subject series, entitled Belonging, documents these important objects belonging to different people that I consider myself to be close to. Each person has had a different experience in life and therefore, they will have an attachment to objects that others may not understand or be able to relate to. I was interested to see what those close to me find important and where they keep them. We can tell a lot about a person by looking at these things and what surrounds them along with the condition that these objects are kept in. It was enlightening to see what each person thought was special to them and to hear the stories behind each object.
Digital, 2013
Flowers of the Deceased
Flowers have many meanings and they are often associated with death. In these photographs, those that are deceased are masked with a flower. The viewer knows of their status but they do not know the person’s face nor do they know them as a whole. The space between the flower and the photograph on the scanner bed results in a dreamy hazy effect, adding to the theme of the series.
Digital, 2015.
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untitled (rouge river)
Long Exposure Lights
Digital, 2015.
Experimenting with Christmas lights in winter.
Co-Existence
Fall 2014 Thesis
One could say that nature and humankind have a very distinct relationship. Between the two exists a delicate balance. Living in the city, this is sometimes easy to overlook as we tend to be surrounded by buildings and other human establishments. In our world, there are spaces that consist primarily of the human footprint and others that contain more of the natural environment. But there are also areas that contain both. It could be said that this is a symbiotic relationship as there is a close and long term relationship between two diverse “beings” that exist and work off each other. But these relationships are not always beneficial to both as one side may benefit more than the other. Therefore, I decided to document this push and pull relationship between humans and nature.
Taken in and around Toronto, these photographs aim to show aspects of human activity within nature and how they work together to create an environment. Bridges are built over rivers and lakes for transportation, houses are built within the trees, spaces are paved over for roads, and lumber is taken to be used as building material. All these instances are examples of this relationship that we often fail to notice. But once made aware, we are able to see to see this partnership that we share. We are able to see our co-existence with each other.
Digital, 2014.
Gina Staios Photography 