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Matthew Hollett

@matthewhollett.bsky.social

✏️ Writer, photographer, walker πŸ‘οΈ Optic Nerve (poems) published by Brick Books πŸ¦‘ Newfoundland / Ktaqmkuk

323 Followers  |  248 Following  |  104 Posts  |  Joined: 13.09.2023  |  2.0838

Latest posts by matthewhollett.bsky.social on Bluesky

A gull perching on a plastic owl meant to scare away gulls, on a rooftop in Newfoundland, with the ocean in the background.

A gull perching on a plastic owl meant to scare away gulls, on a rooftop in Newfoundland, with the ocean in the background.

Of course this happens on the one day I don’t bring my good camera with me.

06.08.2025 18:29 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A seal lying on a seaweed-covered shoreline, peering back at the photographer over its shoulder, if seals had shoulders.

A seal lying on a seaweed-covered shoreline, peering back at the photographer over its shoulder, if seals had shoulders.

A hefty-looking seal relaxing on a slab of rock by the ocean.

A hefty-looking seal relaxing on a slab of rock by the ocean.

A couple of seals encountered on the southern Avalon, Newfoundland. These were taken with a 300mm lens and then cropped quite a bit. I only got a telephoto lens a few months ago and it's been really fun to revisit places and see them with more telescopic eyes.

02.08.2025 21:48 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I love Escher's puddles! Someone has added a grey circle to this one, it's not part of the original image.

01.08.2025 23:00 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Dewberries, bulbous bright red berries that look a bit like raspberries.

Dewberries, bulbous bright red berries that look a bit like raspberries.

A handful of bright red dewberries.

A handful of bright red dewberries.

A handful of bakeapples, which are peach-orange coloured and bumpy.

A handful of bakeapples, which are peach-orange coloured and bumpy.

A handful of wild haskaps, small dark blue oval-shaped herries.

A handful of wild haskaps, small dark blue oval-shaped herries.

I feel like I levelled up in foraging this past week. I've picked bakeapples before, but never dewberries or wild haskaps! We also found a few creeping snowberries, but I forgot to get a photo. #newfoundland #foraging

01.08.2025 22:07 β€” πŸ‘ 23    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Close-up photo of a sundew plant in Newfoundland. The plant is insectivorous and has a green center with red spines covered in sticky drops which attract and trap small insects.

Close-up photo of a sundew plant in Newfoundland. The plant is insectivorous and has a green center with red spines covered in sticky drops which attract and trap small insects.

I snapped this sundew yesterday on Newfoundland’s southern Avalon peninsula. It’s insectivorous! The sticky drops attract small insects that are dissolved by the plant’s enzymes. This one has a bit of fly stuck in its teeth.

31.07.2025 20:51 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

The Chung, the King, His Night and Her Crawler

14.06.2025 02:08 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A black fox standing on a rocky hill, almost silhouetted against a bright blue sky.

A black fox standing on a rocky hill, almost silhouetted against a bright blue sky.

Another recent fox encounter on the hill trail. #newfoundland #wildlife #photography

16.04.2025 15:52 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A triangular traffic island photographed from
above, with slanting shadows created by early morning light.

A triangular traffic island photographed from above, with slanting shadows created by early morning light.

From a series of photos of traffic islands that I made while living in Halifax back in 2006-2008.

15.04.2025 13:45 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
A hillside trail in deep blue shadow, with two hikers silhouetted in the distance. In the background is a port city glowing in warm evening light.

A hillside trail in deep blue shadow, with two hikers silhouetted in the distance. In the background is a port city glowing in warm evening light.

A large day on the hill trail. #northheadtrail #newfoundland #parkscanada #photography

14.04.2025 14:53 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
A black fox stands on a wooden staircase on a walking trail, peering back at the photographer as if assessing his possible value as a source of protein.

A black fox stands on a wooden staircase on a walking trail, peering back at the photographer as if assessing his possible value as a source of protein.

Fox encounter on Signal Hill yesterday.

