Bridge and grounds of Somesville Museum and Gardens in Somesville, Maine
For years I have been seeing photographs of a lovely bridge, reflected in a pond and surrounded by – depending on time of the year – snow and Christmas decorations, spring flowers and fall colors. Karin Pinkham is a Maine photographer who has made several splendid photographs of this bridge. I didn’t ask for her permission to show her photos here, but several examples can be found on her website: Flag, Flowers, Fall, More Fall, Winter. Spend some time on her site – she does beautiful work.
Bridge and grounds of Somesville Museum and Gardens in Somesville, Maine
I knew that this bridge was in Somesville, somewhere near Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park in Maine in a place called Somesville Museum and Gardens. I imagined it as this idyllic place, hidden in a quiet forest with hiking paths and benches for contemplation and rest. Actually, it is right beside a busy road!
Bridge and grounds of Somesville Museum and Gardens in Somesville, MaineBridge and grounds of Somesville Museum and Gardens in Somesville, Maine
In most of the photos I have seen, the road is cropped out or well hidden behind greenery or with a low perspective. There’s a little parking lot, enough for about 10 cars, and there is always someone pulling in or out. It’s one of those places that few people actually look for but many people recognize. We were actually driving through town on our way to somewhere else, planning to find the bridge on our way back. When I saw it I said, “that’s IT?” But of course it was, just not in the context I had expected it to be.
Bridge and grounds of Somesville Museum and Gardens in Somesville, MaineBridge and grounds of Somesville Museum and Gardens in Somesville, Maine
The lesson for me is a reminder that not everything is what you imagine it to be. The power of photography, and particularly of composition, is to make a photograph of what something is, often without reference to its surroundings. It was an interesting place to see with my own eyes. I was not there at an ideal time, condition-wise, but I did make a few photographs to illustrate my points. I’m glad we took the time to check it out!
Bridge and grounds of Somesville Museum and Gardens in Somesville, MaineBridge and grounds of Somesville Museum and Gardens in Somesville, Maine
Morning light in Rockport Harbor, Rockport, Massachusetts
After our time in Hyannis we headed toward Rockport, Massachusetts. On our way there, we decided to stop in Plymouth to see Plymouth Rock and Mayflower II. I’m pretty sure the rock is just a rock that someone carved a date on, but the Mayflower II is quite impressive. We didn’t go aboard, choosing to not take the time or pay the admission fee. So I just took a few photos from outside. We also stopped by train stations in Easton and Stoughton, and visited the Minute Man National Historical Park in Lincoln where we learned about the opening battles of the Revolutionary War.
The Mayflower II replica in Plymouth, MassachusettsPlymouth Rock, symbol of the Pilgrims’ landing in AmericaPlymouth Rock, symbol of the Pilgrims’ landing in America
Continuing with our small coastal town theme, we looked for a place to stay in a town that was walkable, scenic and situated in a location that was close to other things we wanted to do. We liked the Cape Ann area of Massachusetts, as it looked to be fairly quiet but located in an area with lots of choices. We eventually settled on Rockport.
Minute Man Visitor Center at Minute Man National Historical Park in Lincoln, MassachusettsNorth Bridge, site of the first Revolutionary War battle on April 19, 1775. Minute Man National Historical Park in Lincoln, MassachusettsNorth Bridge, site of the first Revolutionary War battle on April 19, 1775. Minute Man National Historical Park in Lincoln, Massachusetts
The town of Rockport is situated at the end of Cape Ann, on Sandy Bay. When I saw photos of the iconic fishing shack called Motif #1, I was instantly drawn there as a photographic destination. It’s about as cliche as you can get, often referred to as “the most often-painted building in America.” But what the heck? I’ll do a separate post on Motif #1, because there is a lot more to Rockport than just one building!
Train station currently housing the Easton Historical Society in North Easton, MassachusettsTrain station in Stoughton, Massachusetts, operated as a station for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
As we planned our trip, I realized that we would be arriving in Rockport on the day before a full moon. A little research led me to identify several good spots to catch the rising moon over the town, on the night before the official full moon. As it turned out, the inn we selected for our stay there was directly across the street from one of those places. Sweet!
Humpback Whale seen on our Whale Watch Cruise with Cape Ann Whale Watch in Gloucester, MassachusettsHumpback Whale seen on our Whale Watch Cruise with Cape Ann Whale Watch in Gloucester, MassachusettsHumpback Whale seen on our Whale Watch Cruise with Cape Ann Whale Watch in Gloucester, MassachusettsDog Bar Lighthouse at the end of a jetty near Eastern Point in Gloucester HarborGloucester Harbor in Gloucester, MassachusettsThe Manufactory Building in Gloucester, Massachusetts. This building was used to produce Tarr & Wonson Paint until 1985 and is now the headquarters of Ocean Alliance.Gloucester Harbor in Gloucester, Massachusetts
While we were on Cape Ann, and one of the reasons we chose to stay there, we booked a whale watch cruise out of Gloucester. Gloucester is a much more commercial-oriented town, likely due to it having a more protected harbor area as compared to Rockport. That’s part of the reason we chose not to stay there. There are a number of places we could have chosen, but the more laid-back vibe of Rockport suited our needs better.
