It’s the kind of morning activity — taking the dog for a walk — that seems routine, but in the hands of a talented photographer, the scene becomes much more.
Michael A. Gudreau, of Presque Isle, was out early one morning, when he spotted Darlene Smith, Presque Isle, snowshoeing across a snowy field overlooking Phair Junction between Easton and Presque Isle.
Smith owns a 2-year-old mixed breed dog called Tucker — a rescue dog with hunting instincts and high energy.
“I really don’t like taking him on the roads because of the cars and the salt,” said Smith. “Whenever the field allows, we go out for longer hikes on my snowshoes.”
“I have a neighbor who sometimes makes snowmobile tracks in that field so I can go beyond boots and walking. Tucker is very good company and can go for two or three miles,” she added.
This was the scene Gudreau saw when he stopped with his camera to capture the moment. Smith held Tucker on his leash with one hand and held a cup of fresh, hot coffee in the other.
“When I finish my cup of coffee I put the mug in my pocket,” said Smith, a Presque Isle native who has been snow shoeing most of her adult life.
Fast-forward to the spring when Brenda Jepson, Madawaska Lake, was looking for winter photos for her Aroostook 2014 calendar. Gudreau remembered the photo he had taken of Smith and forwarded it for consideration.
“Michael is a really wonderful photographer,” said Jepson, “but he also loves to capture the essence of Aroostook County — that true spirit. And I could see it instantly in this photo.”
Jepson selected the photo for the month of February in Crown Of Maine Production’s Aroostook 2014 Calendar.
When Gudreau spoke with Smith about the photo and showed it to her, Smith, who enjoys taking photos herself, was surprised.
“I always wondered what the scene must have looked like “ she said. “How cool it was that someone was drawn to capture such a simple pleasure in Aroostook County.”
The Aroostook 2014 Calendar, featuring this photo, is available at crownofmaineproductions.com
