Creating a Birch Bark Canoe

Charlie Harris has had a passion for canoes for the thirty-five years that I've known him. He has finally been able to realize a life-long dream of building his own birch bark canoes, within the past few years. He has completed several to this point, but continues to scout out new places to harvest resources to continue the process. I've been with him on a few occasions to 'test' tree bark for suitability. We talked about documenting the process with images. We thought it would be a great way to keep his parents (who live in Florida) posted of his progress and allow others to discover the passion he has for his hobby.

I've revised this series of photos many times because I often will learn something new and see something different when I visit Charlie. As I gain understanding of various aspects, I'll update these images and comments to offer viewers better information.

At the end of this photo essay are several photos of Charlie and his dog using the canoe. The reason I've offered these photos for viewing is because they're so rare. So much time is spent building the canoes and so little time paddling them. Every opportunity to photograph the builder in his glory is a treat for me. Each one is just a little different and special in its own way. I want to share that excitement with you.