Here are the winners of the 2022 Cottage Life Photo Contest

Cindy Bartoli spent many summer mornings alone on the water at 6 a.m. thanks to her new pack boat (a lightweight canoe with a kayak-style seat). It was during one of these trips that she paddled across the lake and took this shot. “The mist, the lighting, and the colour—that’s the trifecta of everything you want to see,” says Cindy. “I was the only person in that quiet with the sunrise. It was magic.” Our judges agreed that Cindy was lucky to encounter this moment since it doesn’t happen every day. You can make out the details of the photo—the trees and the cottages—which are hard to capture without losing the details in the shadows. At the same time, the silhouettes leave the rest of the scene up to the imagination. The photo has a lot of depth with minimal colour, and the sepia tones create a nostalgic feeling that brings you right into the boat with Cindy.

“I throw my kayak in the back of the truck, head off to the marsh, and photograph the herons,” says Brian Burnett, as if snapping this shockingly brilliant image was a simple endeavour. Our judges know a lot of skill and experience is required to get the bright white background without blowing out the entire picture. Brian had to shoot on an overcast day and use a technique called high-key lighting that over-exposes the image and reduces dark shadows. The framing of the bird on the branch and the muted colours add to the quiet intensity. Brian started shooting wildlife as a hobby in between scuba photography trips. “Now I’ve graduated to more above water instead of underwater and travelled all over the world for it.”

Our judges were a little alarmed when they first saw this frog—it looks a bit unsettling, but it’s just duckweed that’s creating the camouflage. The monochromatic green captured their attention, and the technical strength of the photo solidified its spot in the top shots. The eye of the frog stands out, which is what you want Grand Prizein a wildlife photo—to be drawn to the animal’s eyes. The depth of field supports the frog as the focal point. Marg McKenna was at the Dorchester Mill Pond EcoTrail when the amphibian moved and caught her attention. “I never would’ve noticed it otherwise,” she says. “I loved the colours and how the branch was covered in duckweed too.” Marg found the beauty in an otherwise slimy scene.

“The hot tub is one thing at our cottage that we use year-round,” says Monika Macalpine. “It’s where friends and family can hang out and relax while still being by the lake, no matter the weather.” The judges were immediately drawn to Monika’s brother, Mack, looking straight at the camera. He’s the focal point, while the two other people help create a strong composition. The water plays a supporting role, with its velvety texture and the way it repeats in the hot tub and the lake. Monika captured exactly what it’s like at the cottage: sitting around, being lazy, and hanging out. The judges agreed that there is something poetic about the everyday, mundane moments, and the choice to use black and white for this photo plays into that beauty. They also noted the crooked horizon and the intruding hot tub pipes but decided these details help make the shot feel like real life.

You can’t help but smile at the fun Jay Marino’s kids, Ruby and John-Ferris, are having in the water at their family cottage on Devil Lake, Ont. “They love to jump off the dock and race me out to the Floater Mat,” says Jay. “It’s a game for them to climb up on the mat before I get there and splash me to keep me from getting on.” The judges agreed the way Jay caught the action in this shot was impressive—he needed a quick shutter speed to capture the water bubbles from the splash. Jay used his waterproof GoPro to take the picture while swimming, setting it apart from other watersport entries, which are usually taken from the edge of the dock or a boat. The judges look for images that spark emotion, and this one makes us feel pure joy. The combination of the blue lake and the blue sky frames the children, and the early afternoon sunlight enhances their expressions. “I think I’ve documented every single trip we’ve taken up there,” says Jay. “I always have my camera with me while we’re at the lake.”

The beauty of the mountains overwhelmed Marion Buccella when she and her husband went on vacation on the Rocky Mountaineer passenger train. Once they arrived in Jasper, Alta., they rented a car and drove straight to Pyramid Lake to take photos at 7 a.m. “I wanted to be there first thing, before people were up and while the water was calm,” says Marion. “The mountain and its reflection in the still lake, the water so clear you could see the rocks through it, it was all unbelievable to me.” The judges were impressed by the layers of depth Marion captured in what some might call a simple shot. The mountains, treeline, lake, boats, and rocks are all sharp and in focus, creating a strong image from the background to the foreground. “I took a similar photo from another angle without the boats,” says Marion. “But I wanted more of a human element—how people could enjoy this place besides just looking at it.” The judges agreed that the photo would not be as strong without the boats—the red on them helps create balance by echoing the red in the trees. The result makes us want to book tickets for the Rocky Mountaineer right away.

For the past three summers, the Mitchells have been renting a cottage by Cape Traverse, P.E.I., right by their favourite beach. “No one is ever around. When the tide goes out, there are sand flats where the kids can play for hours,” says Todd. “I snuck away one night and strolled along the beach taking photos.” The soft colours he captured here evoke a calm and inviting feeling for our judges, and the simplicity of the sun positioned at the end of the path, with the leading lines of the grass, made the entire CL team want to walk down the boardwalk to this quiet little beach. The movement in the tall grasses and the sweeping clouds made the judges sense the cool breeze of a summer evening on the east coast.