This photo reminds me of Fred. Obviously, the hand’s firm grip on the rigging captures Fred’s immense inner strength, determination and fortitude. But beyond that, as the darkness creates a mood of mystery in the photo, I always found a bit of mystery in Fred Although we spent many hours together, (especially during the last year and a half) Fred didn’t speak much about his life. We mostly talked about cameras and gadgets. We shared our opinions on photography, both as a technical skill to be mastered and as an art form to soothe our souls, inflame our passions and inspire our thoughts. Much of Fred was a mystery to me.
We often talked about the importance of Fred’s work and our moral duty to preserve the past. His collection of ancient glass negatives allow us a visual connection and visceral contact with the past. I told him that what we do on GMG is much in the same vein. The tiny slices of time we post will, I fervently hope, be preserved so that 150 years from now people in Gloucester will have the same opportunity to travel backwards in time and pay us a digital visit.
Finally, this photo hides the subject’s face. In a sense we are all anonymous; we all hide our faces. The strengths, weaknesses and characteristics that shape us; that bundle of quirks and mannerisms, visions and quests that are the mold into which our bodies fit are what we are and are what we will remember when our loved ones pass away.
For the past several years, Fred and I attempted to locate a twelve foot high boulder that appears in one of his historic prints. We were able to piece together the approximate location from visual information in the photos and from handwritten notes that accompanied them. But, by the time we were ready to venture into the woods on foot to further our search, Fred’s declining health intervened and we never found the boulder.
This search was Fred’s idea, his adventure, his attempt to enter the old photo and be at the same place where it was created. It seems just too sad to pursue this exploration and journey without him. But the memory of the excitement it stirred in Fred will always be with me as will his friendship, wisdom and mystery.
Please join us for the 4 person photography show “by Land, Sea, and Sky” August 6 – 30, 2015. Photographic works by Merlyn Caswell-Mackey, David Fernandes, Law Hamilton, and Ricardo Marnoto will be featured. 
Good Morning Gloucester 