My latest assignment is to document 14 buildings and features at the Cama Beach State Historical Park very thoroughly. The documentation includes photography done with a view camera and b&w film to meet Historic American Building Survey Standards, as well as high quality digital photography for use by Washington State Parks and possibly by the WA Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP). I’m using a tripod and perspective correcting lenses (tilt-shift lenses) for most of the digital work.
The buildings are from a private resort that offered cabins and small boat rentals on Camano Island. Built in the 1930’s, the resort was owned and managed by the same family until it was sold to the state in 1994. The state upgraded the utilities in the buildings, and then offered the cabins for visitors until 2024. In the fall of 2024, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission voted to permanently close the cabins. As with many projects I work on, the situation is complicated, and beyond the scope of a simple post. But the issues that led to the cabin closing include repeated flooding from winter storms, a troubled sewer system, and precautions against digging which make sewer repairs difficult, since there archaeological resources at the site.
At the same time, the cabins are still in good shape, with original features, despite being about 90 years old. Perhaps they can be moved. It’s been great to photograph historic buildings that still look good.
Many of the photographs were done with existing light, but I used flash in some situations, especially when I wanted to show the inside of the buildings along with the view looking out at the Saratoga Passage of Puget Sound.
Here is Cabin 4 without flash:
Here is the same view done with flash:
Here is the lighting equipment, with my digital camera:
Here is the version done with my view camera, from basically the same position: