The New Hampshire Coastline enjoys a winter sunset and Great Island Common has a front row seat to the end of the day. The pastel sky and the contrasty silhouetted rocks in the foreground are reason enough to get me back out for more sunsets and attempts to capture some natural beauty.
Great Island Common is one of New Castle’s gems. It provides opportunities for everyone to enjoy a slice of the oceanfront – and on this particular afternoon, the moody sky and stormy sea was a nice offset to the natural colors of the massive rock formations on the coastline.
Early in the spring, the trees began to regain their color and personality that they lost in the fall. Buds began appearing – and the trees here along the coast in New Castle at Great Island Common enjoy their waterfront view of the Atlantic Ocean.
As sunsets earlier and earlier each day, it becomes more important to strategize when heading out for a shoot. I was running out of time way too quickly after going out for a run with the Mrs., but still couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get some of the incredible late day light. My first thought was to head to Great Island Common for a close-up of Whaleback Lighthouse and Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse. With the 100mm-400mm lens, it would be a treat to have the option to shoot a bit closer. I decided to use a long exposure to really bring out the richness of the coastal air and the movement in the Atlantic Ocean. I’m very pleased with the shot – a serene capture of a beautiful seacoast landmark.
Great Island Common is one of my favorite coastal destinations. I went out one misty and stormy afternoon to find some waves in Rye, and after getting a few shots I was pleased with, I decided to pack it up and head home. On my way, Great Island Common was calling out to me, so I had to swing by to check out the scene. Whaleback light was lovely in the distance, and the waterfront was interesting with a foggy presence in the air. Portsmouth Harbor Light was the winning shot from the afternoon, with a processing that seemed to fit the weather.
Sometimes you can appreciate fresh air more than others. Tonight was one of those nights where I was happy to be outside…and even more delighted when I realized that there was a pretty good chance at an interesting sunset. The sky and the weather reports had threatened rain all day – but by the time I left the office, the cloudy sky was backlit with the sun as it tried to break through. Needing to get out of downtown for a bit, I headed to New Castle and made a stop at Great Island Common. It was right about then when the sky got very moody and the sun peered through the clouds just long enough for an awesome sky to appear with the late day’s golden light. The lone tree and bench in the middle of the common made for a perfect excuse to shoot the sky.
Another image from the beginning of a new day at Great Island Common. Whaleback Lighthouse is seen on the horizon off to the right along with some crisp and vibrant reflections of the sky in the morning water.
