GuideBoat Jill is a photograph of my sister, Jillian, rowing my fathers GuideBoat which was originally my grandfathers, on Upper St. Regis Lake in the Adirondacks. My family has spent every summer at Camp Wild Air, our family camp, since it was originally built in 1882. Wild Air is one of the first great camps in the Adirondacks and I have been lucky enough to share in the tradition of spending every summer on the lake. 30 summers and counting! My passion for photography and the rich history and culture of the Adirondacks began at an early age and this photograph of Jill in the GuideBoat is reflective of the camp culture of the lake community and of the Adirondacks. It’s as if time stands still in the ADK and the history and beauty of the ADK park transports you to another time. The objects in the photo combine past and present. The GuideBoat was built in the early 1900’s and is being rowed by my younger sister on the lake where four generations of my family have spent. The image also has a vintage vibe which further draws on the history aspect of my ADK portfolio.

The Adirondacks, specifically Upper St. Regis Lake, is a unique spot where everyone on the lake has grown up together every summer since the early 1900’s (our place built in 1882). Many of the authentic ADK cabins are the originals and each generation of the lake community has spent every summer participating in the same traditions our great grandparents took part in such as The GuideBoat (hand crafted wooden boat with oars), sailing, hiking, backgammon etc.

Waking up in the “winter cabin” as we call it, to the smell of an “Adirondack breakfast” which consists of eggs, bacon, hash browns and cheddar pie, raspberries in cream and coffee. The sound of a roaring fire crackling in the living room can be heard and I look out the window towards the lake to see the morning fog lifting. A loon calls out and it echoes across the lake that it’s time to get up. Throw on my bathing suit and a Patagonia and join my entire family for breakfast. After digesting by the fire with a game of backgammon, we round up the troops of friends from around the lake, pack a cooler and head down the river to the rope swing. The day is spent swimming, waterskiing, dragging behind the boat and going off the rope swing. The end of the afternoon is spent perhaps taking a solo GuideBoat row or playing cards out on the deck, showering and getting ready for dinner which takes place in the “living room cabin” with the whole family (usually around 20 of us) and as part of tradition, proper dress is expected. Dinners used to be black tie when my father was a child! After dinner the crew gets back together for a party in the “Game Room” and the night is spent shooting pool and playing ping pong and darts. The night is not complete without a moonlight swim out to the M20 mooring balls!

Watching the sailboat races every Tuesday and Saturday where Idems, boats which were built for the lake over 100 years ago, still race. They are a most spectacular sight to see and photograph.

The black flies in June.

You can’t get to most camps on the lake by car. Only boat access. I think it makes it even more special.

Davy Crockett

Edward Hopper, Tina Barney, Bruce Weber