Tag: Historic Homes

This Old House

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I wanted to give a little glimpse of the soon to be new HQ of The Daily Portsmouth.  This old Atlantic Heights home had original wallpaper and walking into the home was like stepping in to a time warp.  Stay tuned for more updates in the next few months.  I love Portsmouth because so many areas have such historic homes with fascinating backgrounds. The rich color of the wallpaper and floors together with some careful framing convey an interesting mood, complete with the random light from the unseen window behind the camera.

Stillness on the Water | Hummingbird

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The South End reflects on the water in the distance as this boat sits at rest.  The colors of the historic homes along with the sky are vibrant yet muted. I really liked this shot because of the sense of atmosphere it lends, with the various layers in the frame.

Historic Home Construction

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I’m excited to share that the home office of The Daily Portsmouth will be moving! We’re in the process of renovating a historic home in Atlantic Heights that has kept us busy – but we are enjoying seeing how houses used to be made in the old days.  Atlantic Heights was originally built to house shipbuilders in World War I that were building freighters to bring goods over to Europe.  The war was over before the neighborhood was finished – and it’s had a storied history since then, and is now a great active community and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Stay tuned for periodic updates on our new home adventure – in the meantime, today’s image is from 2 weeks into the rehab project in one of the bedrooms.

In the Kitchen at The Wentworth-Gardner

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Everyone knows the history in the seacoast is incredibly rich.  We are fortunate to also have some lasting relics of times gone by.  Here is the kitchen area of the Wentworth-Gardner house, the beautiful Georgian style mansion located on the South End Waterfront.  From the instant you step inside this beautifully maintained home it is evident that it’s from a different era.  Just look at all the rich light and textures and the massive built-in.  Check it out sometime if you have the opportunity…their website is here.

 

 

Clapboards of the South End

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These pristine homes are old and wise and overlook the waterfront in the South End.  I shot this series at F/16, bringing the clarity of the shots and the depth of field to a level that I don’t always feature here at The Daily Portsmouth.  I’ve been waiting to feature this profile for a very long time….but I’ve shot them time and time again without any remarkable results. The wide angle approach I’d been taking at the widest end of my 24-105mm lens, and I didn’t have the symmetry I usually like – and it was too broad with the color range.  The moody grey/blue of the sky was a great complement to the rich historic yellow and the vibrant red of the home next door.  I love that you get the feel of the street from looking at the angle the houses are facing along with the flow of the rooflines and the crispness of the clapboards.  It’d be amazing to watch the river traffic from one of these homes, and to get some great shots from the other side of the walls. Until then, I’ll just admire the view I can afford.

Inside the Wentworth-Gardner House

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A few months back I did an interior shoot for the Wentworth-Gardner House located in Portsmouth’s South End.  The home will be opening soon (June 14th – see hours HERE).  One of the neat features of the Georgian-style home was this mural painted on one of the interior walls.  The sea-colors of the deep blues and stormy purples make for a nice scene, and I thought the door within a door along with the various light sources made for a unique shot.  You’ll have to stop in and check it out sometime this summer.

The Wentworth-Gardner House

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As we all know, Portsmouth is one of the most charming and historic towns in New England.  Being one of the oldest settlements in the country, there are many structures remaining from earlier eras.  We are lucky to have some so well preserved, that when you walk in you can just feel the history in the place.  I’m sure that there are many places in Portsmouth that, and I’m happy to report that I’ve been to a few including Strawbery Banke, the Portsmouth Athenaeum (had an AWESOME visit to the reading room), with my latest visit being last week to the Wentworth-Gardner House.  I’m working with some great folks over there to get some images they can use for their website.

The house was built in 1760 and sits across Mechanic Street from the back channel of the Piscataqua River.  The Wentworth-Gardner opens for tours on June 12th, and tours are available Wednesday through Sunday from 12-4pm.  They also do a very cool art show dubbed “Inspired Creations” where they invite artists into the home to create an original piece of artwork that complements the home, which runs every year.  I’ll have more shots up in the future that highlight more rooms, including a very cool mural and some original fireplaces.  I loved the little model house that sits on the table in the middle of the room in the shot below.

Head over to their website for some history, but for starters:  “Built in 1760, the Wentworth-Gardner house is a fine example of the American Georgian style. The house was built by the Wentworth family for their son Thomas as a wedding gift. The powerful Wentworth clan was the largest colonial power in New Hampshire and the family’s power is demonstrated in the heavy carving and exquisite detail of the formal parlor, parlor chamber and traditional hallway the entire length of the house.”