Apparent in these images is the enduring allure of the sea. The potential for encountering an unusual experience like these seascapes drives the attraction. It is fueled by the mystery of what lies beyond.
Sea smoke and snowfall limit view of any reference point and remove our sense of place. The unseen vast distances of ocean generating the waves become the subject of wonder.
I made this photograph of the ocean during Hurricane Sandy last fall. I really like how the image feels as though it is from a long time ago. It has a real timeless quality.
Marblehead Wave Break Read More »
Full of endless marshes, inlets and beaches to explore, Cape Cod forever shows me new wondrous moments. Early on a summer morning, I rose in the dark to catch the sunrise only to find the landscape totally engulfed by fog. Determined to make the best of it, I loaded a small borrowed kayak onto my roof to go exploring. I previously had mapped out a small area of Pleasant Bay in Orleans as a good option, so I set out to find a spot to launch the boat.
The town “boat launch” and foggy environs
Deterred several times by disappointing private road and residents only signs, I finally located a public landing with a small path down to the water’s edge. I splashed in and set out across the bay. There was a slight headwind through the fog, but I was going much slower than I should be given the only slight breeze. The kayak was terrible! It was way too short and heavy and wouldn’t go in a straight line – that’s what you get for a borrowed boat I suppose. Needless to say this was not a proper sea kayak with a rudder. Despite the awkward movements of my vessel, I continued to head out into the middle of the bay, aimed for the opposite shore, which I later found out to be Pochet Island on the back side of Nauset Beach.
Heading into the mist early on a Cape Cod morning
Still quite fogged in, I reached the opposite shore, though I couldn’t see more than a 100 feet. Paddling along I stopped quite often to photograph various angles of the island’s shoreline in the fog. While trying many different compositions in my viewfinder, I didn’t feel like I was capturing any images I was really excited about. I kept following the marshy shoreline, hoping for something a little different.
I continued along the edge of this island for quite a while and came to what appeared to be an inlet. It is difficult to tell the difference between an inlet worth exploring and minor variations in the shoreline in these marshy labyrinths. I proceeded to paddle through the inlet stopping to drift about and capture the more interesting undulations of the inlet.
Pochet Island and the entrance to the inlet
Being a tidal estuary, it was difficult to tell what was solid ground and what was bottomless mud interspersed with clumps of marshes grasses, but I endeavored to find a spot where I could stand up and capture an angle other than the just-above-the-water kayak viewpoint. I had reached the terminus of the inlet and found a hefty looking clump of grass that would at least let me stand up. I stepped out onto the edge of this tiny island and immediately sank into the mud, nearly loosing my sandal. With one hand and half my body still awkwardly clingy to the kayak, I managed to flop back in. Time for a different approach. I paddled out about 20 feet from the grass’s edge, and paddled as fast as a could and rammed the kayak into the grass clump. After oooching further into the grass as best I could, I finally stepped onto something sort of kind of solid and was able to stand for a better view.
Looking back down the inlet – my favorite image of the day
Looking back at the inlet I had just paddled down, an excellent image presented itself. The ins and outs of the edges of the inlet and irregular curves the path of the water takes through the grass made an excellent composition. The fog finally started to break as the sun strengthened and I was able to get just a little more visibility and definition along the edge of the grass where it falls into the water. Now I knew I had some great images!
As the sun strengthened even more, the scene turned from thick, gray fog into warm light that gave the environment an atmospheric feeling. I turned away from the inlet and to look out over the vast marsh toward Nauset and had time to grab two quick frames before the light started to dim again. Those few shots turned out to be the most interesting from that morning!
Looking over the vast marsh towards Nauset – the increasing sunlight through the lifting fog give this image a warmer, atmospheric feel
Finding the Image in a Foggy Cape Cod Marsh Read More »
I made this image about an hour after sunrise in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains. The satin like appearance of the snow gives it a soft, glowing feel that is contrasted by the magnitude of the mountain and its sheer cliff faces. These two disparate elements working in concert make this a compelling and fascinating image for me.
Mountain Views of the Utah Landscape Read More »
The Wasatch Mountains as seen from the greater Salt Lake City area. This image has several strong diagonals repeated both in the mountain ridges and clouds, giving it a dynamic, powerful feel.
Along the Wasatch Front Read More »
My last post featured a series of dramatic photographs of the Franconia Range, and I wanted to follow it up with some more images of this magnificent area. This grouping shows the textured slopes of Mount Lafayette, the highest peak in the range.
Where the previous set of images focused on creating a very dramatic feel, these are calmer and gentler in style, though they still convey a sense of the immensity of the mountain. The very limited color palette contributes to the calming effect and gives them an almost warm feel in comparison to the black and white set. These feel uplifting and optimistic where the others feel powerful and ominous.
Franconia Notch II: Textured Slopes of Mt Lafayette Read More »
Franconia Notch in New Hampshire’s White Mountains has attracted many artists over the years, and with good reason, it is one of the most stunning mountain landscapes in New England. Around this time, two years ago some friends and I spent a very cold night in the Lafayette place campground. Our trip was not without reward; we watched the entire Franconia ridge line bathed in beautiful alpenglow as the sun set.
The day’s hike was a quick jaunt to Lonesome Lake, during which we watched massive cloud banks float over the peaks. Each peak in the Franconia range continuously drifted in and out of the clouds — It was truly mesmerizing to watch the endless formations moving quickly across the frozen alpine landscape. This scene lends itself incredibly well to making these dramatic black and white images. They are very classic in style, yet are exciting and powerful. Images like these never get old.
Dramatic Photos in Franconia Notch Read More »
The Cape is one of my favorite places to visit, and I relish any opportunity to tread through its dunes and marshes. On a recent trip to Sandwich and Barnstable, I rose early and planned a walk through some of the area’s estuaries in hopes of capturing images with the morning light.
While exploring a new area, I was welcomed by a gentle fog with the sun just shining through and beginning to burn off the haze. Seeing the fog lift as I meandered along through marsh after marsh was refreshing; the atmospheric quality of the mist enhanced the experience of being in such a beautiful, natural place.
These images reflect the feeling of that morning. The light fog gives the images a sense of depth and makes it feel as though this wild land could go on forever. It is very easy to get lost in the pleasing landscapes in these images, as I did. I hope you enjoy these photographs of Cape Cod.
Treading through the Marshes of Cape Cod Read More »
I am now printing my images in an exciting new format — large scale canvas gallery wraps! Presenting images in this format gives them a more contemporary feel than my framed work. I am not abandoning frames, but providing these as an option to give a different feel to my art displayed in an office, gallery or home.
The enormous sizes are stunning on their own, but when combined with viewing the photographs directly, and not through glass, these canvas wraps decisively emphasize the images and compel you to examine them. With the images wrapped all the way around the edges, they protrude from the wall, creating a three dimensional effect which strengthens the presence of the artwork.
These prints will literally take over your wall — Scandola (below, right) is six feet wide and over four feet tall! Sandy Neck, Cape Cod, (below, left) is five feet wide and over four feet tall. Most of my images are available in this format in multiple sizes up to 55″ x 96″.
Large Scale Canvas Gallery Wrap Photographs Read More »
Despite the incredible simplicity this image immediately conveys to the viewer, it is the subtle details which make it powerful and mesmerizing. The intricate detail of the hoar frost covered trees provide a sense of scale, while the varied texture dictated by increasing altitude elaborates this feeling.
Even though this alpine environment may seem all but inhospitable, the light blue sky adds a gentle touch to the image. The contrast between the harshness of winter in the mountains and the bright, uplifting sky enhances the allure of this photograph.
Crocker Mountain, Maine Read More »