20
MOUNTAINLIFE
WINTER /SPRING2016
When I accepted the invitation to come aboard
the
Lasqueti Explorer
as a photographer and deck
hand, I didn’t fully anticipate being face down in
rotten squid, clams, and salmonwhile packing
bait jars for 18 hours a day.
I’ve found it’s best to refrain from thinking too
much about the grimy, dirty jobsmost people
avoid and just say yes to adventure and the
unique experiences that come up in life. It’s not
very often that an artist is invited into a real
rough-and-toughwork environment with full
creative control, sowhen captainMikeHoffman
offeredme a spot aboard his commercial crab
boat, I said yeswithout hesitation and started
packing.
Mike runs a small crew, and as a photographer, I
wanted to capture how themen felt about being
fishermen. I often obsess over aminute detail or
notion, getting lost in time and thought, exploring
my own curiosities to create something thought-
provoking from basically nothing. I think that’s
whatmakes a good photographer, someonewho
can pick out and isolate one detail and have an
entire story automatically unfold and ooze out
around it.After being posted up on the crab boat
for a few days,working off the coast of Haida
Gwaii, it quickly became apparent that JonCalface
would be that one detail.
Out of all the fascinating things I could have taken
note of
—
thewildlife, coastal landscapes and
numerous alien creatures being pulled up from
the depths
—
it was Jonwho I most often pointed
my camera at. I think it was his dedication that
I foundmost interesting,maybe even inspiring.
I was intrigued by the subtle enthusiasm he had
towards the fisherman lifestyle
—
he embraces,
enjoys even,whatmost would find gruelling and
intolerable. I observed his daily ritual of putting
on rain gear, tucking in his gloves, and folding his
headband perfectly and tying it tight to keep the
hair out of his eyes. Jon’smedieval work belt held
old fashioned tools; key pieces that he has refined
over the years tomake his longworkdays pass
more smoothly. He never once fussed or fumbled
with his gear while on deck and everymovement
flowedwith calm composure, and dignity towards
hiswork and his life. It was exactlywhat I wanted
to capture inmy photographs, the pride of all of
themen on the boat.“The fishermen that saved
fishermen…” I keep repeating tomyself,“a dying
breed brought back to life.”
Commercial fishing onBC’s NorthCoast ismore
than a job; it is an identity and a lifestyle. It’s
heroic and epic and all those overusedwords that
mean somuchmore at sea.Therewas once a time
when fishermenwould return to the port of Prince
Rupert to unload their haul and the entire town
would light upwith life.Those days are long gone,
but there remain a collected fewwho call the
ocean home.Menwith adventure andwanderlust
ingrained in their nature.Men unflusteredwith
badweather and challenging living conditions,
thriving on the intensity, relishing the hardwork.
Men, andwomen too, for thatmatter,who roll
into town after a big tripwith honest, content,
wind-burned smiles on their faces, ready to
celebrate life and buy you a drink… should you be
so lucky.
RECLAIMTHEFISHERMEN
UP
FRONT
Photography&Words byTalonGillis
