April 14, 2016 — GLOUCESTER, Mass. — When young photographer Nubar Alexanian first came to Gloucester, he witnessed a thriving fishing community, rooted deep in the city’s culture. Families worked together in the fishing business, with the next generation often groomed to take over the fishing vessel. Linked by their strong connections to fishing, the families toiled together, celebrated together and, at times, mourned together when fishermen were lost at sea.
All of this caught Alexanian’s attention nearly 40 years ago, and with a cloth-covered view camera, he began shooting the scenes that touched him profoundly. The more he learned, the more he wanted to delve deeper.
“I wanted to get to know the place so I picked up 35 mm cameras, he recalled. “I wanted to find one of the most successful fishing families and follow them. So from 1979 to 1981, I followed the Brancaleone family. I literally became part of the family.”
Alexanian braved 10-day trips at sea, with much sea sickness, and he still wanted to immerse himself more in their world on the frigid northern Atlantic.