Wayne McKerness brings out the extraordinary in the ordinary

Born and raised in Pointe St-Charles, Wayne's interest for photography started in his early teens, when he started puttering around with a 110 mm camera. Over the years, he taught himself how to take advantage of timing and lighting to capture the perfect moment.

"I've travelled all across Canada and captured a variety of images that manage to express my passion for landscapes and our country's ever-changing natural beauty," says the Island photographer.

While this is his very first exhibition, his work has already appeared on the Canadian Geographic website and most recently one of his photos, entitled "The Icy Waters of the Saint Lawrence River" appeared on the CBC Morning News.

His exhibition at the Elgar Community Centre (260 Elgar), which takes place until March 30 and is presented by the Verdun borough, is entitled "Des paysages saisis par le regard de l'objectif' (Landscapes seen through the eyes of a lens). The Island and its natural beauty are featured prominently in his photographs and the exhibition is certain to be a visual treat for local photography lovers.

Nature in all its glory, tree branches in winter, the way the light reflects off the water, these are all subjects that McKerness enjoys depicting and sharing with others.

Some people claim that nature photography is devoid of ulterior meaning and lacks personal interpretation and therefore cannot be deemed as art. Many would beg to differ. Aristotle once said that "The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance."

McKerness succeeds in doing that because he captures not only the beauty of nature, but its vulnerability, its extraordinary mysticism, its ephemeral nature, the melancholic loneliness of winter, the vibrancy and hope of spring, and the world's ever-changing scenery.

"I like to capture scenes that people would normally just walk by and I try to make them notice," explains the Island photographer. We think it's safe to say that people do indeed.

The Verdun borough exhibition at the Elgar Centre runs until March 30. Admission is free. McKerness has a website: www.studiovisual.com where a variety of landscapes can be seen and ordered, as well as a studio focusing on pet photography, at www.studiopet.ca.