The man behind the lens, caught behind the lens.
Giving credit to where credit is due, means recognizing that all of our old photographs on this account were taken by my Great Papa Baker, William Douglas Baker.
Having served in WWII, the Royal Canadian Air Force trained him to be a photographer. When the war ended, my Great Grandparents, spent much time enjoying the finer things in life with unparalleled appreciation for being by the water. Whether it was camping, cottaging or anything in the outdoors, my Papa Baker would be there with his camera.
…or should I say, CAMERAS.
He was notorious for always having at least 3 cameras on him at one time. One for back up, one with colour film, one with black and white film, one “movie camera,” and the list goes on.
My Nana (his daughter), said jokingly that the cameras came first. They were the first things packed in the car. It didn’t matter if the kids, the food or the clothing were packed, his priority was his camera equipment.
He would also take the same shot 3 different times with 3 different cameras.
This is his “Movie Camera” and it was black with a handle on top. As time went on, he moved from taking photos to “home movies,” of his grandkids.
I asked my mom what he would think of me using all of his photography within The Cottage Collection community.
She said, he’d be thrilled and probably say, “oh Goll.”
I’m forever grateful for having these past memories captured. It makes us great-grandchildren feel like we know him better by seeing the world through his lens.