Georgian Bay Summer Life

Georgian Bay, the summer of 2009. A trip I took to explore the beauty of Ontario outside the urban hubs. I discovered striking beauty and fascinating extremes. Abandoned houses, farms and trucks alongside SUVs packed to the brim with canoes and sunscreen. Brightly painted cottages for rent. Beautiful people. It’s an area that many photographers and artists are drawn to, and Tom Thomson’s beautiful ‘Pine Island’ (1914-1916) rendered the region famous.

Beautiful landscape photography books exist, and I could never do better. But what I can do is tell the story of summer life around Georgian Bay nearly 15 years ago and put its ease and fun in contrast with lives and livelihoods abandoned. While we may never know the reasons, we can tell the tale of human existence and its fleeting presence.

Work in progress.