12.04.2025 14:06 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A pile of tires at a dock, partially covered in snow so that the tires create black circular patterns against the white expanse.

A pile of tires at a dock, partially covered in snow so that the tires create black circular patterns against the white expanse.

Snow tires, St. John's. #photography

11.04.2025 15:11 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A cobblestone street at night, rounded stones shining bright red from the taillights of a passing car.

A cobblestone street at night, rounded stones shining bright red from the taillights of a passing car.

Tallinn, Estonia. #photography

10.04.2025 15:47 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A small songbird bird perched on a wire fence, with out-of-focus cherry blossoms creating a colourful dappled background.

A small songbird bird perched on a wire fence, with out-of-focus cherry blossoms creating a colourful dappled background.

Found this little pal while photographing cherry blossoms in Montreal a few years ago. #montreal #photography #streetphotography

09.04.2025 15:01 β€” πŸ‘ 23    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A view of St. John’s Harbour from Signal Hill, Newfoundland. A bit of snow along the edges of a walking path. The city sprawling along the sides of the harbour. A gold-tinged lens flare.

A view of St. John’s Harbour from Signal Hill, Newfoundland. A bit of snow along the edges of a walking path. The city sprawling along the sides of the harbour. A gold-tinged lens flare.

A walk on Signal Hill a few weeks ago. #newfoundland #photography #landscapephotography

08.04.2025 13:38 β€” πŸ‘ 20    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
An almost abstract image, looking down into the waters of a port, with the hulls of boats reflected as looming shadows, bright orange floats dangling upside-down, and a flurried blur of bird.

An almost abstract image, looking down into the waters of a port, with the hulls of boats reflected as looming shadows, bright orange floats dangling upside-down, and a flurried blur of bird.

Port de Grave yesterday. #newfoundland #photography #landscapephotography #abstraction

07.04.2025 20:17 β€” πŸ‘ 33    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A cardboard box with a cat standing in it. The photo has a kind of fish-eye effect so the cat’s body looms large at the top of the image.

A cardboard box with a cat standing in it. The photo has a kind of fish-eye effect so the cat’s body looms large at the top of the image.

My package arrived. #catscatscats

06.04.2025 11:56 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Wild rose hips in winter, photographed barely in focus so they are almost abstract, a blur of red and pastel purple hues.

Wild rose hips in winter, photographed barely in focus so they are almost abstract, a blur of red and pastel purple hues.

Seeing softly on a squishy springish walk. #walking #photography #vintagelens

05.04.2025 12:12 β€” πŸ‘ 18    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A retro-looking film photo of a snowy street in downtown St. John’s, car tracks curving into the distance.

A retro-looking film photo of a snowy street in downtown St. John’s, car tracks curving into the distance.

A snowy St. John’s film snap from yesterwinter. #nlwx #35mm #filmisnotdead #filmphotography

04.04.2025 15:22 β€” πŸ‘ 18    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Ha! To be fair, this poor reader was looking for a mystery to solve, so at least now they have one

04.04.2025 15:17 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Several copies of a poetry collection titled "Optic Nerve", sitting on a wooden table. The book's cover image is an almost abstract graphical illustration of a tree reflected in a puddle shaped by paving stones.

Several copies of a poetry collection titled "Optic Nerve", sitting on a wooden table. The book's cover image is an almost abstract graphical illustration of a tree reflected in a puddle shaped by paving stones.

Two years ago today I published my first poetry book! Optic Nerve, a collection of poems about photography and visual perception, was published by Brick Books in 2023. The cover image is by the wonderful Jon McNaught. #canlit #canadianpoetry #poetrybook #poetry

03.04.2025 12:23 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A retro-looking film photo taken from the passenger window of a moving car. The photographer is visible in the rear-view mirror, with a blurry landscape with trees and hills in the background.

A retro-looking film photo taken from the passenger window of a moving car. The photographer is visible in the rear-view mirror, with a blurry landscape with trees and hills in the background.

