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CHÉTICAMP, N.S. — He turned in the bottle for a camera.
Michel Soucy’s been sober for 40 years. Photography is his addiction now.
“I often tell folks I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I don’t gamble, I don’t hang out in taverns; so this is my vice,” said Soucy in a phone conversation on Saturday.
Like sobriety, photography keeps him more attune with the world around him and offers a new, more interesting perspective on life.
“Long story short, it allows me to see and feel the world around me in ways I never took notice of before,” said Soucy. “It’s more about a human experience than making a buck or selling a canvas.”
Living in Cheticamp, he’s got a lot to work with, including a nature sanctuary in his backyard. The Cape Breton Highlands National Park is one such jewel. You’ll often find him and his wife there capturing moose, coyotes and foxes in their element.
A special visitor
He was blessed with a special visit in mid April. Soucy crossed paths with a brown pelican. The comically elegant bird that’s usually found off the coast of Florida landed right in the town’s harbour. It stuck around for nearly two weeks.
Soucy was there almost daily documenting its short but welcomed visit. Judging by his photos, the pelican had a pleasant stay enjoying handouts from fishermen, perching on the shore rocks and fishing boats. Soucy figured the tropical bird was likely blown from the coast of the southern U.S.
“They’re remarkable — just their long bill, the colour of the feathering on their heads. They’re quite striking,” he said.
Getting attention
It’d been 13 years since he’d last laid eyes on a pelican. While honeymooning in Costa Rica he spotted the creatures perched on the water off in the distance. He never got a close look until now.
But the real charge came in sharing his shots. The ones he posted on a Facebook page for birding enthusiasts got hundreds of likes.
“I was happy that I could take good quality photos and really have something to enjoy and, of course, to share with the community. That’s the biggest thrill that I tend to get.
“I get to share with people who don’t always get to see a pelican in their own backyard.”
But, alas, the brown pelican appears to have moved on. Soucy took his final shot of the bird last Sunday. He said he’ not sad over its likely departure, just thankful he got to enjoy the spectacle while it lasted.
“It was exciting, but when something like this happens you know that this is going to be short lived,” said Soucy.
“You enjoy it while you can.”
