ERVIN OLSEN
THROUGH THE LENS
OF WEST HEAD PHOTOGRAPHER ERVIN OLSEN
Ervin Olsen specializes in photographing boats and wildlife . He ’ s well known in the area for his skills and has been engaged in the practice for over 60 years . Four months ago , we recruited Ervin to start taking pictures of the finished boats here at West Head . He ’ s a real hoot to be around , and we ’ ve loved having him on the team .
For Ervin , photography is a hobby , but he ’ s always been enamoured with being out on the water and taking pictures of boats and all the precious aquatic scenery . He ’ s a retired fisherman , so he completely understands and respects the industry .
Quiet and somewhat hesitant to talk at first , Ervin is an extremely humble man . When asked if he was a professional photographer , he responded that he ’ s not even sure he ’ s an amateur . If you take just one look at his work , we ’ re sure you ’ ll disagree . Ervin has a knack for capturing those little moments that make life at sea ( and on land ) so unique and inspiring .
When Ervin peers through his lens at the fishermen on their new custom boats , the boat is surprisingly not the dominant piece he ’ s trying to capture . Ervin says his focal point in these photos is , in fact , the fishermen themselves . The boat is a secondary component that highlights the look and feel of dedicated men going about their duties .
Being a fisherman is a dangerous career , and having been in the industry himself , Ervin can respect the risks these men take every day to put food on the table for their families and others . Ervin ’ s photography works to capture the sides of these fishermen and their ways of life that most land dwellers don ’ t have the chance to witness while these men are out at sea .
ERVIN ’ S PHOTOGRAPHY WORKS TO CAPTURE THE SIDES OF THESE FISHERMEN AND THEIR WAYS OF LIFE THAT MOST LAND DWELLERS DON ’ T HAVE THE CHANCE TO WITNESS WHILE THESE MEN ARE OUT AT SEA .
West Head Magazine has presented an excellent opportunity for Ervin to showcase his phenomenal work to our local community . Everyone in the shop appreciates his contributions to the website , and we ’ re excited to feature his work more in this issue .
Ervin is also an active contributor to two Facebook groups where he posts his photos almost daily . The groups he posts to are called Nova Scotia Fisherman and North Atlantic Commercial Fisherman , if you ’ d like to look him up and see more of the breathtaking images he ’ s captured throughout his career . There are over 20,000 members in these online communities , so Ervin has achieved some serious exposure over the years .
In the time he ’ s been working as a photographer , Ervin has succeeded at marketing his work without a website . He uses his phone and his Facebook page to rope in customers like us . If you ’ re interested in hiring Ervin to take some photos , you can reach him at 902-740- 4439 , through Facebook , or leave your information with a West Head crew member and we ’ ll put you in touch .
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