The Fishermans Market, Male' Style!

Hello again and welcome back. It has been quite a week here in the Maldives. We lost a colleague who was taken from us quite suddenly back in Canada. I think that I can say that all of us here extend our condolences to his family and would like them to know we are thinking of them in their time of indescribable grief.

I mentioned in an earlier post that I had taken my camera down to the fish market here in Male'. I grew in a coastal town in the Pacific Northwest of Canada, Prince Rupert British Columbia to be more precise. I think it is because of those roots I feel connected to the outdoors and more specifically the Ocean. I was never really a commercial fisherman per say, I did spend some time doing some prawning and crab fishing with the Lussier family. I also had a friend invite me to take a trip with on his Seiner. This would hardly qualify me as having been a commercial fisherman. I did have few summers working in the canneries in Prince Rupert and I knew tons of fisherman families. I do feel connected in that way.

Considering all this I felt drawn to the market and to the people that fish the waters of the Indian Ocean. These boys work hard! There are no nets used in the Maldives instead everything is caught by hand using a rod and hook or simply by holding on to a spool of line. I have found some really cool videos on youtube that I have posted at the bottom of this post. Please take the time to have a look at them as they are quite interesting and do a great job to illustrate how these guys work their tails off!

Perhaps you will remember this guy from the previous post. He and his mate called me over for a picture and even let me come on the boat to snap a few more. I felt privileged to have had this opportunity.

The boy's hauling their catch off to the market


The days catch. All the fish is laid out on the floor . It is displayed for anyone to buy. You just walk around and pick out the one you like then haggle a bit for the right price.


It is a buzz with activity as people jostle for position to look at and find the best catch of the day.


Name your price,pay a few laari for a bag,fill it up and go have lunch!

This place is an amazing place to pictures. The people have such character in their faces and pride in their hearts


Just taking in the action that surrounds him

Here we have a fellow perched in a window high above the action of the market. It seems to me he is keeping a watchful eye on the fishing dhonis that are tied up across the street.

One of the mighty fishing dhonis. The Jetty is jammed packed with all shapes and sizes.

As I said all shapes and sizes.

Here we have a fellow stationed at the bow keeping an eye the jetty as they approach to dock and unload.

It seemed to me a bit chaotic. That being said perhaps it s more organized than my western eyes could perceive.

I am not sure he knew what to make of me! For him I am sure it is just another day while through my eyes I was seeing something exotic and exciting.

Again the variety of shapes and sizes!

Space is at a premium!Through all of this though there was now sign of shouting or anger over people moving these boats around into the smallest of spaces!

Such a small boat to be out on that sea that is the Indian Ocean!

And now those videos a promised! Check them out! I am sure you will agree these guys work hard for their money!

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed this post. Please feel free to contact me should I have my facts wrong,if you know anyone in the images, the boat names or even just to say hi!
barefootflyer@gmail.com
So long for now.......
Rob.....

Dear Andrew

Dear Andrew,

Buddy you left way to early!

It was so weird because I was thinking about you that day.That is before I heard you had left us behind.

I was up at the Hilton, when you were here last it was called Irufushi, it was still under construction. Perhaps you will recall how crazy that place was when the winds howled out of the west. Maybe you will remember calling me up on the radio and asking me about the conditions this one day and I told it was nuts, big water and that I would not want to take a full load out of there. I remember then getting back to Male' and seeing you have quite a "conversation" with some of the managers about the conditions! In the end you went to Kuredo and they took the passengers the rest of the way in a boat, good decision ,it was epic big up there that day.

I was so sure I would see you again. I am so sad that won't be the case.

I miss the hugs buddy. I am sure there were a few passengers waiting in the lounge that wondered why two pilots would be hugging each other on the dock. Really, though, what is wrong with a couple of guys affirming their bonding!

I miss the radio banter! Perhaps one of my favorite things to do. You know those conversations on the side frequency, those things we would say as jokes, perhaps to see who could say they silliest thing. Tell me did you do it to make me laugh or to entertain the others we knew who would be surely listening? I have to admit I did it for both reasons!

I miss that sneering smile. I miss provoking a response from you when you were making that smile!

Man I was so sure I would get a chance to see you again. The things we take for granted I suppose.

