The Fishing Series “Lumpers” is new documentary work since November 2016. Richmond herself has worked in the fishing industry on several fishing vessels and can relate to these waterfront workers. She has photographed this series on five separate fishing trips that this fishing vessel landed.
Rarely seen and hardly heard of, these are the Lumpers of the working waterfront in the fishing industry. You have to be physically strong and disciplined. From the moment they start, they don’t stop until all the fish are unloaded into baskets that are lifted by a winch, one at a time up to the wharf.
From the 1950’s through the early 1980’s a lumper could make a good full time living and support a family. During the late 60’s - 70’s lumpers were probably the highest paid laborers on the East coast. In Gloucester Harbor there were over one hundred lumpers, and one quarter of them were part time, which consisted of Firemen, Police, Professors, Real estate Agents, Pharmacists, and Landlords.
In the late 80’s, when automation and industrialization in the fishing industry took hold, Lumping was no longer full time occupation. In the 90's when the Government began placing restrictions on the fishing industry, U.S. Senators Edward Kennedy and John Kerry of Massachusetts, began lobbying effort, that lasted for years, on behalf of the fisherman. A Gloucester memorial statue has a quote engraved; "Senator Edward M. Kennedy — his love of the sea was reflected in his commitment to the commercial fishing industry of Massachusetts and the nation."
Lumpers have been displaced due to the government regulations and downsizing of the industry. Insurance companies and government are favoring large industrialized fishing. Today there are a handful of part time Lumpers and they usually work the boats once or twice a week. Lumpers are always on call. The working hours are irregular and unpredictable. Lumping one vessel is a good days pay, on the other days they fill their time with other work that they can find. The younger generation isn't interested in this kind of labor. The individuals in this series are in their late 40's and early 60's.
The fishing vessels that rely on Lumpers, fish off shore at Georges Banks or the Grand Banks located in the deep waters over 100 miles out to sea. It is one area of the fishing industry that cannot be automated because it would damage and greatly reduce the quality of the fish. Vessels that fish in these deep waters fill their holds with anywhere from 70,000-140,000lbs of fish and they need to maximize the area of their storage space below deck.
With this series I wanted to bring awareness of the Lumpers hard work, the conditions they work in, changes in the industry, and how their job brings value to the product. Gloucester is historically the oldest fishing seaport in the United States. Faced with uncertainties the working water front and surrounding businesses are trying very hard to hold on to what is left of the fishing industry that provides many jobs and business opportunities.
Schooner main sail with wooden hoops detail.
International Photography Awards 2016
Honorable Mention Fine Art / Other
NH Association Fine Art Juried Show "Parfait" 2017 Juror Paula Tognarelli Director of The Griffin Museum of Photography Winchester MA
These portraits are not a series of work. They are a collection of portraits I have taken over the years as I wander and explore different places. I enjoy meeting people, learning about, and capturing them comfortably in their environment with natural light.
Published 1984 Yankee Magazine
1st Place Rockport Art Association Members show
1st Place Magnolia Art Show Gloucester MA
Sitting in her garage as it was a front porch, Clair finds comfort and connection to her neighbors as they pass by. She remembers the view she had of the farm fields that led down to a river that was not far away. That was a time before all the trees grew tall, and the farm land was bought up and houses built. As she sits she waves to everyone who walks or drives by. She tells me proudly of how her husband built their home and garage. "He dug the cellar out by hand".
A family of eight, plus a dog traveled from Oregon to Florida looking to re settle.
A family affair. Just before it's launched, a younger cousin helps their older cousin paint a wooden sail boat he's rebuilt over the last year.
A glass blower steadies the connection on his art work, and gets ready for his next maneuver.
Here a metal artist bends this part of his sculpture in a vice.
With a deep love of sailing many young people like Levi pictured here, sign up and sail on schooners around the world. Many of these schooners run charters in their home port to help support the vessel and crew.
A mixed collection of earlier work. All are black and white film photographs with 35mm and Medium format images.
1979 Faneuil Hall Boston MA. These twins enjoy the music from the jazz musician playing the piano at the cafe restaurant.
1980: A box of fish is packed and weighed on the wharf after off loading the commercial fishing vessel. The Captain and the wharf processing business go over the weight numbers and prices.
