It’s like being on an inverted aquarium.
I am in the water and the caught fish stare at me
while being hauled into the boat.

long cut from exhibion photo, the Storregen

“in its heyday it ruled the fishing grounds up and down the coast of Norway“

The Storeggen, the traditional fishing boat in this photo, is a neo. It was built about a decade ago, scrupulously following the original naval building plans. It is what was called a “Fishing bank ship” (Bankskøyte, in Norwegian) and in its heyday it ruled the fishing grounds up and down the coast of Norway. On some occasions during this photo project, I went out with its captain, Lars Leine, the head of the Museum Shipyards.

There are no changes in modus operandi  – once arrived at the fishing grounds, I prepare the cameras, gear-up and jump in the water. Time shifts, from human-based to ocean-based. I wait patiently and attentively, that the mix of expectation, good-will and innocence – a mix known to all fishermen in the planet – may be fruitful. Cod fish are introspective, they don’t put much of a fight, so I need to pay attention to fishermen’s little excitements. I am pushed here and there by the current and the wind, and keep mildly warm by cycling around the hull, or rushing to some frantic action around a potential catch. It’s not acceptable to request “hold-on, hold-on, let me get the right angle for this shot!” from any fisherman, ever, anywhere.

 

 

“It’s not acceptable to request “hold-on, hold-on, let me get the right angle for this shot!” from any fisherman, ever“