Island photographer captures striking images of P.E.I. scenery in new book

John Morris is aware of all about luck.

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

Morris, whose work principally revolves round taking footage of landscapes for calendars, lately revealed a photograph ebook of his work in P.E.I. 

Chasing Mild on Prince Edward Island options 84 pages of images from across the province. The ebook is now on sale on-line and in main bookstores in P.E.I.

Morris spoke in regards to the ebook — and his profession — with Mainstreet P.E.I. host Matt Rainnie. Here is a part of their dialog.

Inform us just a little bit about your path to turning into an Island photographer.

I’ve all the time been concerned with simply driving round and taking photographs. 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 trying out our Island views and exploring new spots. 

After we first met, you have been sort 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 really very easy. I had a job provide from a moderately giant 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 exterior?”

That was after I was simply entering 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 proper day? Do you simply drive after which one thing catches your eye? The entire above?

It is the entire above, relying on the state of affairs. In November, I drove to Cape Breton to attempt to seize the Northern Lights. Me and a pal went up and we have 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. Typically you drive in search of a selected shot like in that case or within the case of storms, lightning. After which different instances, you are simply out randomly driving. 

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

That one was sort 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 B.C. I simply obtained again from a visit to Montreal. On the finish of the day, it is loads of kilometres in your car, and it is loads 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 ebook known as Chasing Mild on Prince Edward Island. What are you able to inform us about that “gentle” and what it affords you? 

It is all the time a altering setting. As an example, my workplace is in downtown Charlottetown. I stroll down the road a million instances, 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 circumstances 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 P.E.I.? 

The quilt is definitely based mostly on a picture I took after I got here again residence within the fall. I keep 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 yr that the farmers are harvesting of their fields.

I obtained out, it was that excellent sundown and it options some combines simply going to the sphere. Simply a completely 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 lovely sundown. And clearly the farmers have been out working away. 

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

Yeah. Clearly with us being an island, there is a heavy emphasis on the water part. Loads of the pictures do characteristic our lovely coastal surroundings that we’ve got. 

That is a part of a ebook sequence. What are you able to inform us about a few of these different ebook tasks? 

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

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

I must get to Newfoundland to get some iceberg photographs, 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 yr. 

Appears like a reasonably enjoyable technique to make a dwelling.

I am extremely fortunate simply having the ability to journey. And, there’s a sure part the place you are undecided the place you are going to be subsequent. I keep in mind final yr I used to be in western New Brunswick photographing a lightning storm. That afternoon, I obtained a telephone name from Reuters or an e mail asking about going to Southwest Nova. So you by no means know the place you are going to be typically. And it is loads of enjoyable.

This interview has been edited for size and readability.