With over two-and-a-half years worth of beautiful and repulsive photos, Bryan Scott has filled his computer, the Internet and now 318 glossy pages with his work, covering just about every building, street and gorgeous winter night ever known to Winnipeg.

It’s no wonder the iconic local photoblogger has built a vast following with his blog, Winnipeglovehate.com.

Scott released his self-published book, Winnipeg Love Hate: Selected Photographs By Bryan Scott on Monday, Sept. 27.

“(I) had a hard time cutting down the pile of photos to go in the book,” Scott said in a phone interview.

It’s hard to blame him – the pictures are all phenomenal and definitely bring out more appreciation, if not love, for Winnipeg in its viewers.

“Bryan Scott shows a city that stands as the physical expression of more than a century of dreams, triumphs, failures, and things forgotten – often in the same photograph,” local blogger Robert Galston writes in the book’s foreword.

“ I get a lot of comments from people who have moved from Winnipeg saying my photos brought back great and sometimes emotional memories.

Bryan Scott, photographer

And there is no doubt the man has talent. Scott has an eye for the perfect lighting, composition and focus.

He frequently shoots architecture, full street views and panoramas, but has also shot some striking photos of Winnipeggers themselves.

“I feel like I have covered downtown really well,” he said, and now plans to expand to the outskirts.

Born and bred in Winnipeg, it’s hard to believe Scott has never had any training in photography.

“In some form or another I have been doing it since I was nine or 10,” he said.

A few years ago, he started capturing photos of Winnipeg and putting them on Flickr, then on his blog. The blog received upwards of 200 visitors each day and was voted Winnipeg’s best blog in Uptown magazine’s 2010 Best of Winnipeg poll.

The blog has a very honest, comical, tongue-in-cheek attitude when he comments, and when he doesn’t, the photos say volumes all on their own.

“I definitely want Winnipeggers to buy the book,” said Scott.

But even more, he wants those who have never been to Winnipeg to pick it up.

“I get a lot of comments from people who have moved from Winnipeg saying my photos brought back great and sometimes emotional memories,” he said.

“It would be a fantastic honour for (the book) to reach people without any emotional ties to Winnipeg, because it would mean the photos are actually good.”

To see Scott’s work, visit www.winnipeglovehate.com. There is a link to preview and purchase his book on the site.

Published in Volume 65, Number 7 of The Uniter (October 14, 2010)