St Josephs Island - feat. LX100
As new parents, Macey and I rarely get time away together. So when we got tickets to a concert on an Island on Lake Huron, we were both excited and nervous to leave Eden with a friend and hit the road.
St Josephs Island is situated at a critical juncture for Great Lakes shipping, near the St Mary River that connects Superior and Huron. Massive freighters frequently ply the waters, but the North Channel of Huron is also a world renowned pleasure crafting destination, and in the summer plays host to a deluge of boaters, Canadian and International.
The Island is reached by a modern bridge on the North shore, and a small but beautiful park overlooks it with a perfect vantage point. This picturesque pine was begging to be included in the shot.
There are two main towns on the Island. The first we visited, Hilton Beach, is on the Eastern Shore, and plays host to a host of pleasure craft, featuring a beautiful marina overlooking the sparkling waters of the North Channel.
We stopped to eat at a diner overlooking the marina, which offered traditional pub food. Of course a photo of my lovely wife was in order. And it’s here that I will digress a bit to sing the praises of my other companion for the trip, my venerable and trustworthy LX100.
I’ve written before about this little powerhouse. Nearing 10 years since its release, this is the only camera I’ve ever bought twice. I always regretted selling the first one, and a few years back got a second copy. The controls are a pleasure to interact with, with a workflow that simply gets out of your way and allows you to enjoy the experience of shooting. An aperture ring, an aspect ratio dial (which changed my entire way of shooting in general), a shutter speed dial and exposure compensation - everything is right in reach, with almost no need to menu dive. There are limitations. The sensor suffers bad magenta fringing when recovering highlights, the lens itself flares badly (a poor UV filter doesn’t help I know), and there’s nothing particularly quick about the operation. But with a fast 1.7 lens, a 3x zoom, beautiful images and even 4k video, this camera stands the test of time. I can’t imagine carrying anything else on a daily basis. It allows me to snap a quick portrait, shoot video, and even do some macro.
Just outside of the town we found a beautiful old church, guarding a well maintained and hallowed cemetery. The island is actually full of these small wooden structures. Many appear to be unused, as the crisis of faith in the West continues to progress. Nonetheless, they maintain their dignified and peaceful atmosphere, a reminder of a different time.
In such high contrast situations, I’ve taken to overexposing the highlights and converting to black and white. This removes the ugly magenta flaring and works perfectly when colour channels are mixed to lighten the right parts of the image.
It’s important to note that Black and White is not some magical fix. Generally, I have specific criteria for using it. The scene generally needs the right light, and enough contrast. Also, at times the colour is an important part of an image and should not be removed. In the gallery below, you will see a stunning little abandoned farm house that we explored. Here, monochrome worked well for the most part. But in a few shots, the incredible muted tones of the peeling paint, and the weathered fabrics needed to be seen in full colour. I had a wonderful time spending just a few minutes shooting, as the wife waited somewhat impatiently. Click to see images large!
Out next stop was Richards Landing. The largest town on the Island. and the host of our concert. Richards Landing is beautiful, quaint, and holds that inimitable charm of a freshwater port town. Shaped by shipping, the little town features a lighthouse, a marina, a few restaurants, a gorgeous little downtown strip, and a host of navigation aids for the big ships. It is quintessential Canadiana, textbook small town Ontario, from the 100 year old Hospital to the beautiful war memorial. Click on images to see large!
We ended our night with an intimate, rousing folk concert by David Francey, The town hall venue, over 120 years old, was perfectly restored and utterly full of character. The Island was a fantastic visit, and I look forward to returning in the Autumn. Until next time!