Portrait Photography

This is my submission to the #portraitphotography photo contest sponsored by @juliank

Juicy

This is Frank. His canoe name is Juicy. I had the privilege of escorting the Squamish ocean going canoe, the Kuholth, on it's Tribal Journey for three consecutive years. Frank gave me my canoe name, Sheets, because I was using my sailboat to escort them, and a sheet is the term used to describe a line that controls a sail.
The Tribal Journey takes place in the Pacific Northwest on an annual basis. Canoes depart from a pre-planned location and make landfall each evening at a different First Nations community. There is a protocol followed at each beach landing and the evenings include singing, dancing and feasting.
For me it is a great honour to be asked to participate, an opportunity to glimpse the culture of centuries old tradition.
I think there were about sixty canoes involved from British Columbia and Washington State. This photo was taken in Cowichan Bay, the final destination of The Journey that year. There are always mixed emotions at the conclusion of The Journey. Some relief at a successful completion and a reluctance to return to life ashore. You may be able to see that in Juicy's face, as well as the salt spray dried on his glasses if you look close enough.