Press Button To Blog - Fort York

I am always on the lookout for new locations to shoot pictures. And so is every other sweaty attention seeking bumhole on Tik-Tok. The question is, are we taking the same types of photographs in the same places? Given none of my pictures having girls twerking in front of the battlements, probably not. I always aim to approach things from a fresh perspective if I can. But I guess...how much OnlyFans content has been filmed on top of a genuine antique canon? Not many I'd imagine. So who am I to talk about uniqueness.

For the first time I had the opportunity to visit the Fort York National Historic Site in Toronto. Prior to my photography excursion I had never had reason to check it out. I'm not exactly a history buff, so it wasn't ever on the top of my to-do list. For those that aren't familiar with it, Fort York is a historic site that dates back to the 18th century, and it served as a military fortification for the British Army during multiple wars.

Like Toronto's islands, the Fort played a significant role in the War of 1812 between the United States and Britain. During the war, Americans sauntered north and captured the Canadian capital of York (which is now known as Toronto), which resulted in the British retaliating by burning down part of the White House in Washington. Though no one would ever call me a history buff, it is fascinating to think about the historical significance of this site and how it was instrumental in shaping the relationship between North America's strongest countries.

Upon arrival to the fort, I was first impressed by the imposing ramparts that surrounded the spacious area, and I immediately felt like I had travelled back in time. It's strange to juxtapose buildings that are centuries old against the ugly green glassed condos that surround it that had been erected within the past decade. As I walked around the site, I began to try and imagine what life was like for the soldiers who once called this place home. Looking south at the hundreds of condos that had since destroyed the sightline of what was once underdeveloped waterfront where 1700 US soldiers arrived via a flotilla of 16 ships, it's hard to put yourself in the boots of the 700 or so soldiers that were tasked with defending it. It's easy to understand why the British retreated faced with such insurmountable odds.

I found Fort York to be an interesting location to take pictures. The natural beauty of the site combined with the historic architecture made for a few stunning shots, even if I didn't get as many as I would have liked. For some reason that day I just seemed to lack inspiration, despite a plethora of options. Due to the lowlight conditions (which my camera isn't suitable for), quite a few of my photos came out blurry because I was handholding my camera. Even though I didn't capture the results I wanted, I enjoyed looking at the intricate carvings on the stone walls, and the rusted cannons that were once used for defense.

Other than the lack of modern lighting, there were also some challenges to photographing at a historic site like Fort York. One of the main obstacles as with any tourist sites was dealing with crowds of tourists who were also visiting. While some people were respectful of my space as a photographer, others didn't seem to care and would walk right into a shot or block the view, which was impressive because I was taking some out of the way shots. I also had to be careful not to damage any of the fragile structures or artifacts while moving around the site like the proverbial bull in the China shop, even when it was tempting to step over some stanchions get some truly unique angles

Overall, my visit to Fort York National Historic Site was a short, fun experience even if I never have a reason to visit again. Even if it doesn't always appeal to me, I always appreciate the opportunity to capture images that tell a story, and Fort York provided plenty of fascinating tales to be told. From the War of 1812 to the intricate architectural details, this site is a must-see for anyone who appreciates history and photography alike.