Black and White Images Capture New Bedford's Port

Photographer shares moody, atmospheric shots of the historic fishing town's waterfront

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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A photographer in New Bedford, Massachusetts has shared a series of black and white images capturing the city's bustling port and fishing industry. The photos depict a sculpture honoring the sacrifices of local fishermen, docks and boats, and other scenes around the waterfront.

Why it matters

New Bedford is one of the most important fishing ports in the United States, with a long history and culture tied to the sea. These atmospheric black and white photos help to document and preserve the visual character of this working waterfront, which faces ongoing economic and environmental challenges.

The details

The photographer, who goes by the username tattoodjay, used a Sony A7iv camera to capture the moody, high-contrast images. They include a sculpture installed in 2016 that depicts a fisherman passing a hat to his son, with his daughter and wife looking on. The sculpture is meant to represent the sacrifices made by fishing families. Other photos show the docks, police and fire rescue boats, and the distinctive "fish tails" or other architectural features of the port.

  • The sculpture was installed in 2016.
  • The photos were taken recently, in February 2026.

The players

Erik Durant

The sculptor who created the statue honoring fishermen and their families.

tattoodjay

The photographer who captured the black and white images of the New Bedford port.

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What they’re saying

“One of the things that I feel about the sculpture, is that lots of different families are going to relate to this.”

— Erik Durant, Sculptor

“either way, the scene is the same.”

— Erik Durant, Sculptor

The takeaway

These striking black and white images help to preserve the visual character and history of New Bedford's working port, which remains an important center of the region's fishing industry despite ongoing economic and environmental challenges.