‘This is life and death to me’: Renowned Moncton photographer losing eyesight

A prominent Moncton, N.B., photographer is losing his vision.

For decades, he’s achieved great success from looking through the eye of a camera lens, but now his eyes are beginning to fail him.

Moncton photographer Maurice Henri has had to put his career on hold, at least for now, due to issues with his vision.

Surrounded by modern photography equipment and vintage cameras in his downtown studio, Henri said it has been declining rapidly for a few months and he can’t take or process photos.

“I don’t like to use the word depressed, but I’m sad,” said Henri.

At first he thought it was a part of growing older and new glasses might fix the problem, but he realized it was the same hereditary condition his mother and aunt suffered from.

Both lost their eyesight in their late 40s.

All of a sudden he started channeling things his mother used to say to him and recalls her telling him she can’t see anything.

“I grew up with a blind mother,” said Henri.

The 68-year-old isn’t ready to retire just yet, the creative juices are still flowing.

Henri started his career in 1988 when he converted his hobby into a profession.

He went from taking wedding, graduation and portrait photos to something much more artistic.

“I’m so fortunate that my cameras through the years took me all over the world,” said Henri.

Those travels took him to war-torn countries like Sierra Leone and earthquake-ravaged Haiti.

He’s had a few close calls and has seen the worst of humanity.

“I’ve been to some pretty intense places,” he said.

Henri has won awards, including the Order of Moncton, had his work displayed in galleries around the world, but what he’s most proud of is the Cameras for Healing project he started in 2006.

Henri formed the not-for-profit organization to help people experiencing extreme trauma deal with their pain through photography.

“I was able to use my passion in photography using cameras to actually help others,” he said. “Since that, with Cameras for Healing, we’ve built three schools, and I’m seriously proud of that.”

Two and a half years ago, Henri faced another major health scare when he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

He said he was given a 50/50 chance of survival.

“It hit me like a ton of bricks,” said Henri.

Beating cancer was one thing, but now Henri has to overcome a major health issue once again.

“My cancer was devastating, don’t get me wrong, because that’s life and death. This is life and death to me. This is really serious for me,” he said.

“I’m afraid.”

There’s no woe is me sentiment, though. Henri wants to work again and is staying positive because there’s better technology today than when his mother went blind.

He has three doctors taking care of him, high-end specialists who are confident everything will be fine after surgery.

“So I have to trust in that process, I have to believe in it and I do,” said Henri. “I’ll do whatever it takes to heal from this.”

But what if he did have to stop and sell all of his cameras and get rid of the studio?

“That’s what keeps me up at night, I’ll be honest with you. I’ve dedicated my whole life to this,” he said. “It’s not a job, that’s why I can’t retire.”

Since posting an update on his Facebook page a few days ago, Henri has received messages of support from friends and colleagues around the world.

“You have no idea how good that feels to get that energy, to feel that people are caring and sending positive thoughts,” he said.

Henri wants people who have any sort of health issue that pops up to not waste any time and call their physician.

“If you have any type of ailment, if you have any type of issues, don’t be afraid, don’t be a tough guy, don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor,” said Henri. “If you don’t feel right go get yourself checked out.”

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