September 2018 - Cape Ann Photo Tours

Yesterday was an incredible day! I was up early to go out and make some shots for boat tours I will be offering in 2019 and the light and tide were incredible. I boarded my friends boat the “Sea Chase” a wonderful 38 ft former fishing charter boat that will provide a super platform for photo touring by water. the first thing that we ran into was the incredible light shining through the waves breaking at the head of Straightsmouth Island. Besides the really cool color and light, the breaking waves also lined up with Thacher’s Island.

Breaking waves — Waves break off Straightsmouth Island in Rockport with the Twin Lights of Thacher’s Island in the distance.

After shooting this incredible scene we headed off shore about 5-6 miles where the whales were feeding. After some pretty boring photos of their backs our patience paid off and they started to sound which means they are headed down. This gave me an opportunity to photograph some flukes. Then they started to lie on their side and flap their fins in the water which is quite a site.

Whale flukes — The whales were sounding and showed us their flukes.

Unless whales are breaching (coming out of the water) then the photos are pretty boring, so it’s imperative to show some scale of these giant creatures. I used the whale watch boat Miss Cape Ann to give some perspective.

Whale fin slapping — Whales lying on their side slapping their fins.

It’s a good idea to always have a long lens with you when photographing whales. Since you will most likely be some distance from them it’s important to have a long focal length lens handy. Shoot at a high shutter speed like 1/1000 sec to stop the action and not get blurry photos. This may require rising your ISO up to 400 or more depending on the light. Good luck with your next whale shoot.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

A Whale of a Photo Shoot

Sailing with Schooners