This is called “The Bounce” because it shows the snowshoe members of the club throwing one of their members up into the air; it’s probably borrowed from First Nations. What’s fascinating about this, of course, is that he’s got the composite down so that it just looks so natural at this point. By 1887, I mean, you don’t see any of the ways that it was done at all.

But most likely, this figure who’s in the air was photographed in the studio, probably lying on a table, or lying on a box of some sort and taking his position, and then they, of course, would just cut all that out when they did the collaging. And I suspect that even this group of figures down below here were just so beautifully composed with such a play of light around and each figure so sculptural in and of itself, I suspect that those probably, too, were shot in small groups. He couldn’t have achieved that sense of plasticity, I think, otherwise. And then, of course, he’s created this very convincing background. Another great Canadian image from William Notman.

Up! Up! The Morn is beaming
Through the forest breaks the sun
Rouse ye sleepers, time for dreaming
When our daily journey’s done
Bind the snow shoes
Fast with thongs to
See that all is right and sure
All is bliss to naught’s amiss to
A brave North Western Voyageur.

The Snowshoe Tramp, 1859