Got a few rolls of film developed – here's a snap from my trusty Olympus Trip 35. I love this little camera! #filmphotography #filmisnotdead #35mm #photography #olympustrip35

02.04.2025 14:06 β€” πŸ‘ 25    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A rocky coastal Newfoundland landscape, with dramatic sweeping rocks and a hilly headland in the distance.

A rocky coastal Newfoundland landscape, with dramatic sweeping rocks and a hilly headland in the distance.

Flatrock as a snow flurry moved in. #flatrock #newfoundland #landscapephotography

01.04.2025 14:31 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A woman standing outdoors on a rocky coastline, holding up a thin slab of tidepool ice, her face blurry through the ice.

A woman standing outdoors on a rocky coastline, holding up a thin slab of tidepool ice, her face blurry through the ice.

Tidepool ice in Flatrock yesterday. #newfoundland #photography

31.03.2025 14:13 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A rocky valley in the spring, with burnt-red bushes, boulders, and scattered evergreen trees touched with snow.

A rocky valley in the spring, with burnt-red bushes, boulders, and scattered evergreen trees touched with snow.

I hiked the North Head Trail yesterday as the snow was melting. Like walking into a tapestry. #stjohnsnl #explorenl #newfoundlandandlabrador #photography #landscapephotography

30.03.2025 13:38 β€” πŸ‘ 32    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A close-up photo of yellow-orange lichen on a rock, with hundreds of little trumpet-shaped nodules clustered together.

A close-up photo of yellow-orange lichen on a rock, with hundreds of little trumpet-shaped nodules clustered together.

Just a lovely patch of lichen from Maddox Cove. #lichen #photography

29.03.2025 14:51 β€” πŸ‘ 21    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
Two distant hikers on a hillside hiking trail, with dramatic evening light bringing out details in the rocky hill.

Two distant hikers on a hillside hiking trail, with dramatic evening light bringing out details in the rocky hill.

A couple of hikers on the North Head Trail yesterday evening, photographed from Fort Amherst. #stjohnsnl #explorenl #parkscanada #newfoundland #hiking #photography #fujix

28.03.2025 13:14 β€” πŸ‘ 17    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A 35mm film photo of a road winding along the edge of a harbour, with a light flare obscuring the end of the road and a city in the distance.

A 35mm film photo of a road winding along the edge of a harbour, with a light flare obscuring the end of the road and a city in the distance.

Another oldie from wandering around St. John’s with a film camera. Just sent a few rolls off for development, so more 35mm snaps to come! #filmphoto #filmisnotdead #photography

26.03.2025 17:43 β€” πŸ‘ 25    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A snow-covered Signal Hill, in St. John’s, NL, seen through the open side of a parking garage, with the long slanting window creating a dramatic view of the hill.

A snow-covered Signal Hill, in St. John’s, NL, seen through the open side of a parking garage, with the long slanting window creating a dramatic view of the hill.

A view of Signal Hill from not long ago. #stjohnsnl #newfoundland #photography

25.03.2025 13:51 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
A branch full of tree blossoms, with delicate colours backlit by a sunset, the sun out of focus in the background.

A branch full of tree blossoms, with delicate colours backlit by a sunset, the sun out of focus in the background.

Tree blossoms at sunset, from a spring writing residency in Ontario a couple of years ago. #photography #fujix #mitakon095

24.03.2025 14:02 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A 35mm film photo of a wooden walkway skirting the edge of a rugged coastline.

A 35mm film photo of a wooden walkway skirting the edge of a rugged coastline.

A 35mm photo of fog obscuring the city of St. John’s, Newfoundland, seen from a high viewpoint, with small houses along the shoreline and ships visible in the harbour.

A 35mm photo of fog obscuring the city of St. John’s, Newfoundland, seen from a high viewpoint, with small houses along the shoreline and ships visible in the harbour.

A couple of 35mm snaps from the hill. #photography #35mm #filmisnotdead #olympustrip35

22.03.2025 16:33 β€” πŸ‘ 30    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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