Nothing like the roar of 91 diesel engines throwing 91 lobster boats across the ocean chop to start one’s day. Monday, the 27th of April, and the spring lobster season is under way on Miramichi Bay. Two months of hard work, early mornings and lobster (with any luck). I was lucky enough to get out on Theodore Williston’s boat the Gulf Fisher. Theodore is 79 this year and has been out on fishing boats for as long as he can remember, but he’s as active as ever piloting the boat into the bay, singing and telling stories as he goes, and lending a hand loading the traps when they get back to port. Not an easy event to photograph- holding on to a metal rail with one freezing hand, shooting at high ISO (3200) with the other and bouncing around like you are a cowboy at the Calgary Stampede- not to forget the odd salt water shower to keep your mind focused, but one of those things that not many people get to experience- at least not many people who grew up on the prairies.

Shooting on dry land is one thing, but shooting from a foot off the water is another thing. No tripod that is for sure. And not too easy to stay in one spot either. A good guide, someone who can really control their craft is important, along with a model, in this case, Angela Cullins, who can canoe or kayak as well really helps. And then attitude. With all the bobbing around and trying to stay in one spot while the tide tries to show you something else means everyone has to be flexible and keep smiling. In the end, we only had about one minute where the sun broke through and gave us a chance at the shot. A few minutes later the wind came up and a couple of people did a bit of swimming. But that’s another story.

It is always nice to work with great people, with a great team. Here’s the cover shot for this year’s New Brunswick Tourism department’s Touring Guide. What made this shot memorable for me was how many people had to be called on to pull it off. It was late in the year- the temperature was only 4 above, but Percy Mallet was able to get the Tintamarre team together and gather up the Big Heads and costumed folk to turn November into August. And the people in the shot, well, they just gave it all they had to make sure that the spirit of Tintamarre and the Acadian shore shone through- joie de vivre.