Fishermen—and the working waterfronts they depend on—are a defining part of Maine’s culture and identity. Those tied to the fishing industry work in challenging, ever-changing conditions, both at sea and on shore.
Over the past year, I photographed Commissioner Judy Camuso of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (MDIFW) as she experienced Maine’s natural landscapes through different seasons. These portraits reflect her deep connection to the outdoors and her commitment to conserving the places she loves.
Stories are everywhere—real, human stories about people fighting to find a home, keep one, live their lives, and take care of their families.
I love working with clients who make a real difference.
This week, I returned from hiking the Laugavegur Trail in Iceland. The 34-mile (55 km) trail winds from Landmannalaugar through the Fjallabak Nature Preserve to Thorsmork (Þórsmörk).
I'm excited to share one of the assignments I did for Colby College recently. This was to photograph Amanda Stent, the inaugural Director of the Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence at Colby—the first such cross-disciplinary institute at a liberal arts college.
Last year, I set a personal goal to walk or hike 2023 miles. It was a last-minute decision, sparked by a desire to shape up before a five-day backpacking trip in Iceland.
Dave Johansen, known as Neon Dave, pauses and surveys his workspace in Portland's East Bayside neighborhood. Filled with piles of cut glass tubes, a various boxes and hand-drawn designs on paper, the cluttered area is one of three he utilizes in a shared space.
"Kids from an early age all think they're artists. They'll raise their hands if you ask them in kindergarten class, says Joe Rosshirt. "Every year that goes by, less and less hands will come up, to a point where you're self-conscious to put your hand up."
"As a young (bass) luthier, I thought I was going to make all of these innovative changes. You see people doing it all the time: they change (instruments) sporadically. It doesn't work. If you're going to make it different, (the instrument) still has to work," says Gael McKeon.
Moody has been working with metal for more than three decades. After years working in Boston, she chose to move to Maine to forge a simpler life—and the handcrafted serving utensils she is increasingly known for. Moody uses traditional metal crafting methods to make spoons, knives and other wares from copper, brass and steel.
David Jacobson was a freshman majoring in telecommunications at Kent State University in Ohio when he happened upon an outdoor glassblowing demonstration. “I knew at that moment that was something I needed to do,” he said.
The artists and craftsmen who call Maine home share a cultural heritage with those who have gone before them. This link to the past is epitomized by Sam Smith, an aptly-named blacksmith who operates several forges across the state as guildmaster of the Maine Blacksmith's Guild.
Back in the cold dark of January I made a resolution to trek at least 2023 miles this year. The primary goal was to train for a five-day backpacking trip to Iceland in 2024. But it also seemed a surefire way to spend more time outdoors, another goal.
Beginning in 2019, I worked with the great people at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (MDIFW) to create location portraits for an ongoing recruitment campaign. These portraits were to feature the game wardens, biologists, educators, cartographers and others who together protect Maine's wildlife, habitat and the people who enjoy them.
This spring and summer I had the pleasure of working with the amazing Dempsey Center in Lewiston, Maine. The non-profit provides wellness and other support services to those whose lives have been touched by cancer—providing everything from wig-fittings to counseling to classes on topics like healthy cooking and yoga.
My previous experience with watercraft consists primarily of floating down Arizona's Salt River on inner tubes lashed together with several coolers of beer, so I'm not the best judge of things boat-related.
