Charlevoix Reimagined

Bob Miles, Charlevoix’s famed photographer, worked in the region from 1931 until his retirement in 1972. He produced some of the most exceptional and iconic images of Charlevoix in the 20th century. He also loved to fly. He became close friends with Joe McPhillips, manager of Charlevoix’s small airport, who kept a weather‑eye out for perfect days to shoot from the air. When Joe called, Bob would drop everything and race to the airport.

Bob’s passion for planes and photography made him a true pioneer. He led the commercialization of aerial photography in the Charlevoix region, creating full‑color views that reached audiences far beyond northern Michigan — from his epic postcard series, “Color by Bob Miles” to Chamber of Commerce publications and other regional projects. His aerial images became invaluable records, making him a sought‑after expert and consultant for city, county, state, and private projects ranging from real‑estate disputes and site planning to historical research and water studies.

Bob often shot from the air with his Graflex Speed Graphic — a rugged 4×5 press camera with a fold‑out bellows, a fast focal‑plane shutter, and a fixed lens ideal for aerial work. Loaded with Kodachrome sheet film, it produced large, richly colored transparencies that captured the Charlevoix region with remarkable clarity.

On this page, we explore how new digital tools can be creatively used to interpret and reimagine historic images, offering fresh ways to visualize and deepen our understanding of the past. Inspired by archival photographs from the Museum’s collections and guided by historical knowledge, these interpretations reach beyond the limits of what can be directly seen to suggest what might have been. They invite you to explore the past with curiosity, openness, and a sense of discovery — and we hope you find them as intriguing as we do.