One of the great things for me about Rockport was the ability to get up and out before sunrise, walking around the town to take advantage of the many photographic opportunities. Besides the full moon and Motif #1, there was plenty of other subject matter. Mostly boats and boat stuff, but that was perfectly OK with me.
Moonrise over Sandy Bay in Rockport, MassachusettsMorning light in Rockport Harbor, Rockport, Massachusetts
The one surprising and perhaps disappointing thing about our stay in Rockport was that many of the businesses had gone to off-season hours or closed completely. This was purportedly due to the lack of staffing, and while most places we visited appeared to be struggling a bit but managing, Rockport seemed to be impacted more by the lack of seasonal help.
It was most irritating that businesses did not keep their signage or their websites up to date. One restaurant we wanted to visit said they were open, but on the day we wanted to go they were closed. But the next night they were supposed to be closed, we walked by and they were open but full. We stopped at a restaurant on another night nearly an hour before closing time, but were turned away because they were understaffed. Across the street, another restaurant that was open was still welcoming walk-ins an hour after they were supposed to have closed.
Motif #1 in Rockport Harbor, Rockport, MassachusettsEarly morning in Sandy Bay, Rockport, Massachusetts
One morning while I was out walking around I had planned to stop at a shop that was known for its strudel, hoping to surprise Kathy with a little treat for breakfast. Their website and sign on the door said they would be open, but they were not. So we had to forego the strudel and make other plans. First world problems, I know. 😉
Shops along Bearskin Neck in Rockport, MassachusettsRockport, Massachusetts
Rockport is a nice little town. Now that we have “done” it I probably wouldn’t need to stay there again. There just isn’t that much to do, and maybe that’s the point. 😉 After our stay in Rockport, we headed north to spend 9 days in Maine. I have a lot to say about Maine! 🙂
Sunrise over Rockport Harbor in Rockport, MassachusettsThe Cove at Rockport Hotel in Rockport, Massachusetts
Dinghy in Rockport Harbor in Rockport, Massachusetts
I posted this on Instagram yesterday but not everyone here would have seen it. One of a number of interesting scenes in Rockport, MA. I need to and will begin to highlight some of my more favorite photos from the various places we visited on our recent road trip.
I’ve edited and processed my photos through Massachusetts, but realized this morning that I have over 2500 from Maine! 🙂 Many of them are burst shots of waves and whales, but still. We were there for 9 days, so there was a lot of subject matter!
Fog and fall colors at the Wolf Mountain Overlook at MP 424.8 on the Blue Ridge Parkway
I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with the Blue Ridge Parkway. I love to visit there, but hate dealing with the crowds that flock there, especially in fall when the colors are happening. Such was the case this week, when Kathy & I decided to head to the high country for a few days to check out the fall colors.
Like all the National Parks, the Blue Ridge Parkway, as the most-visited National Park in the country, has been overrun by tourists seeking an outdoor experience. I’ll be glad when many of them head back to the office, although there appears to be a large number of retired folks as well. Drivers on the Parkway range from the Floridian driving white-knucked around the winding corners at 30 MPH to the motorcycle riders trying to make the Parkway their personal Lime Rock Park. Add in those of us just trying to drive comfortably and enjoy the scenery and it can be a frustrating mix.
Steestachee Bald Overlook at MP 438.9 on the Blue Ridge Parkway
We left home on Wednesday morning with the goal of driving the Parkway from Blowing Rock to Mount Pisgah before heading to Waynesville for a couple of nights. We have friends who own a motel there, and I have a cousin who lives nearby who we don’t get to see often enough. Seeing both of them was long overdue.
Wednesday was a Chamber of Commerce Blue Sky Day on the Parkway. The leaves in the Grandfather Mountain area were just about at their peak. We stopped at an overlook and had lunch before continuing south toward our destination.
I didn’t take a single photograph all day.
Steestachee Bald Overlook at MP 438.9 on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Between having a case of “Get-There-Itis” * and all the people crowding into any overlook with a view, my heart just wasn’t in it. It was nice to see, but I rationalized that the mid-day light wasn’t ideal for good photographs and decided that any photograph I made would be no better than a cell phone photo, just taken with a nice camera.
Fog at the Richland Balsam Overlook at MP 431.4. At 6053 feet, the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway
On Thursday, we headed back to the Parkway with the express intention of making photographs. As we headed higher, it became clear that fog would be our companion for the day. That suited me just fine, because fog means interesting photography and…fewer people! The fog and the fall color varied greatly by elevation, and we drove in and out of the fog for several hours. Some places were pretty clear, while others – like Richland Balsam, the highest point on the Parkway at 6053 feet, were totally in the soup. But for the first time in a long time, I was able to get a photograph of the sign without someone’s car or motorcycle parked in front of it! 😉
Fog at the Richland Balsam Overlook at MP 431.4. At 6053 feet, the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway
On Friday, we headed toward home by a different route than we usually take. I got a few photographs from the drive home that I’ll share in another post. We may try to head back up to the Parkway early next week, weather permitting. If so, hopefully I can contain my “affliction” and make a few nice photos!
