At high tide, augmented by a squall, a small nor’easter actually, the pink granite cliffs that line the entrance to Ship Harbor thunder with the crashing surf coming in off the stormy Atlantic. Breakers reaching 30-35′ in height spray across the rocks. Fall-turned blueberry bushes line the interior of the puddled trail as the entire world of nature joins in the watery show.
A focal length of 60mm, just beyond the cusp of normal at the edge of short telephoto-land, gave me the angle-of-view I wanted. An aperture of f/16 provided depth-of-field; and an ISO of 800 allowed for a shutter speed of 1/20th of a second, fast enough to stop the motion of the leaves stirred by the onshore wind.
During the early part of autumn, as the mixing air masses over the coast – warm air over the water and cold air over the land – rotating counterclockwise as they move up the coastline, create percipitation seeming to come from the northeast. With a good rain shell and protection for my gear, the chance to work between showers is an adventure to be savored.
I LOVE this. Fall is the best time of year for me. This gives me some sorely needed hope that life will still be going on after this season of dread. May you and Bonnie and all of us stay well.
Don, I’ll check out the Smokies Life info to which you linked. Interesting image this week; full of energy, really alive. The centered spray of water is a refreshing break from the way most of us would have composed the shot, and the colors have serious impact. The little bit of shooting I’ve done in rainy conditions have left me more wet than rewarded, so I admire your persistence. Have a good week. Ray
Donald, just saw your comment from last week, and yes the Fibonacci article did describe the golden ratio. Having learned from Don M that you’re mathematically inclined, I hope we’ll hear more from you along those lines. Don M: I will look into the book you describe above. Thanks. Ray
Wow! That looks like so much fun! Thanks for the reminder of the beauty out there and how mother nature likes to show it off for those that dare to venture out.
Love the timing where you captured the water crashing into the rocks. Hopefully it was a fairly regular event so you could time it fairly well. Just another example of why we should look at shooting when the weather is not so good. Too many of us use bad weather as a reason not to shoot. Also like how you kept the sky out of it. I am guessing it was boring and would not have added to the scene.
Thank you so much for the beautiful image! It helps to take my mind back to all the pretty things we miss during the shelter in place.
Thank you again! The rocks across the water are as interesting as the foreground is beautiful. Micki
So on we go… into May. I hope all of you and yours continue to be safe and well, sheltered in place wherever you may be. Thank you very much for joining me for this conversation. As odd as it may sound, I am deeply grateful for Physical Therapy. Were it not for the opportunities to engage in it twice a week, I would find myself around the house most of the time, and “stir crazy” would take on a whole new meaning. It has been great to be able to begin walking around our neighborhood, and soon I hope it will be sans cane.
Amy, what a delight to hear from you. I hope all is well with you even with the dread you mention lurking about. Thank you for your kind comment. As you and I know, fall in New England is a gift and a blessing. I do believe in the power of life to continue on; and I truly believe in the beauty of that life to lift our spirits if we will allow. Take good care. We hope to see you on the other side of all of this.
Hey Ray. Your thoughtful words are always always welcome. I hope you enjoyed the link to the Smokies Image. It’s been a lot of fun with close-to-home subjects. My editor, Frances Figart, said to mention to you that she works very closely with Jeff Hunter at NPCA. Small world! There is a conversation you and I want to have about the Gestalt principles of design. I’m looking forward to it. Many years ago John Shaw made it clear to me that the risks of photographing in inclement weather are quite considerable, but the rewards can be great. And Eliot Porter showed us that as awesomely beautiful as Black & White imagery can be, the joys of color will capture our eyes nearly every time. I have no idea what Newsom may be up to these days. He splits his time between Arizona and Illinois, but he loves choral singing as much as he does photography and travels with a group from Chicago regularly; but we will definitely find a way to have him introduce the power of mathematics into our conversations. I don’t recall how I was introduced to Tavis Glover’s book; but it’s well worth a look. Stay safe in DC.
Hi Nancy T. I hope you are well and safe. You know, every time I walk the Ship Harbor Nature Trail I think of you and a frosty morning in October many years ago and you sitting in an old stand of blackberry and blueberry bushes just across from the trailhead at Ship Harbor. I learned a lot about your fortitude as a photographer that morning. Please keep safe. Walk in Beauty and talk soon.
Hi Kev. It’s great to hear from you. I trust you and Elizabeth are keeping safe in St. Louis. One of the joys of incoming tide is the reasonable regularity with which they appear, especially on a great set of coastal boulders in a storm. You are going to love Ship Harbor. Keeping the camera low was easy here; avoidance of mist was a real motivation; and you’re right, the sky did not add much to the composition.. Have good news to share; will talk soon.
Hi Suet. It is excellent to have you with us. I am honored by your kind and thoughtful words. It’s been a year since our paths have crossed. I hope you have had a wonderfully creative journey and have been well. I am glad that this Image could offer you a sense of pleasure in the face of being restricted in your movements. We will all be relieved when we can move about freely without the concern that this pandemic imposes. I hope our paths will cross again in that time.
Hey Micki. It’s always great to have you join us; I so appreciate your kind words. I am so glad you reminded us of the cliffs on the far harbor entrance. Every time I visit Ship Harbor, I manage to spend some time with them. They have always seemed so much more dramatic than those of the near entrance wall, and when the waves are crashing, the drama can be compelling. I hope we can get over to your side of the county soon. Be well and keep safe.
Thank you all, again, for your wonderful comments and kind words. We will come through this time of difficulty and the beauty of the world on the other side will make us grateful for our persistence.