Sunday morning, January 2, was foggy. Around 8:00 AM, my wife, Elizabeth, suggested I shoot some harbor scenes. She said she’d walk our dog while I photographed. I checked online and found the fog would clear about 9:00 AM about the same time as high tide. Also, the harbor would likely be still because of no wind or boating traffic. Three elements—fog, still water, and high tide—would be intersecting; all in my favor. The fog shrouds the background and visually simplifies most images; the reflections duplicate, or repeat interesting elements; and the high tide, in this case, makes the dock more visually slender.
I shot for a half hour or so, about 30 photos. Early in the shoot, I focused on two primary subjects, an old clamming boat that’s been moored inside the dock inlet during many of the past winters. It’s really worn and shows its age. At this spot, the two dock walkways form a right angle. To keep it off the docks and prevent getting more beat up, the clammer ties a line off the bow and stern to the dock fore and aft. The boat and lines form an hypotenuse between the two walkways. There is sufficient slack in the lines to accommodate the 8-foot tidal range. The boat has been a subject of mine in the past (“One Bag Full”), as I’m sure it’s been with other photographers. Here’s one of the photos:
Veteran
After several shots, I turned my attention to the harbor. There were still a few lobster boats on their moorings—most of them had been moved to protective waters for the winter. The scenes lent themselves to some interesting compositions when birds paddled by or flew above. Here is “Escorts.”
Escorts
Around 9:00, I noticed the fog clearing allowing the blue sky to reflect in the water. This combination lent a surreal affect to the village dock and to the working craft at Seymours Marina. I had about a five-eight minute window before the blue sky disappeared.
Following are the best three shots of this short-lived clearing:
Clearing—1
Clearing—2
Clearing—3
It’s rare that a single photo shoot will yield more than one image that resonates with the photographer. As often as not, you may spend a couple of hours shooting—working a scene—and simply return with nothing that chimes.
I was fortunate this day and glad Elizabeth made the suggestion.
A great quintet of images to start the year and a testimony to all your talents –from the release of the shutter all the way to the final print. Your five images are equally pensive and ethereal and make a good study of light variations on a January morning in Northport. Nice work.
Thanks, John! ~JE
I love these photos for the mystery that the fog contributes to each composition, not telling too much, allowing the viewer to “fill-in” some of what is not actually seen, perhaps allowing the viewer to contribute something of himself into it. This kind of art is most appealing allowing the viewer to more fully participate in a composition in a spiritual way. Close examination of Clearing #2 shows the silhouette of a human figure on the dock. I love this, for the chance happening of this person walking into your common experience and the mystery that we are all connected in this universal spiritual network. Be it ever so subtle, the figure takes things to another level. What’s in this person’s mind as he is looking over the same water view as you? Who is this person? What is his story?
Your “story”, John can be partially told in your photos, your love of the water and of nature. You are faithful to that theme and to your craft, always looking to take it to another level. I so admire that in you.
“Why does anybody tell a story, create art? It does indeed have something to do with faith,” she said, “faith that the universe has meaning, that our little human lives are not irrelevant, that what we choose or say or do matters, matters cosmically.” – Madeline L’Engle
Keep up the good work, John! – Jack Fink
Thanks, Jack. I am always grateful for your perspective and the connections you make between art and life.
Hey John,
I love all your fog shots.
Almost every morning I drive thru cold spring harbor on my way to work. There is a small club house on the right on the water. Many mornings there is a wonderful fog / mist on the water and various boats sitting in it. I’ve often thought it would be a great place to capture a “play Misty for me” shot. Keep up the great work, you have a wonderful eye.
Maureen,
Been meaning to photograph Cold Spring Harbor in the early morning. It’s a beautiful harbor, but even more so when it’s fog-bound. Driving past the harbor in the early morning is a visual treat—surely the highlight of a morning commute.
Many thanks,
John