By the Lake

There’s a short stretch of Toronto’s public waterfront that is easy to miss.

Tucked away between busy highways, exclusive Boulevard Clubs and rail lines, this area has evolved into one of Toronto’s rare and vital sanctuaries. I’ve been photographing this part of the lakeshore for over two years now, and while there’s a beauty to the water and shady foliage, it’s the people who drew me here.

I’ve come to realize that the reality I’m attempting to reflect is far more complicated than anything a single picture can represent. There’s a mix of people from all walks of life who are drawn to this spot, each with a different story about what brought them here, myself included. Some have steady jobs at the Boulevard Club or Palais Royale, others sporadically live here, in boats or in tents. Some are here to celebrate, others to grieve, but everyone is looking for some kind of connection or to express themselves in some way. 

For me, the camera has turned into a conversation device. I ask all sorts of people if they want to have their picture taken, and through these interactions I’ve come to learn so much about people who come to the waterfront just like I do. In addition to the camera being a catalyst for meeting people, the portable strobe light adds a certain drama to everyday activities. The strobe highlights the importance and beauty of the mundane. It’s almost as if there’s a stage manager just out of frame pointing a spotlight on the scene, exclaiming how beautiful this fleeting moment is. This way of working results in a mixture of performing for the camera and candid moments, and somewhere in the murky waters between the two is where I want my work to exist. I’m interested in the push and pull between “documentary” and “staged” photography, and I see this project as blend of both.