Benefit Raffle for a Waterman's Family

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Photo by Tina McCloud/Reedville Fishermen's Museum

"Pot of Gold" donated by photographer Mike Fontaine is professionally framed and measures about 29" by 38".

A local photographer and the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum are teaming up to help the family of a waterman who died unexpectedly three months ago.

The professionally framed art, “Pot of Gold,” was donated by photographer Mike Fontaine.

All proceeds will benefit the family of Peyton Mason of Gloucester, who was 30 years old when he died on June 25. He left a young family: his wife, Taylor, and two daughters.

Peyton grew up in West Point and Taylor on Gwynn’s Island in Mathews. She is devoted to keeping their family and their business, the Virginia Oyster Co., afloat, even though one of their two work boats sank recently and is at a boatyard for repairs.

Fontaine was connected to her through Facebook and immediately wanted to help the family.

“It’s kind of a shock, honestly, that people want to help us as much as they do,” she said.

“I value the fact that artists and photographers are willing to capture the watermen at work. And that we can support local artists as well as watermen families,” said Shauna McCranie, the museum’s executive director.

Fontaine shot “Pot of Gold” March 3 from the workboat Easy Rider with Capt. Ashley Daniel, while dredging for oysters on the public grounds near the Norris Bridge. The artwork was professionally matted and framed and measures about 29 x 38.

Fontaine came to his serious interest in photography – especially the world of working watermen and women – only recently, specifically Feb. 27 of this year.

He and his wife were crossing the Norris Bridge when they saw a fleet of oyster boats in the Rappahannock River. He got up very early one morning and motored out in his own boat to take photographs.

Fontaine said this first adventure could have ended unhappily. He wasn’t aware that other boaters are not supposed to approach work boats, and his boat has the name “Kodachrome” in flashy lettering. He was told later there was a lot of radio traffic about who he was and what his intentions were.

But after he posted some of those pictures on Facebook, he was contacted by Chris Daniel, asking if he had a picture of his father’s boat, Easy Rider. He did, and asked if he could get aboard for some pictures – including what became “Pot of Gold.” That was his invitation into the watermen’s world, which is an honor not easily bestowed.

Now getting to be known as “Kodachrome,” his photography is a passion and an advocacy. Starting with about 260 Facebook friends, he now has about 1,700 from here and around the world, “anywhere people are fishing,” he said.

Raffle tickets will be on sale starting Oct. 15. They will cost $25 each or five for $100. A maximum 500 tickets will be sold. The winning ticket will be drawn at the museum’s 36th annual oyster roast, Nov. 15. The winner does not need to be present.

For raffle tickets, contact the museum, 804-453-6529 or e-mail office@rfmuseum.org. Contacts are the same to see if oyster roast tickets are if still available.