Dieter Raths is a Merrickville-based photographer specialising in Canadian landscapes. After working as a lighting designer in theatre for more than 10 years, Dieter came to realise that he derived the greatest artistic satisfaction whilst attempting to emulate the drama of natural light on stage. This rather fundamental truth was borne-in upon him during one particular production when, after finishing the lighting design, Dieter then proceeded to use a week of vacation time (and every spare lighting instrument in the theatre) to create a spectacular transition from daylight to dusk on a backdrop that wrapped around the entire stage (the wrap-around cyclorama). Around the same time, he discovered photography as a much more effective means of attempting to convey this drama. Combining photography with a passion for exploring the Canadian parks system was a natural progression. The unique landscapes that are found only on the Canadian Shield have become the focus of Dieter’s current and future work.

As a lifelong resident along the Rideau Waterway, it would be pretty hard, if not impossible, to be uninfluenced by the natural and human history of this area. A combination of academic and applied education in the architectural history of Upper Canada has resulted in an appreciation for the unprecedented work that went into building the Canal system. As a result, the natural and manmade features of the Rideau Canal system have been particularly influential subjects in Dieter’s work.

Artist Statement:The landscape of the Canadian Shield is unique. Growing up in this landscape, I learnt about the glaciers that left their tracks in the bedrock, dropped enormous boulders in improbable places and created the sand dunes in the forest near our house. In later years; hiking in the interior of Algonquin Park, I would wonder at the white pines clinging tenaciously to the Canadian Shield in but a few centimetres of loose soil (and the ones that had given up the struggle and tipped over, leaving huge root disks in the shape of the rock surface that they had been growing on). Growing up along the banks of the Rideau and now living beside one of the lock stations has provided the inspiration create images in another aspect of this landscape. This landscape is the only place I call home. As a photographer, I am attempting to convey, in a two-dimensional image, the smell of dry pine needles warming in the sun on the forest floor, the sound of absolute silence that sometimes occurs in the forest (with the exception of the chickadee who has come over to see what I’m doing) and the peace that can only be experienced after several days alone in this environment.

View Dieter Raths's work in the "Call of the Wild" Canadian Wilderness Art Show April/May, 2008.

Updated:5/11/2008 Copyright 2007 Tay River Gallery