Georgian Bay, Ontario

Stretching from the vast wilderness of Algonquin Park in the east to the windswept shores of the Georgian Bay Islands in the west, the famed District of Muskoka includes the treasured towns of Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, and Huntsville, and the townships of Georgian Bay, Lake of Bays, and Muskoka Lakes.

The handsome new coffee-table book Muskoka captures the rugged beauty, pristine lakes, and charming settlements of this favoured cottage destination over four dramatic seasons. Translated from the Algonquin native language, ‘Muskoka’ means ‘land of the red earth’—unforgettable sunsets, stunning autumn tree foliage, and the region’s signature crop of cranberries—all relate back to the red earth theme and become the canvas for this keepsake photographic collection of one of Canada’s most cherished regions.

Author/photographer Mike Grandmaison (a close personal friend, a long-time client, and a former partner of mine some 20 years ago, when we both taught together as part of Praxis Photographic Workshops) is an award-winning Canadian photographer specializing in nature and landscapes. Working in the biological sciences for several decades instilled in Mike a deep appreciation for nature and the great outdoors. His work has been widely published in leading magazines and books and has been used by some of North America’s top corporations and organizations. Mike travels from coast to coast to coast in search of evocative images that capture the spirit of this great land we call Canada.

Look for Muskoka at top-quality local book vendors (ISBN-13: 978-1-55470-260-2).

Congratulations, Mike!

Churchill, Manitoba

These shots just in from good friend Mike Grandmaison, who’s been hanging out with local polar bears in Churchill again, (on Hudson Bay, about 1000 km north of Winnipeg). Enjoy more of Mike’s outstanding photography—spanning the entire breadth of Canada—here. (Images ©2009 Mike Grandmaison).

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Noah Richler (son of the often acerbic Mordecai Richler) has written a glowing tribute to Winnipeg in today’s Toronto Star—all I can say is I fully concur… and I feel very fortunate to have anchored my design career in this very special place. Read the article here.

(Thanks to Oliver Oike for the heads-up, and to Mike Grandmaison for the great photo looking across the mighty Red River).

Churchill, Manitoba

It’s that time of year again… and seasonal greetings are pouring in by the hour. This lovely photo of two Churchill polar bears is from good friend and client Mike Grandmaison, just back from a northern photo shoot. Quoting his e-card (and apropos to the season): “Sometimes I just don’t know whether I’m coming or going.” Cheers, Mike… and stay warm!

Winnipeg, Canada

Good friend, phenomenal photographer, (and longtime client) Michel Grandmaison has been awarded second prize (what? not first? :-) in the Northern Lights 2007 Awards Canada competition for ‘Excellence in Travel Journalism.’ His photography was showcased in the May 2007 Travel issue of Canadian Geographic Magazine. The award is sponsored by the Canadian Tourism Commission—‘Jasper by Starlight’ can be read online as a PDF (2.4 MB) here. (See more of Mike’s phenomenal photographs here).

Keep up the great work, Mike!

Winnipeg, Canada

My good friend Mike Grandmaison is one of this beautiful country’s top outdoor photographers. He’s been busy in the past while with two successful books on the market: Canada (a bestseller), and The Canadian Rockies, (both by Key Porter Books Ltd.) as well as a whole lot of land-based travel (Mike doesn’t fly, which contributes to his comprehensive understanding of Canada’s vast vistas). A third coffee-table book is expected out within the next two months: Georgian Bay: A Photographer’s Wonderland.