What Once Was

Looking to capture a landscape that was enveloped in fog, I visited this small fishing village in British Columbia many times until it looked and felt just right. Reminiscent of a wild frontier, I was captivated by the eeriness of the fog and the extreme contrast between dilapidated houses with other homes nearby so incredibly pristine. Although at first glance, it appears abandoned, this community is not only inhabited – it is desired and incredibly special to those who live here.

Located on Canada’s West Coast and established over 100 years ago, this community, set alongside a river, is tidal fed with the water beneath the stilted homes rising and falling every hour. A visit here is a step back in time, a stark contrast to the glass high-rises and metropolitan centre located only minutes away.

While the ramshackle boats, the seemingly abandoned houses surrounded by water, and the fog in the distance left a rather ominous initial impression, the greenery of the grasses contrasted by the grey backdrop resulted in this striking and somewhat mystical image.

This photo was shot in the early morning hours of late October, just ahead of sunset. This image evokes the unique, forlorn, beauty of decay. The power of nature is unparalleled, and, in this image, you can see it reclaiming some of the abandoned spaces. The result is oddly fascinating and poetic. Sometimes discovering the path less traveled ends up being the one that delights us, takes our breath away, and is oftentimes the most memorable.

What Once Was, captures some of Canada’s rare and precious history.