With the snowy weather of the past week and the drastic changes in temperature we’ve been having, the weather ends up giving us a few gems in terms of scenes with interesting light and dynamics. The sun was peeking out mid-day while the fog over the Middle Bridge and the downtown area was still strong. The glassy look to the water helps make this mirrored scene a bit more interesting while the fog made sure it still had a few elements of mystery.
The tugboats will soon be getting much more action than they have during the warmer months of the year. Also – the platform I love to shoot from will be off limits once the weather gets more rugged and wintry, so I’m always sure to get out to snap an inviting scene when the lighting presents itself.
The Rowan M. McAllister joined two of the standard fixtures in the Moran Towing fleet last week, with a taller deck and a different look than its counterparts flanking its sides.
I most often enjoy shooting the Moran Towing tugboats from the Portsmouth Harbor Cruises pier or from The River House’s deck on the waterfront. This particular afternoon last winter, I decided to try and sneak my camera over the fence to the Moran Towing yard for a side profile. The fresh tracks in the snow make this cold and empty scene a bit more human. (Be sure to click the image to enjoy it on a nice large background)
My favorite part of this shot is the soft glow of the tugboats’ light on their maroon hull. The long reflections of the Middle Bridge and the silhouettes of the cranes on the waterfront make this a subtle shot, and one that I think is powerful and beautiful because it doesn’t need any adjustments to bring more to the scene.
A classic image of the Moran Towing tugboats on a beautiful summer afternoon. The crisp afternoon light and the clear skies paired nicely with the golden light reaching over the river towards the Memorial Bridge and the top half of the Martingale Wharf.
Another freighter has arrived to unload windmill blades at the State Pier. After a delicious meal downtown, Steph and I decided to wander down to the new deck of the Martingale to enjoy an unobstructed view of the waterfront. The swift moving tide made for some interesting longer exposures alongside the orange glow of the alley on Ceres Street and the blasting light of the freighter on the horizon. I like how the cranes are nuzzled against one another from this vantage point and the cranes of the freighter are in opposite directions, and then the abutments of the Middle Bridge stand tall in the distance. Everything comes in pairs in this one – the tugboats, the cranes, the freighter cranes, the abutments, and the photographer.
In a simple glimpse, you can catch the beauty of the Portsmouth waterfront as seen from a harbor cruise. The tugboats, the Decks, the North Church, and the windswept surface of the Piscataqua River. It doesn’t get much better.
