About Dave Conlon – The Eye Behind The Lens

I’m Dave Conlon, the photographer behind The Canadian Lens. I’ve spent the last 13+ years chasing meaningful images, whether it’s the silence of an abandoned church, the stillness of a northern lake, or a legendary music location tied to rock and roll history.

With The Canadian Lens, I share my passion for landscapes, travel photography, portraits, and the often-overlooked details that tell bigger stories. You’ll find images from across Canada—Ontario, Northern BC, Saskatchewan, and the Vancouver coast—as well as from trips through Arizona, Florida, Mexico, and beyond. Every photo is part of a larger narrative, rooted in place and shaped by light.

Under the name Freaktography, I’ve also become known for my urban exploration work, capturing abandoned buildings, ghost towns, and historical ruins across North America. My work has appeared in the National Post, Maclean’s, CBC, and major photography platforms. I’ve presented at photography clubs, film festivals, galleries, and schools, and directed the award-winning documentary Bob Lanois: Snake Road.

My other creative outlet is Back in the Day Pop Culture, a photo-driven project that blends nostalgia with travel. There, I revisit iconic music and entertainment locations from past decades, comparing them through a “then and now” lens. From punk clubs and hip hop landmarks to legendary rock venues, it’s a tribute to the stories and scenes that shaped pop culture.

Photography is my way of connecting moments, history, and emotion, whether I’m on a quiet backroad in Saskatchewan or standing in front of a long-forgotten TV studio from the '80s.

Thanks for being here. Take a look around, read the blog, explore the galleries, and if you're into photo art, urban exploration, or pop culture nostalgia, you’ll feel right at home.