While he was holed up at McMaster, laying the groundwork for on a doctorate in sociology, Aaron Segaert was also making a name for himself in another community. That name, Flar, was a screen identity that hinted at how he spent his downtime. It’s short for “flash-augmented reality,” and it neatly summed up Segaert’s passion for photography, specifically targeted toward the urban landscape. From 2005 until he moved to Ottawa in May of this year, he has carefully catalogued the character of a city so often scorned, capturing the character and contrasts of Hamilton and its many neighbourhoods. His work, indexed in thoughtfully composed threads on the local chapter of the SkyscraperPage Forum, presented the city’s familiar riches to city lovers from around the world. The enthusiastic response reversed many unthinking stereotypes, ignited some urban crushes and let locals walk a little taller even as it demonstrated that Hamilton is a well-kept secret even among those who think they know it well. And it confirmed what many who’ve fallen for Hamilton know too well: Although it may invite comparisons, this is a place unlike any other. We caught up with him to revisit some of his history and see what he’s up to these days.
You credit Hamilton with having inspired you to take up photography. What drew you to the city, and what was your impression of if before tackling this project?
I came to Hamilton in 2002 to do a PhD at McMaster. Before that I had never really been to Hamilton, except passing over the Skyway, and didn't know anything about it other than that it was an industrial city. Having spent seven years in London, Ontario, I initially found Hamilton to be bigger and busier, but also dirtier and older looking. Much of that first impression was shaped by the ’60s and ’70s architecture that dominates the core – a lot of it hasn't aged well –but I knew right away Hamilton was a real city. I'd lived in southwestern Ontario my whole life, yet here was this substantial city I knew almost nothing about other than the usual negative stereotypes. I love cities, and learning about places and their histories, but Hamilton was all the more intriguing because it was like a big secret. There’s so much to see – not just the architecture, but the natural setting, the views from the Escarpment, the distinct neighbourhoods, the industry. The character and history of the city are apparent in all these things, and photography was really a natural outgrowth of my desire to share and communicate these secrets with others. Because it’s so unknown and so unfairly stereotyped, I wanted to show through photography the real Hamilton and all that it has to offer.
