One of the key parts of Portsmouth’s working waterfront is the fishing fleet that makes its home at the commercial fish pier off Peirce Island.  It’s pretty neat seeing the boats all stacked up sideways on the pier, maximizing the space.  I’ve mostly featured the other side of the pier as seen from Prescott Park – but I like the different vantage point and the moody and muted colors of the scene.

Winter is cold.  It’s supposed to be.  That doesn’t make it any easier, when it first arrives each year…and this year we’ve been lucky to have a very mild winter through the end of 2011.  This shot was taken on the first single-digit degree day (about 5 degrees at this point), and the air was so cold that the river was creating sea smoke.

First snowfall of 2012 in Market Square!

I love that Portsmouth spends a lot of time and energy decorating for the holidays.  Wreaths are mounted on all the street lighting, creating appealing tunnels of light at night, and the tree in Market Square is a favorite for many – I know because every time I drive/walk past, there is someone snapping a photo.  Happy Holidays to all!

A classic and chilling view of the doorway of a historic home in the South End after a fresh batch of snow.

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)

Don’t worry – this is an image from last winter.  The snowstorm from this past weekend was a (painful) reminder of how close the cold and snowy days are on the horizon.  With that in mind…I was visiting my archives and found this shot of the grounds of Strawbery Banke that I love.  The rich wood textures make this shot for me. Hope you enjoy.