With anything in life, change is constant. While something might be at complete rest, something else is always in perpetual motion. I guess it depends whether you’re the rock or the ocean what your perspective is.
This shot was taken at Nubble Lighthouse in York, Maine on the Atlantic coast. I don’t think I’ve ever visited and not been in awe as I watch the ocean do its thing, especially where the waves meet the rocks.
There is something soothing about going for a drive along the coastline. I went for a drive this past weekend and was greeted with misty weather, a bit raw and cooler along the stormy waves – so it was the perfect opportunity to break out the neutral density filter and calm the water down in-camera. The colors were very muted, although a hint of blue sky can be found despite the cloud activity on the horizon.
Every single time I head to the ocean, I find myself at peace and relax and in awe of the ridiculous size of the body of water. Waves fascinate me to no end, to the point that I often take a hundred photos of little nuances in the wave pattern as they roll, break, recede, etc. This shot was taken with the Hasselblad H4D-31 camera that I had the good fortune to demo – and this is a cropped version of a larger shot. The quality of the shot helped me bring out a ridiculous amount of detail in reaching the final image you see here. I hope you enjoy.
The shots aren’t quite polar opposites, but they are coastal opposites. The shot above was taken on the shore of South Beach in Miami on a warm morning just as first light made its way onto the atlantic coast, probably in the high 60s…and the shot below was taken on the shore of Rye Beach late in the afternoon after a major northeastern snow storm moved past the coast (dropping fresh snow) with temperatures probably in the low teens. What I’m sure of is the fact that the ocean is mesmerizing regardless of where you’re watching it from, with its sheer immensity laughing off my presence.
This image will be the first in a new series featuring the oceanfront during winter – At Water’s Edge. This shot is fitting as the opener, as this blue gate is what greets beachgoers when they first arrive at Pirate’s Cove. I’d never really noticed this gate before, nevermind be compelled to take a photo of it – but when I got to the ocean just after the midweek storm (that promised to deliver up to two feet in two days), the blue stood in contrast against the white snow on the ground and the otherwise colorless sky. I hope you’ll enjoy the series, I’ve enjoyed venturing down to the water despite the weather. (I’ve also been inspired by friend and talented photographer, Bob Lussier, with his latest series “Off Season”).
Meanwhile..check back later today for some exciting news about a show opening at 100 Market Street!
Sticking with trying new things….here are a couple ocean shots snapped in warmer days earlier this year during the summer. Two interesting shots taken minutes apart…tracking the evolution of a wave. The top shot was a fast shutter speed…while the image below was a long exposure where you can see the water retreating back into the ocean while another wave rolls towards the shoreline.