I miss seeing you smoking by the no smoking sign.

I miss hearing you speak you mind, the truth as you knew it.

I am so sad to know we won't get a chance to see each other again in this world.

I am a little pissed off at the Universe right now for reaching out and touching you the way it has.

I miss you dude. So many people here do.

We have been talking about you a lot. So many good stories, so many good laughs! None the less I can't help but choke up as I write you now.

May peace be upon you brother and I hope that in the next one you will be there to greet me with that smile and a hug.

I miss you Private.

Your friend Rob......

A Little Bit Of This And Some Of That!

Well I hope you enjoyed the video I posted to YouTube. If you haven't had a chance to view it please have a scroll down the page and check it out. It was a great way to cap off my second day back.

Today I spent a few hours walking around the fish market as well as the Jetties that line the waterfront on the North side of Male'. It got me thinking about perspective. I am always searching for perspective not only through the lenses of my camera but also my own perspective of the world that I inhabit. I try very hard to understand why it is people think the way they do. What is it that influences their opinions of the world.

I would suppose large parts of their perspective could be influenced by the religion they have, the places they've been, their family life, the people they work with, the amount of wealth they posses, of course I could go on.

I know most of those things have influenced how I see the world. As walked around taking pictures of what is a pretty normal day for those I was photographing I can see the stares. I am certain I am not the first person with a camera to show up and take pictures, far from it indeed, none the less I did feel a little self conscious about how much I stand out. Perhaps even a little nervous but I have to say that the warm smiles that greet me , the fisherman who are so proud to display their catch and the inquiries of where I am from alleviated any apprehension I may have felt at first.

I know I have mentioned before that I do feel challenged by being away from my family.That does a lot to influence my perspective at times. I do have to balance my passion for the type of work I seek and how that may influence my loved ones. I always feel so lucky to have the wife that I do and the children she has given me . I do feel their support for me each and every day. I can't wait to see them again and spend that quality time with them on my time off! In the mean time I will work hard to be the man they need me to be.

Anyway it is picture time.

Only a few from the fish market this time round but stay tuned because I will be posting more!

For those of you who have never seen the Maldives I am sure that you may think that these images are made up! I am here to say that this place does look like this! This a photo I actually took a few years ago. I just rediscovered it and felt I had to share!South East side of the Lhaviyani Atoll.

Here we have the South East side of the Felidhoo Atoll. I captured this image while on our way back to Male' from Medhufushi Resort

Another plane load of people coming to the Maldives on a SriLankan Airlines A340.

Now we are onto what I was describing in the opening of this post. One of the larger fishing Dhonis. Everything is caught by hand here. No nets. I have to do a bit more research and post some videos of how these guys pull the fish in. Stay tuned!

These guys got my attention and were more than happy to show off some of their catch!

That all for now! Check back soon!

Rob........

Online Gallery

If you are looking to perhaps buy a print please follow this link to my online gallery.There you will find a selection my latest images with an available shopping cart!
Online Gallery

Last Flight Of The Day

I am back! Back in the Maldives that is.As luck would have it, or maybe just good karma, the amazing weather has been amazingly perfect.
I have arrived with a new toy as well. A waterproof point and shoot camera that does video as well. With a little bit of Velcro I turned the plane into a very cool camera mount!lol!
I shot a little video on the way into Male' last night. I sped it up a little to try and make it a little more watchable, sound track as well.
I have more photo's on the way but for now I hope you enjoy the show!

On my way soon!

Hi everyone who follows this blog!
I have been crazy busy putting together our new photo studio and website for our photography business in Victoria so my promises of weekly updates goes unfulfilled!
Please check out the new website and blog that we have on the go sophiephoto.com and our blog at sophiephotovictoria .On the blog there is a link to join us on facebook.
I have had some inquiries about some of the images posted on my site here so I would like to let everyone know that I am gearing up to put them in a gallery with a shopping cart.
Anyway enough on that. Just the other day I had Ahmed contact me with an update on my visit with the Male' control tower and area control centre. He gave me the names of the guys in the control centre, so if you are interested please flolow the links in July to go to those pages to finally see there names! Thanks Ahmed!
Like said I am on my way soon so look for the barefoot pilot with a camera in his hand!
Rob