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It ended with an explosion, but this is how it started, the sun creeping up over the historic fort, the trees, earthworks, masonry redoubts and blockhouses, tangled abatis, and rows of white tents. This was the scene early Saturday morning as nearly 1100 military reenactors started to crawl out of their tents and start to put on their uniforms, ready to put on a show the likes the site or the neighbourhood had ever seen. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the bloody siege of Fort Erie, the last major campaign on Canadian soil during the War of 1812. Sure, Plattsburg, Cooks Mills, Bladensburg,Read More →

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Moral within the American army was falling fast by the autumn of 1813. While Detroit had one, and at the Battle of the Thames William Henry Harrison had secured the western parts of Upper Canada, a majority of the colony remained in the hands of the British, and the only American army that could strike remained pinned at Fort George. The other two armies languished at Sacket’s Harbor and Burlington Vermont on Lake Champlain. The secretary of war, John Armstrong was at odds with his new Commander-In-Chief, General James Wilkinson where to strike next. Wilkinson believed that the best place to strike against the BritishRead More →

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When it came to naval warfare in the 19th century the undisputed masters of the sea was the Royal Navy. The rivers and lakes of Upper and Lower Canada were the highways of the day, these were the main trade routes not only for economic purposes but military as well. Any nation that controlled the waterways, could control the course of the war. With the United States not having a squadron of note on the Great Lakes at the start of the war the British were quick to seize control of both Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. With Brock’s capture of Detroit in August ofRead More →

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The final engagement in the Northern Theatre of the War of 1812 was two different naval actions, but as the two are intimately connected, I have combined them into one entry and titled it after the second engagement, the Battle of Lake Huron. The results of this battle gave the undisputed British control over the North by the end of the war, and sole control of Lake Huron. Following Croghan’s failure to take back Mackinac Island in his frontal assault in August of 1814, Sinclair opted to blockade the small island fort and cut off the supply line which meant locating H.M. Schooner Nancy. Eventually,Read More →

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It’s excellent when professional jobs can link to a personal project. It happened several times back in my original 52-Roll Project, namely the wedding of Laura & Mark. So when I was approached by the up-and-coming country rock band, A Mad World, My Masters, I inquired if they’d be willing to be featured in this year’s sheet-a-week project. They agreed it helps that the band’s lead singer is an old and very good friend who has graced my lenses in the past. The shoot was amazing. It’s always a plus when you get a chance to work with a fantastic group of really chill artistsRead More →

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When Oliver Hazard Perry defeated the British Squadron in September of 1813 it not only cut the British off from additional troops and supplies coming from the eastern parts of Upper Canada, but it also removed the key supply route up the Detroit River to the distant outpost at Fort Mackinac. By 1813 the British had moved all their northern operations to Fort Mackinac, leaving the old Fort St. Joseph in the hands of the Northwest Company, protected by the local militia. However when William Henry Harrison liberated Detroit, occupied Amherstburg and defeated Procter and Tecumseh at the Battle of the Thames, his eye turnedRead More →

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Then there are times when the shot of the week comes just when you walk out of work, and you see a stunning blue sky with white clouds scudding by. But there are so many condos rising above your head that you can’t shoot without getting them. But such is a fact when living and working in the Greater Toronto Area…Condo Life. These vertical residences seem to grow overnight and are slowly dominating the skyline. Modified Anniversary Speed Graphic – Kodak Ektar f:7.7 203mm (Red-25) – Kodak Tri-X Pan (320TXP) Meter: Pentax Spotmeter V 1/5″ – f/45 – ASA-320 Kodak TMax Developer (1+4) 8:00 @Read More →

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The history of Mackinac Island and the War of 1812 in the Northern part of what is now Michigan and Ontario is actually a trilogy of events that lead to the eventual British Victory in the North. In the 19th Century communication was a slow and dangerous journey for the couriers that carried messages from the larger posts in the south. This was both a help and a hindrance to the theatre in the north. Fort Mackinac was built by the British 1780 near the end of the American Revolution as the island fort better defended than the old French fort, Fort Michilimackinac, on theRead More →

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I never realized exactly how isolated Fort St. Joseph is, even from the main highway you’re still looking at around 30-45 minutes drive down to the south western corner of St. Joseph Island. And to make things all the better it was pouring rain the day I visited these distant ruins, at least the wonderful staff at the site were welcoming and very friendly, and probably happy that they even saw one other person. It’s no wonder that the 10th Royal Vets that were stationed here in the early 19th century turned to drink. The path from the visitors centre to the ruins of theRead More →

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Not a setback for me, oh no, the project keeps on trucking! The title comes from the subject, this beautiful Italianate farmhouse is set fairly fair back from the road and a house that I drive past every day going to and from work. Although the land around it has been slowly parcelled off over the years since it was built, thankfully this one, unlike many others in the area, was maintained and owned. Modified Anniversary Speed Graphic – Fuji Fujinon-W 1:5.6/125 – Kodak Tri-X Pan (320TXP) Meter: Pentax Spotmeter V 1/8″ – f/64 – ASA-320 Kodak HC-110 Dil. B 5:30 @ 20CRead More →