Fall colors in the Black Balsam area of the Blue Ridge Parkway near MP 420
*Get-There-Itis (my definition): (a) in photography, a condition where one is so focused on the final destination that it prevents stopping to take pictures; (b) in aviation, often referred to as exercising poor judgement, resulting in a decision to fly despite adverse conditions, often with sub-optimal results.
Nobska Lighthouse and Keeper’s Cottage near Falmouth, Massachusetts
Photographers know this, of course. But for the few non-photographers who read my blog (and possibly even the photographers!) this might be interesting.
I took these two photos exactly 30 seconds apart. For the first one, above, there was just the right amount of light filtering through the clouds to provide some shape and contrast to the scene. In the second shot, below, the cloud has moved over the sun and the light has gone flat. Both of these photos are pretty nice, but to me the one with the shaping light and subtle shadows is the superior one.
Nobska Lighthouse and Keeper’s Cottage near Falmouth, Massachusetts
Village Marina on the south shore of Seneca Lake in Watkins Glen, New York
We capped off our adventure today with a cruise on Seneca Lake and a visit to both a distillery and a winery. More souvenirs! This is a pretty typical and boring tourist shot but it is a landmark in the town of Watkins Glen.
Curtiss JN-4D “Jenny” at The Glenn H Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport, New York
Other than the Wright Brothers, perhaps no other individual is as important to the history of aviation than Glenn Curtiss. Just a few years after the Wright Brothers’ first flight in 1903, Curtiss, almost single handedly, improved and advanced the newfangled airplane to see ever expanding commercial, military and personal application.
Curtiss’ various ventures centered in the area around Hammondsport, New York. The Glenn H. Curtiss Museum is a tribute to this aviation pioneer and is a fascinating place to learn about this area of aviation history.
The title comes from an old Joni Mitchell tune, but it is also the title of my latest website gallery: Every Picture Has Its Shadows. I had a tough time with this one, as I know that 140 photos are too many, but I had so many I didn’t want to leave out! So here is my collection of shadow images.
We’re off this morning on our latest adventure – 4 weeks along the New England coast, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. We’re hoping to meet up with some friends – Joe in Maine, Ken and Paul in New York, and with any luck we’ll run into Bob Krist along the way, assuming he gets back from the Azores in time. Postcards to follow!
AC Hotel by Marriott Hotel in downtown Asheville, North CarolinaHilton Head Island, South CaroThe Glenora Inn and Distillery, Glenville, Nova ScotiaWaynesville, NC
(Although it was the Fourth of September, not the Fourth of July *)
Just before he realized what I was doing.
Kathy & I met our son Scott and grandson Edison at nearby Tuckaseegee Park in Mount Holly, NC. They have a nice playground there plus several walking paths that run through the woods and along the Catawba River. Edison likes to take “nature walks” so we spent an hour or so there before returning to our house to a lunch of “Tube Steaks.”
Short break on a park bench.He doesn’t know the rules, but always “wins.”
Edison isn’t fond of my taking pictures of him but his complaints fall on (my selectively) deaf ears. 🙂
Obligatory sunstar.Water for the soccer pitch.Two of a kind!
* For the kids out there, a reference to a 1972 song by the best music group of all time. Regardless what they say about bands named after bugs or rocks. 🙂
printed individually on 16×16″ birch plywood and hung as a wall grouping
Over the years I have had several opportunities to think about grouping images into small, themed collections. A photography museum here in Charlotte used to have an “annuale” where photographers would submit a group of 7 photos, to be judged in the context of a theme. I made submissions over a number of years but was always frustrated by the winners, which I deemed to be too “weird,” especially compared to my boringly “normal” photos. Pictures of subjects like roadkill and out of focus body parts seemed to take priority over what I felt was my best effort!
selected food and wine-related images printed as a 3×3 grid on 39×39″ canvas
More recently Lenswork magazine had a feature from which they published a number of books titled “Seeing In Sixes.” I never submitted to that one, although I probably should have. I’d have a better shot there than trying to compete in the “art photography” world here in Charlotte. Later editions of Lenswork have featured “Image Suites” which are groupings of similarly-themed photos but without a specific number.
printed individually on 24″ canvas and hung as a wall grouping for a restaurant in charlotte
While going through my images for updating my website I realized that I had also come up with a number of groupings, most of the smaller ones for decor purposes but also larger ones for books, such as the now defunct (I think) SoFoBoMo.
printed individually on 24″ canvas and hung as a wall grouping for a restaurant in charlotte
Even though I only have a few of them so far, I decided to add a new section to my website to show the groupings I have made. As I go through my images I’ll likely come up with a few more – we still have some empty wall space in the house, although not much!
printed individually on 24″ canvas and hung as a wall grouping for a restaurant in charlotte
So here is a link to my latest website gallery Groupings. Hopefully to be a work in process.
