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Porch Rocker

 

porch rocker
Wicker rocking chairs wait to be used at the Sandy Bay Yacht Club. (Leica M-P 240 w/Leica 35mm Summicron ISO 200 1/250s @ f8)

One of my favorite things to do in the spring and fall is to take early morning walks with just my Leica and the 35mm Summicron. The “35” is such a versatile lens and can do everything except take telephoto type shots. For me it has such a comfortable feel to it and when I want to just grab a camera and go, this is the setup I go for.

In the image above the light was just incredible early in the morning and the sky was a lovely blue color and with the yellow of the rocking chairs it just pulled me right in. I knew this was going to be a beautiful B&W right away. When I converted it I used the Adobe 7 B&W profile and changed some of the colors in the mixer to give it the 3D feeling I wanted. I darkened the blue channel and lightened the yellow channel which enhanced the image.

I encourage you all to go out and use one lens not a zoom lens. Move your feet to zoom, you will find you start to understand how your subject needs to be photographed. Something that the zoom can sometimes miss.

In story telling terms what does this image say. To me it says summer is beginning and the summer rockers are out and waiting to be used. But questions come to mind as well. Who uses these rockers? How many folks have used these rockers over the years and are no longer with us?  The best thing about this image is that it gives us pause to ask these questions.

Sailing with Schooners

Here on Cape Ann with have a schooner festival every year. It’s a grand affair and it harkens back to 1928-1939 when schooner races happened regularly. This year the schooners Columbia and Bluenose 2, both replicas, one brand new and the other recently completely refitted visited Gloucester for the occasion. I was lucky enough to ride out to greet them on the schooner Ardelle. It was an incredible experience. Both schooners are magnificent.

schooner Columbia
The schooner Columbia sails by Niles Beach in Gloucester shadowed by a small Herreschoff designed sailboat.

When photographing sailing yachts it’s helpful to keep in mind some loose rules. If the yachts are large you need to show scale or their majesty is lost.

schooner Bluenose 2
The schooner Bluenose 2 before entering Gloucester Harbor

Try to shoot with a long lens to compress the field of view and only include a portion of the sail area. If you can see people on board it also adds scale.

schooner Columbia
The bow of the schooner Columbia crashes through a wave.

Showing action also helps to give a majestic view to large sailing yachts.

Schooner Columbia
The schooner Columbia enters Gloucester Harbor.

Adding context to the image gives the viewer a sense of where the yacht is. I was lucky here as as the schooner entered the harbor and we were behind and to the side which gives us some context with this image.

Ardelle and Bluenose 2
Passengers aboard the schooner Ardelle watch the Bluenose 2 sail by.

I also chose to tell a story by using a 21 mm lens and showing the passengers on the schooner I was on. Again showing context.

schooners Ardelle and Lynx
Schooner Ardelle owner Harold Burnham talks with passengers as the schooner Lynx sails by.

The 21 mm lens again pulls in another schooner going by and one in the distance all while the owner of the Ardelle Harold Burnham holds court at the bow of the Ardelle.

 

Matching Colors

Exploring with your camera can be a fun thing to do when you are on vacation or just taking a few days of rest. The other day I was out and about in Rockport and drove by one of my favorite doors along Main St. A nice yellow wreath and fishing balls were hanging on the storm door. The colors are what drew me in. The complimentary red and yellow color gave me the image. Three main elements gave me the composition I was looking for. My tour clients often ask about colors and composition. I like to think of it this way; I look for one main color with other complimentary colors that add to the scene.

yellowwreath-1
Leica M-P 240  90mm Leitz Summicron  ISO 400  1/250s  f5.6