50 km from home

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Worldwide | Thursday, September 2, 2010 | 5 photos

My name is John Densky and I have grown up with an seemingly uncontainable desire to see every nook, cranny and crawl space of the world around me.

In early 2008 I decided to leave my long term career behind and devote myself 110% to following this blind desire. A camera had been a long time companion and seemed the perfect date on my adventures. I was born with the sound of a shutter firing in my head and with a little faith, just enough courage and a supportive shove from my wife the whole jumble of things started to make sense.

I have travelled to many places to photograph however the most magical experience to date has been heading straight out into Lake Erie with a group of dubious fishermen.

Literally 50 some odd kilometers from my door step and a whole new, timeless and often scary world emerged. A world completely in time with and controlled by mother nature. One of experienced and weathered men and women who relied on old stories, local lore and a healthy dose of grit to scratch out a living that hasn't changed much in the past 150 years.

I felt oddly at peace knowing that the adventure stories I had grown up with, carefully carving out my own character and role in, could be found 30 minutes from my drive way. The photo's I have submitted tell the story of the fishermen and hopefully hint at the adventure that fills their every day life. An adventure I have been lucky enough to share. Fast moving spring storms, green gills (I am not talking about the fish here) and all!

I have lived on the north shore of Lake Erie for 6 years now and I still feel like a visitor. Sometimes, rolling down the farm roads at just the right time in the evening I can hear the characters from all the adventure stories I made up in my youth quietly murmuring in my head.