Solitary Tides: The Pier Fishermen of San Diego

Art photographers are always seeking new projects. I’m no different. Ideas come and go, their essence sometimes built upon memories, others from a fanciful imagination, and other projects stem from nothing more than a slowly-developing dream. But my most recent project came through a random discovery, a false start, and then lots of research and experimentation.  

Finding Inspiration Amongst the Fishermen 

Past experiences with New England coastal visits stirred my imagination. I recalled how I found joy in walking along the fishing piers, gazing at the snug harbors filled with fishing boats, side glances from crusty fishermen, and the well-used fishing equipment while absorbing the salt air and the sounds of deep-throated fog horns. The memories have always stuck with me, stirring thoughts of a photographic art project centered around fishermen. That memory lingered within me, never seeming to develop and progress until I visited the bustling fishing piers of Southern California.  

Tres Amigos - In the early morning, amidst the bramble of fishing poles and tackle on Crystal Pier, San Diego, three fishermen are seen bringing in the catch.   

I was inspired by their solitary pursuit of bait fish as they cast lines from the ocean piers and then waited — and waited. I took their pictures in the early morning hours when they were most active, sensing the loneliness of their work, and I admired their resilience, patience, and dedication to the tasks at hand.  During my many visits, I saw how they spent hours in solitude, facing the elements and waiting for a catch that may or may not ever come. Fame or fortune are not seemingly their primary motivations,  rather, it seems they are pursuing  the chance for personal isolation.  

Fishing: The Lonely Pursuit  

Fishermen choose their spots, methods, and pace without having to compromise or coordinate with others. Some enjoy the peace of being alone with nature, while others may seek to escape the noise and stress of everyday life. Still, I noted that others seemed to find a meditative practice in the art of fishing that helps them isolate from the present moment. In the beginning, I wanted to capture their stories, but I soon realized it was not the documentation of their lifestyle that I was after; it was the solitude and their stoic perseverance as they faced the damp chill that shrouded the fishing piers in the predawn hours.  

But—a big but—how do you capture and translate the human spirit's meditation, isolation, and introspection into meaningful visual moments? Photographing fishermen along hundreds of yards of pier is a logistical challenge of cinematic proportions. I needed to time the weather, light, tides, and conditions that coincided with their work, and the project took several trips.  

A Lonely Morning on the Pier. This scene on Imperial Beach Pier, CA encapsulates the timeless tradition of fishermen casting their lines and hopes into the vastness of the waters below. 

But—a big but—how do you capture and translate the human spirit's meditation, isolation, and introspection into meaningful visual moments? Photographing fishermen along hundreds of yards of pier is a logistical challenge of cinematic proportions. I needed to time the weather, light, tides, and conditions that coincided with their work, and the project took several trips.  

Beyond the Surface: Embracing Soft Focus Photography 

I needed to let go of the idea that great photography is all about sharpness, proper technique, and advanced equipment. I began to experiment and created pilot images that crucially changed what and how I photographed. I embellished the influences of the Impressionist painters Monet and Morisot, and the early works of Imogen Cunningham. This became a new pathway of discovery that would allow me to capture their world.   

I began experimenting with soft focus, which resulted in a lack of sharpness and an increased sense of abstractness. Ten years ago, I would never have done this, as I was convinced that sharpness is of the highest importance. But in this case, I wanted to capture the impression of the fishing experience with a feeling akin to impressionist painters and photographers, and I knew that technology alone wouldn't get me there.   

A New Perspective: From Sharpness to Emotion 

Gone were the days of obsessing over technical perfection; instead, I found myself drawn to the impressionistic allure of soft-focus imagery. With each shutter click, I aim to evoke emotions and feelings, inviting viewers to contemplate the mysteries of the human existence. 

Bringing in Dinner. A fisherman on Oceanside Pier, CA has waited patiently for the telltale tug signaling a catch.   

Thus, the Solitary Tides project transformed my thinking. I no longer regard sharpness as an essential ingredient of successful photography but as a creative tool to create focus or an emotion within the viewer. The images' hazy, ethereal, and dreamlike quality encourages viewers to engage with and contemplate the mysteries of the human condition through personal introspection. 

To quote Ansel Adams: “You don't make a photograph with just a camera. You bring to the act of photography from all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.”   

The Pier Fishermen images are the culmination of my years of life experiences, not just the time it takes to click the shutter.   

EFS