David Murphy has worked at Western for more than three decades. But only in the past year has he noticed its hidden gems.
“There are new places I’m learning about each week,” said Murphy, a library assistant at the D.B. Weldon Library and member of the Campus Photo Club. “For example, I had never been in the Staging Building before. I didn’t know there was a mummy here.
“I’ve stumbled over so many new places each week. It is wonderful.”
The Campus Photo Club was born four years ago when Tony Hammound, Facilities Management safety and training coordinator, approached fellow staffer Brenda Stonehouse, project coordinator (acting), for tips on how to take better photos. That exchange evolved into a weekly meeting and then into a group of 13 who meet regularly today to investigate – and photograph – new areas of campus.
“This is a great group of people who are really engaged with the campus and all it has to offer,” Hammoud said.
From buildings and labs, to Medway Creek and campus foliage, there is much to see and appreciate, Murphy added.
“We’ve done Medway Creek in three different seasons. Each time we do, there are so many things we didn’t see the last time,” he said. “We went into the (Paul Davenport) theatre in Talbot College while there was no one there; there were so many architectural features that we spent a fair bit of time there snapping pictures.”
The club has amassed such an amazing collection of campus shots it has opened an exhibition of its work. Western Wanderings is on display through February at the Spencer Gallery in the D. B. Weldon Library.
“What’s amazing about this exhibition is we didn’t show each other our work before we came, and there are no duplicates,” Murphy said. “It’s amazing that among all of us, there are no two photos alike. It’s one of the main reasons we get together each week, to learn from each other. You never see two pictures the same because everyone has a different point of view.”
Hammound said the group created new friendships, thanks to the commonality of the camera lens.
“While we go out and really study and enjoy the intricate stonework of the many buildings, or the nature that surrounds the campus, it’s also about networking and sharing ideas with others who have similar interests,” he said.
In years past, the only reason Murphy brought his camera to work was if a staff photo was needed. Now, he has it with him every day.
“The campus has changed so much in the years I have been here,” he said. “There are places we have found that I have never seen before, and would not have without the group. I’m always walking around with my head up. It has been a brand new campus for me.”
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Got the shutterbug? Anyone interested in learning more about the Campus Photo Club can contact Tony Hammound at ahammoud@uwo.ca.
