When Lyle McIntyre says he’s “shooting” in Muskoka, don’t worry… there’s no need to pack your bags and head for the hills.

  One of the region’s most accomplished photographers, McIntyre has used Muskoka as a backdrop for his award winning images since he and his wife, Jan, began their photographic careers in 1971. Since then, he has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Canadian Professional Photographer of the Year, as well as two Craftsman and two Masters degrees in Canada and the United States. His work has also been the subject of countless magazines, including The Professional Photographer and The Canadian Professional Photographer.

  Not bad going for a guy who didn’t get into the photography business until he turned 38.

  “It was a mid-life crisis kind of thing,” says McIntyre, taking time out from getting his boat ready for a busy summer scouting for new locations. “I’d always wanted to be a photographer, but you know how life so often has other plans. Finding myself in Muskoka, such a beautiful part of Canada, really influenced my decision.”     

  McIntyre couldn’t have chosen a better – or more dramatic – subject for his work. Focussing on the rugged beauty of Muskoka, his striking colour and black and white images capture the true essence of the region, and have been snapped up for display in homes, cottages and corporate offices throughout Canada and the U.S.

  “You develop an eye for this sort of thing,” adds McIntyre. “And I make sure I get out at least once a week to immerse myself in the beauty of Muskoka and the Georgian Bay area.”

  McIntyre has also built a solid reputation as a portrait photographer – his  family portraits adorn countless Muskokan cottages and homes.

  He’s also no stranger to publishing. In 1994, Boston Mills Press – a Canadian publishing company specializing in cottage-country books – published his first book, Silver and Stone, a collection of large format fine art black and white photographs. (Silver and Stone is available in stores, or directly from McIntyre, for $40.)

  You can also get a glimpse of McIntyre’s large, colour landscapes at Deerhurst and Grandview resorts in Huntsville; Huntsville District Hospital; and at Jasmines Arts and Antiques in Baysville.

  For further details, write to: Lyle McIntyre Photography, Box 1769, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1V7;  phone 705-645-8814; or send an e-mail to lylemc@muskoka.com You can also see samples of his work at www.muskoka.com/lylemc.