The process of building a book on the cabins of Wilsonia began in the summer of 2011. It seemed too big, too many tasks to break down, too many decisions, too many cabins.
I started by getting to know the layout of Wilsonia and becoming familiar with one area at a time, taking photos at different times of day. I spent lots of time walking around and studying the details, reviewing the lanes, taking notes along with the pictures.
It was quickly apparent that it would be impossible to make a manageable book if every cabin was included in its entirety. It was impossible to even include a detail from every cabin.
Decisions had to be made: typical and atypical had to be chosen.
Sometimes I chose a view because the light was so beautiful. Sometimes it was because there were interesting roof angles. Sometimes a place looked so charming, so inviting, so irresistible that I photographed it over and over, time and time again.
Sometimes the light wouldn’t cooperate: the shadows were too strong or the light was too flat. Sometimes I couldn’t find a good angle or a pleasing detail, no matter how many times I returned. Sometimes the cedar trees obstructed the view and there was no way to capture a place. Sometimes a cabin was occupied, with too much porkadelia, and I didn’t want to intrude. Sometimes a cabin looked too much like another, and I don’t want the book to be repetitious, so I made a decision. Sometimes there were barking dogs, and I respected their warnings.
The end result is that not every cabin will be in the book. Every lane, every road, every street will be represented. Every style of cabin will be represented. Most of the folks who talked to me about cabin life and gave permission to be quoted will find their words in the book. I said “most”. . . please don’t misread that last sentence.
This book is my doing – my idea, my design, my work, my risk. It is both for me, because there is nothing as satisfying as a project completed well, and it is for you, because you have a treasure of a cabin community that should be preserved and celebrated.
It is my hope that most people will be pleased, excited, and proud. It is inevitable that a few people will be disappointed and maybe even angry. So be it. Please forgive me for the use of an irritating cliche, but here goes: it is what it is.
The design is complete (in spite of having to do 5 more drawings) and The Cabins of Wilsonia will be published. I hope you and your family and friends and guests will enjoy it for a very long time.
