One Roll of Film Shot During a Summer Fishing in Homer, Alaska

The first frame on a roll of Tri-X 400 film shot during the summer of 2021 in Homer, Alaska. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{The first frame on a roll of Tri-X 400 film shot during the summer of 2021 in Homer, Alaska.}

I’ve been working on charter fishing boats in Homer, Alaska since the summer of 2017. I started out deck handing on a six-passenger boat, and I liked it so much I stuck with it and eventually got my captain’s license and started running boats myself.

Summer days are long and summer season is short here in Alaska. And when you’re working a fishing boat, there’s not many down days. It’s easy to get caught of in the minutiae of things when most weeks I’m working every. single. day. That’s right, seven days a week when the fishing is good, roughly late-May through mid-September.

Every year I tell myself I’m going to take more photos, but most years I get caught up in the daily grind and the artsy stuff falls by the wayside. However, the past couple of years I’ve kept a cheap point-and-shoot camera onboard and managed to snap a few photos here and there.

One of my favorite film photography exhibitions is this roll of Tri-X 400 I shot during the summer of 2021. It was kind of dumb luck that this single roll — the only roll of film I shot at all that summer — did such a great job capturing my life on the water that year. A lot is left out, of course, but these 33 frames definitely tell a story.

Sittin' on the dock of the bay... Kachemak Bay, Alaska. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{Sittin’ on the dock of the bay… Kachemak Bay, Alaska.}

Capt. Drewbert and his son hanging out at Alice's Champagne Palace in Homer on a rare off day. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{Capt. Drewbert and his son hanging out at Alice’s Champagne Palace in Homer on a rare off day.}

My neighborhood in Homer. A view of Beluga Lake and the mountains across Kachemak Bay. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{My neighborhood in Homer. A view of Beluga Lake and the mountains across Kachemak Bay.}

Windowsill plants and a Toyota Tacoma in Homer, Alaska. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{Windowsill plants and a Toyota Tacoma in Homer, Alaska.}

Capt. Jordan cutting bait on the Diamond Cape. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{Capt. Jordan cutting bait on the Diamond Cape.}

Capt. Faithany fishing on the D.C. in Homer, AK. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{Capt. Faithany fishing on the D.C.}

Choppy waters on Kachemak Bay, Alaska. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{Choppy waters on Kachemak Bay.}

Deckhand "Kevin" on the Diamond Cape charter fishing boat out of Homer, Alaska. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{Deckhand “Kevin” on the Diamond Cape charter fishing boat out of Homer.}

A family and their fish aboard the Diamond Cape in Homer, Alaska. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{A family and their fish aboard the Diamond Cape in Homer.}

The Tustumena ferry coming into the Homer Harbor. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{The Tustumena ferry coming into the Homer Harbor.}

The Grand Aleutian outside of Homer. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{The Grand Aleutian leaving the Homer Harbor.}

Summer sky off the Homer Spit. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{Summer sky off the Homer Spit.}

The West Cape charter fishing out of Homer, Alaska. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{The West Cape charter fishing out of Homer, Alaska.}

Another day at the office on the Diamond Cape. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{Another day at the office on the Diamond Cape.}

Valley of the Moose near Nanwalek, Alaska. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{Valley of the Moose.}

A deck load of fish on the Diamond Cape, a charter fishing boat with Homer Ocean Charters. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{A deck load of fish on the Diamond Cape, a charter fishing boat with Homer Ocean Charters.}

Flapjacks the seagull made a nest on the fuel dock in the Homer boat harbor. She had 3 chicks. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{Flapjacks the seagull made a nest on the fuel dock in the Homer boat harbor. She had 3 chicks.}

The Bay Explorer catching halibut in Cook Inlet. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{The Bay Explorer catching halibut in Cook Inlet.}

My nephew TJ visited from Georgia. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{My nephew TJ visited from Georgia.}

George of Buttwhackers fame with his weapon of choice. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{George of Buttwhackers fame with his weapon of choice.}

Deckhands and captains hanging out at the Buttwhackers Fillet Company in Homer after a long day of fishing. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{Deckhands and captains hanging out at the Buttwhackers Fillet Company in Homer after a long day of fishing.}

My wife and her mom in Homer. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{My wife and her mom in Homer.}

Deckhand "Kevin" whacking and stacking on the deck of the Diamond Cape. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{Deckhand “Kevin” whacking and stacking on the deck of the Diamond Cape.}

Readying fishing gear on the Diamond Cape. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{Readying fishing gear on the Diamond Cape.}

Dogfish Bay in lower Cook Inlet. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{Dogfish Bay in lower Cook Inlet.}

Sea lions in China Poot Bay. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{Sea lions in China Poot Bay.}

Party boat in China Poot Bay snagging red salmon during July 2021. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{Party boat in China Poot Bay snagging red salmon during July 2021.}

Dipnetting red salmon in China Poot near Homer, Alaska. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{Dipnetting red salmon in China Poot near Homer, Alaska.}

The view from China Poot. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{The view from China Poot.}

That time Capt. Ben caught a salmon shark in the Chugach Islands. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{That time Capt. Ben caught a salmon shark in the Chugach Islands.}

My anchor buoy, vandalized. Photo by Clay Duda. — ^{My anchor buoy, vandalized.}

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