Some observations documented
During a recent dive into my photo archives, I came upon some early photos of the Ogden Point breakwater. After a little more digging, I was struck by how this might be one of my longest-running projects and how these images do a good job of documenting the changing face of Victoria’s waterfront during the last decade.
The Ogden Point breakwater was completed in 1916 and I first started visiting the breakwater and surrounding waterfront when I moved to Victoria in 2003. Since then, I have made numerous images at the breakwater, along the promenade between Ogden and Holland points and at the deep-water docks reserved for cruise ships and other deep-sea vessels.
One of the most noticeable changes during this past year has been the shift in how the area is used. Due to the pandemic there hasn’t been a cruise ship docked at Ogden Point since late in 2019. Therefore, the normal glut of visitors hasn’t happened. No tour buses clogging the streets of nearby James Bay. Ah, nice!
I know that this has impacted the local businesses that rely upon tourist, but I welcome a move away from that business model and would be very happy to see the cruise ship industry fade away. This has been a welcome change to me.
The pandemic has also caused locals to stay local and they are clearly spending more time along the Ogden Point waterfront. The number of walkers, cyclist, skaters, shufflers, skippers and strutters along the promenade and out along the breakwater is significant.
Below, you will find images from 2008 to the present. (In fact, some of the most recent images captured at Ogden Point are part of my last post.)
When we can all travel again, be sure to walk out along the breakwater when you visit Victoria. I will look for you.
NB: Images captured with quite the variety of cameras and lenses. Aside from the usual Fujifilm cameras and lenses, perhaps the most notable and earliest camera used was the Epson R-D1 with M-mount lenses. That was one great camera.
DON CRAIG photography 
4 responses to “Ogden Point”
You chose to live in a beautiful place and you continue to honor that place by capturing it in diverse ways with the artist’s eye, seeing what not everyone sees.
Hi Robin, thanks for you comment. You are too generous.
Interesting project .. I have a similar experience with Iona Beach here in Vancouver. It’s got a long pier too, but it acts as the sewer pipe of the lower mainland. Far less glamours than cruise ships … Great places to walk though and loads of birds out that way.
Hey Kevin, nice to hear from you. We are really fortunate to have access to locations like these. Definitely helps keep me sane. Take care!