I am a Great Laker by birth, being born and having lived my first 35 years in Chicago. My early life was intertwined with Lake Michigan which projected its recreational, topographic, and cultural influence upon me from birth. I enjoyed summer days at Rainbow Beach, walks along Grant Park's shore, and trips to the little fisheries on the far South Side for dinner. My first documentary was made in 1972 while in high school and focused upon the environmental issue of a then badly polluted Lake Michigan. A situation that has vastly improved over the following years thanks to the Clean Water Act.
Starting in 2017 I took almost three years to photograph along the 4,851 miles of shoreline of the American Great Lakes strand. Casually driving the little Winnebago camper and lingering in areas of interest. I was interested in those secondary and rural communities along the strand, the small cities and towns supporting an unique industry be it tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, shipping, or retail trade. I ate countless bowls of Ramen noodles and cans of sardines. I made 2,768 photographs. I met great folks and investigated the histories of communities along the way. I learned much; The shoreline ( strand ) along the U.S. Great Lakes is longer than the East and West Coast shorelines combined, eighty four percent of North Americas fresh water supply is in the Great Lakes, 30-million Americans reside along the shore of the Great Lakes ( 60-million if you consider the entire region), the Great Lakes are home to the great industrial Rust Belt and most importantly the Strand is in transition.
This series is not a historical retrospective or tourist guide, but rather my impression of what these communities are like today. It is not my intention to make statements, but rather to share subjective observations. I hope this body of work serves as an historical artifact for future generations and creates reflection and thought about our American culture.
