By the Lake is a photography project about the people and places along a short stretch of waterfront in Toronto, Ontario. This section of waterfront is frequented by people from all walks of life and has a unique geography, given its location between both the Gardiner Expressway and Lakeshore Boulevard to the north, and Lake Ontario to the south. At times, this area feels like a respite from the city. In other moments, it’s a bustling ecosystem of lakeside activity, where the sounds of honking cars starkly contrast scenic views. There’s something magical about this section of the waterfront, and not because of it’s beauty. The water itself is not particularly appealing, and the highway is always within earshot, so it’s not immediately noticeable that this place is anything special. I live nearby and regularly walk these routes, and I’ve come to fall in love with this place. People come here to express themselves. They come here to meet up with lovers, to get away from the pressures of the city, or to simply find solitude amongst an increasingly chaotic world. With this project, I aim to poetically document the people who frequent this area of the waterfront, and hope to capture its electric energy.