"RACING THE WIND" Here are some of the Tall Ships Series, if you are interested on any of the tall ships but can't find it here, please contact us by phone or email us.
HMS Bounty
Norman Piluke Photographing the HMS Bounty (see above photo)
One of the most interesting photography projects that Norman assigned himself is, to photograph the tall ships. One day, we were informed that the HMS Bounty will soon visit Toronto Harbour. And the story begins with the picture seen below.
When the HMS Bounty sailed away from Toronto, Norman Piluke was prepared to photograph. It was a challenging situation but he was able to capture what he wanted.
Camera used: 4x5 Linhof view camera, 6 x 7 RZ and a 35 SLR, hand-held on a boat with rough waters. The largest quality image Norman produced was a 40" x 50" printed in his own darkroom. Amazingly the image came out with clarity and detail that one can identify the people on deck. The first print, fresh from the darkroom, a 30" x 40" was sold immediately.
Most of the images were purchased and made into posters when the HMS Bounty came back again to Toronto.
The HMS Bounty and The Rattlesnake
7-0042 Firing the Cannon
"Firing The Cannon"
One evening, in 1986 at the Toronto Harbour, the "HMS Bounty" and the "The Rattlesnake" were ready to perform an organized event. It was one occasion that Norman was called upon to photograph. We were secured in a private yacht getting the cameras ready when a severe thunderstorm hit the city. It has gotten so dark that the camera had no reading at all. Eventually, the rain stopped. The ship "Rattlesnake" was full of men and women with pirate outfits. They fired blank cannon balls at the "HMS Bounty," chased, and boarded the ship afterwards. This was just a "performance." With the Mamiya 6x7 RZ Norman managed to capture the moments. The weather was very appropriate for the image "Firing the Cannon." In this picture, the Rattlesnake was firing at the HMS Bounty. It was a history recorded only on film by Norman Piluke.
Camera used: Mamiya RZ 6x7, 4x5 Linhof Film: Transparencies and Negatives
