It’s a warm, overcast October afternoon as we descend into the valley of Crystal Creek in the Hiawatha Highlands. I’m with my daughter, Islay, and her friend Andres on a guided walk through a small portion of this four-season outdoor recreational area north of Sault Ste. Marie. Joining us are Mario Gionet and Cheyene Nanie […]

Hiking can mean a leisurely stroll to boost the heart rate or clambering up precipitous ridges for a full-on workout. It can be a solitary excursion or a social hike with friends and family. Either way, it’s an enjoyable way to get the blood flowing, but in Algoma Country hiking can also include spectacular lookouts, […]

In a region so inundated with water, a list of places where we can slide our canoe into hospitable waters would be long indeed. One area worth focusing on occupies a broad area of the northern shore of the world’s largest lake, where long swaths of sand and wooded shorelines extend a welcoming embrace to […]

There are many reasons to drill a hole in the ice in Algoma Country. As I stand on a midsized inland lake, where pine and cedar grip a rocky shoreline that plunges steeply through the lake’s icy surface, it’s clear that the dramatic snow-clad landscape is one of them. Other reasons dwell beneath the frozen […]

Anyone who has driven Hwy 17 North of Sault Ste. Marie has probably stopped at Chippewa Falls. There is a parking lot and rest area with a plaque touting it as the halfway point along the TransCanada Highway. With a thick pine and hardwood forest surrounding a series of rocky drops, this is one of […]

It’s a given that remote fly-in fishing lodges, accessible only by air, offer tremendous angling on unpressured waters. Anglers from all over the world visit northern Ontario’s Algoma Region because it offers some of the best fishing in the world. Heading into the woods for a week-long fishing vacation might cost a bit of money, […]

Considering the lay of the land, it should come as no surprise that hiking trails are one of the Algoma Region’s greatest assets. With the Canadian Shield asserting itself in rounded old mountains and angular terrain, looming over still lakes and roaring rivers, the potential for inspiring trails is as precipitous as the landscape. There […]

At any given time there is a wide variety of individuals camping across the diverse landscape of Algoma Country. Some are on extended trips, deep within the interior, while others are sitting by a fire pit in a folding lawn chair, at a designated campsite, just off the TransCanada Highway. Within Algoma’s 72,000 square kilometres […]

A beautiful, warm and sunny day can produce some beautiful images, especially if the blue sky is dappled with fluffy white clouds. However, some of the most dramatic shots are taken during periods of foul weather; when the elements aren’t quite as hospitable.  But braving them can result in some keeper images. Whether it’s rain, […]

Anyone who has a camera and a dog likely has a small collection of dog photographs. Dogs are our companions – sharing the good times and the bad – and it should come as no surprise that they are often the subject of our photographs. Dogs have a habit of situating themselves so we have […]

The first step to getting great winter shots is to actually get outside with our camera. This means dressing for the conditions so we are comfortable and can appreciate the dramatic changes that the descent of winter brings to the landscape. One of the most important technical things to consider when photographing snowy landscapes is […]

As a general rule photographers are told to shoot with the sun at their backs. This ensures that the light is cast upon our subject and our image is exposed correctly. It’s a rule that should be adhered to most of the time. For instance, when taking a picture of a group of friends, we […]

It’s no secret that Canada’s premier group of landscape artists spent a lot of time in Algoma Country. Shortly after the first world war, members of the Group of Seven painted the inland lakes and rivers within the rugged country along the Algoma Central Railway. They also made eight trips to Superior’s North Shore between […]

As the snow begins to melt and the creeks and rivers start to flow over Algoma Country’s rugged topography, the wise photographer looks for moving water. Whether it’s tiny rivulets, thundering falls or even the lapping of waves on the lake shore, the movement of water can be used to create intriguing images. Shutter speed […]

Photography in Algoma provides incredible opportunities for broad scenic landscape shots. But like any complex and beautiful wilderness, narrowing in on the tiny details of the beach, the water, or forest floor provides tremendous opportunities for captivating shots. Close-up or macro photography is best done with a dedicated macro or micro lens or with a […]