On the Labrador

Why Labrador?

One of my most persistent memories of this rarely seen part of Canada has been northern Labrador's vastness, isolation and wildness.

Far from busy roads or crowded villages the Kiglapaits, Kaumajets and Torngat mountains rise from a deep cold sea, isolated, ice-covered and bare. Misty fjords, towering cliffs and dark lost valleys hold secrets long hidden and remain so. Here long ago Vikings passed and Inuit hunted. Today it lies waiting to be discovered. This is not a land as Sebastian Cabot once said "God gave to Cain" but a land that will seduce you by its sheer grandeur and beauty.

Everyone takes pictures to bring back memories of times and places that moved them. The greater the emotional impact or involvement the greater is the need to preserve them. Precious memories fade quickly and become fleeting. My experience with Labrador has been long and intense. Compiling the images of sixteen trips refreshes old memories and allows stories to re-surface that are just wanting to be told. A book gels this mosaic of emotions, discoveries and feelings.

There is also a joy and satisfaction in sharing my images and the experience of my voyages with others who can travel vicariously or plan trips of their own. A book would open a dialogue with kindred spirits, artists and travellers alike and the beauty of Labrador would not be lost but twice shared.

Arnold Zageris specializes in large format photography to capture the wondrous geological formations and landscapes of Newfoundland and Labrador. He credits his extraordinary rock portraits to waiting for the right light and finding the best angle to complete his vision. His work is in the collection of the Canadian Museum Contemporary Photography, a branch of the National Gallery of Canada and he has exhibited his photographs across Canada.