The Fortress of Louisbourg is a fascinating place, the largest historical reconstruction in North America. One of the cool things about it is that you have to take a bus from the main building out to the site. It’s like time travel, going back almost 270 years during the five minute commute.
Taking all day to wander in and out of the different buildings, there is a lot to take in. The Fortress runs as it did all those years ago, and it’s common to be stopped on the street by someone asking if you’ve seen a member of their family. It’s also common to find craftsmen (or in this case, a craftswoman) hard at work. I was fascinated by this woman and her hands. They flew around in front of her like I’ve never seen before, following an intricate and complicated pattern for lace. I had never seen lace made by hand before, and if you get the chance somewhere, sit and watch in amazement. The most delicate fabric you’ve ever seen, made using thin strands wrapped around wooden dowels.
It was fairly dim inside the front room, but the light was just enough to get a nice, moody portrait. It’s a rare thing for me to shoot people, but in this case I just had to. I was so utterly amazed at this artist and her work I couldn’t let the opportunity pass me by.
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