Scalpay: Last of the Fishermen

English Translation.
Words by Ruth Morrison.
Daughter of the dark haired Fisherman (David Morrison)

"My name is Ruth and I was born and raised on the Island of Scaplay off Harris when the fishing industry was a large part of the Island life.

My father is a fisherman which he has been from an early age. From my early memories I can remember many boats heading off early to get their daily catch, and my uncles gang were out for many days at a time.

Times have changed now, their are only a few boats going out with the same fishermen on board. The younger generation dont choose this way of life anymore as it is hard and times are changing. Each year the amount of boats going out to sea is falling, which will soon leave only a handful and probably going only for pleasure, rather than a way of a living."

Johan Hallberg-Campbell: Photographer.

Scalpay: Last of the Fishermen is a documentation of a remote Island of the Hebrides of Scotland. Having left Scotland, whenever I return, I notice change. This is something that intrigues me as a Scottish person. The changes are happening very quickly, Scotland has finally opened its doors to the rest of the world.

I had noticed how the small Highland town of Inverness (my hometown) had taken on a different dynamic. It has become a very diverse community with the influx of Eastern Europeans, mostly Polish. My interest in the town strengthened. I began shooting a long term photographic project, delving deeper into the two cultures that are merging in this town near Loch Ness.

At that time I also begin to think about Old Scotland. Growing up I heard much about Scalpay; my father was born there, he left before he was five. The Island was like a fairy tale to me, far away on a distant planet, stories of crofts, religion and fishing.

I decided to go to the Island to document the people living there. I was told that there had not been a birth in seven years, the Gaelic speaking Islands fishing tradition is fading away, and the people of old with it. The last corner shop closed in 2007, the pre-school also shut down that year. The primary school has two or three pupils and there is no High School. Over the years the population has sunk to 300.

The young leave to seek work. To me this Island symbolizes a Scottish way of life that is disappearing, like many other places in the world! How it was a 100 years ago, The Last of the Fishermen.

www.johanhallbergcampbell.com

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Canon
• 5d MII
• 5d
• Film
• Canon 5d MII
• Canon 5d M2
• Photographer
• Scalpay
• Scotland
• old world
• Fishing
• sea
• boats
• Johan Hallberg-Campbell
• Johan H-Campbell
• Fishermen
• Hebrides
• Stornaway
• Gaelic
• Gaidhlig
• Crabs
• travel
• Island
• famous photography
• Scots Gaelic
• UK

[goinghomesomeday1]

A very thought provoking video - the empty lobster pots! Was or is than an indication of the future of the fishermen or the fishing industry.

[lew1310]

Nice photos and video!

[Ottihiddensee]

very nice

[brokenbulbs]

Very nice video and some fantastic photos! Been to Scalpay many a time and remember fishing for mackeral with handlines. Beautiful part of the world.