Island photographer captures hanging photographs of PEI surroundings in new e-book

John Morris is aware of all about luck.

The Charlottetown-based photographer has been touring all throughout Canada chasing the right shot. Generally he will get it, generally he would not. However for him maybe the luckiest break of all is getting to do that for a dwelling.

Morris, whose work largely revolves round taking photos of landscapes for calendars, just lately printed a photograph e-book of his work in PEI

Chasing Mild on Prince Edward Island options 84 pages of images from across the province. The e-book is now on sale on-line and in main bookstores in PEI

Morris spoke concerning the e-book — and his profession — with PEI Mainstreet Hosted Matt Rainnie. This is a part of their dialog.

Inform us somewhat bit about your path to changing into an Island photographer.

I’ve at all times been eager about simply driving round and taking pictures. Years in the past earlier than I did it professionally, that was a key ardour and curiosity of mine. Clearly now for the final quite a few years, I have been doing it professionally and have had the pleasure of driving from coast to coast and testing our Island views and exploring new spots.

Once we first met, you had been type of concerned on the planet of tech. What was it like so that you can make a leap like this and to throw your self into images full time?

It was truly very easy. I had a job supply from a relatively massive firm within the States and I re-evaluated my life saying, “Do I wish to work in an workplace the remainder of my life or do I wish to do one thing else like be outdoors?”

That was once I was simply stepping into images. So I shifted my path. And a few years later, right here we’re.

Do you exit with like a location in thoughts or do you wait till it is the right day? Do you simply drive after which one thing catches your eye? The entire above?

It is all the above, relying on the scenario. In November, I drove to Cape Breton to attempt to seize the Northern Lights. Me and a buddy went up and we had been solely there for twenty-four hours. Nonetheless, sadly, the Northern Lights solely lasted about 5 minutes. After which we drove again.

You by no means 100 per cent know what is going on to occur. Generally you drive in search of a particular shot like in that case or within the case of storms, lightning. After which different occasions, you are simply out randomly driving.

You point out lightning. There is a hanging picture in your e-book. It is the Basilica in downtown Charlottetown with lightning within the sky. Was that excellent place, proper time?

That one was type of a bit extra deliberate. That evening, I used to be conscious there was a storm coming our method and I began off on Decrease Queen Avenue. I knew I needed the church within the shot. And it was simply sit there and ready, hoping that lightning comes.

Your travels with images, the place have these taken you thru the years?

I’ve gone in every single place from Newfoundland to BC I simply acquired again from a visit to Montreal. On the finish of the day, it is a number of kilometers in your car, and it is a number of enjoyable.

It is extremely fortunate to have the ability to expertise the Maritimes like that. And all throughout Canada, you get to see the very best of individuals.

Your e-book is known as Chasing Mild on Prince Edward Island. What are you able to inform us about that “gentle” and what it presents you?

It is at all times a altering surroundings. For example, my workplace is in downtown Charlottetown. I stroll down the road one million occasions, and it is that one time that the sunshine is simply completely excellent: That’s what actually issues on the finish of the day, getting that one shot. It is getting all of the situations simply completely excellent.

What are you able to inform us about a number of the different photographs that you’ve got captured right here throughout PEI?

The quilt is definitely based mostly on a picture I took once I got here again residence within the fall. I bear in mind I used to be residence for a day and I needed to rise up to the North Shore. And it simply occurred to be the time of the 12 months that the farmers are harvesting of their fields.

I acquired out, it was that excellent sundown and it options some combines simply going to the sector. Simply a fully excellent second and it was only a random drive. I knew I needed to go to the North Shore and I did not actually know what I used to be going to seize. As luck would have it, I had probably the most stunning sundown. And clearly the farmers had been out working away.

And you have got lighthouses and lupins and you have got fishing, wharves — all types of issues in right here.

Sure. Clearly with us being an island, there is a heavy emphasis on the water part. Plenty of the photographs do function our stunning coastal surroundings that we’ve got.

That is a part of a e-book collection. What are you able to inform us about a few of these different e-book tasks?

So the opposite e-book that got here out the very same time is known as Chasing Mild in Nova Scotia, and it is a related idea. This 12 months I am hoping to launch 4 books. I have to get again to Newfoundland and get some imagery from there as a result of there may be a number of demand for me to get photographs in Newfoundland. After which the fourth one goes to be a e-book on Atlantic Canada lighthouses.

The place do the travels take you subsequent? What are the plans for the months forward?

I have to get to Newfoundland to get some iceberg pictures, however I will not have a lot time as a result of I’ve already been assigned to {photograph} the Memorial Cup in Saint John this 12 months.

Appears like a fairly enjoyable method to make a dwelling.

I am extremely fortunate simply having the ability to journey. And, there is a sure part the place you are undecided the place you are going to be subsequent. I bear in mind final 12 months I used to be in western New Brunswick photographing a lightning storm. That afternoon, I acquired a cellphone name from Reuters or an electronic mail asking about going to Southwest Nova. So that you by no means know the place you are going to be generally. And it is a number of enjoyable.

This interview has been edited for size and readability.