(Cotuit Harbor evening light, by tbradford)
Cotuit Harbor evening light, originally uploaded by tbradford.
Cotuit Harbor evening light, originally uploaded by tbradford.
Showing posts with label cape cod. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cape cod. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Summer Vacation...
Sorry everyone, other things keep getting in the way of blogging, and so I'm way behind.
It mid-August already, I start graduate school in just a few weeks and I can't quite believe the summer's almost over. This happens to me every year, sometime around late August I realize the summers almost over and I better hurry up if I'm going to enjoy it before it's gone. So, this weekend, after many weekends relaxing and not doing much in particular, I got my act together and went on a nature walk, to my favorite flea market, and to the local art museum.
So, before summer's gone, a bit of the beach...
This one's from a trip to Cape Cod, MA earlier this summer. One afternoon on the beach I got away from the rest of the group for a walk with my camera and a pocketful of shells and pretty stones (inveterate beach comber, one of my all time favorite books as a kid had pictures of all the different shells in it)
I love this point, right where the sane and water meet and play, the very edge of the land. The contrast of shiny smooth water, and rough sand, and the shapes left by the waves are always gorgeous. And, of course, the perfect spot for a walk.
It mid-August already, I start graduate school in just a few weeks and I can't quite believe the summer's almost over. This happens to me every year, sometime around late August I realize the summers almost over and I better hurry up if I'm going to enjoy it before it's gone. So, this weekend, after many weekends relaxing and not doing much in particular, I got my act together and went on a nature walk, to my favorite flea market, and to the local art museum.
So, before summer's gone, a bit of the beach...
This one's from a trip to Cape Cod, MA earlier this summer. One afternoon on the beach I got away from the rest of the group for a walk with my camera and a pocketful of shells and pretty stones (inveterate beach comber, one of my all time favorite books as a kid had pictures of all the different shells in it)
I love this point, right where the sane and water meet and play, the very edge of the land. The contrast of shiny smooth water, and rough sand, and the shapes left by the waves are always gorgeous. And, of course, the perfect spot for a walk.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Summer...
I work on a college campus, and school is ending, seniors are graduating and summer vacation is in the air. And so, what could be more appropriate than a beach photo?
Ripples
Ripples
This is one of my favorite Cape Cod beaches, its long and flat, so a low tide you can walk and walk before you get to the waters edge. And at high tide, there are so many sand bars the water stays waist deep for ages.
As a kid (ok, still) I was completely fascinated by the ripples left in the sand as the tide goes out. I still don't understand how the water can shape them that way, but I think they look pretty cool. I love how the water and the last bit of light highlights the pattern in this photo
As a kid (ok, still) I was completely fascinated by the ripples left in the sand as the tide goes out. I still don't understand how the water can shape them that way, but I think they look pretty cool. I love how the water and the last bit of light highlights the pattern in this photo
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
I grew up on Cape Cod, MA and still have family there, so I visit frequently. As a result, I've spent a lot of time exploring beaches with my camera.
Despite, or perhaps because of, the abundance of glossy postcards of Cape Cod beaches, it can be challenging to take a good picture of a beach. The beauty of the beach is not just visual, it's also about the hot sun on your shoulders, the sound of the waves, the smell of salt water and coconut sunscreen, and frankly the excitement of being on vacation. None of which will get recorded on my camera's memory chip or film, although a good picture can evoke them.
This post is taking too long to write, because I keep getting myself sidetracked into unproductive rants and rambles. So, to make a long story short, one of the most valuable things I've learned is the difference between pretty (or even beautiful) and photogenic.
There are plenty of things which are pretty, but not necessarily photogenic. An open strip of sand with a clear sky and calm ocean, while pretty in person, is not necessarily photogenic. It actually tends towards boring photographs.
And I firmly believe that there is plenty in the world that is deeply photogenic, but not at all conventionally pretty. And this is the area that I'm drawn to; finding something interesting to see and capture on film (well, memory chip, now) even when the subject isn't conventionally pretty, or at least to find a different, interesting side to a pretty scene we've seen on a hundred postcards.
All of the photos in this post are from a mucky little beach, with rocky, dusty sand and tiny swimming area in an opening in the marsh-grass. But I've been going back there for years, always expecting that I'll eventually run out of pictures. And I haven't yet. The light on the marsh is different every time I go -- and the marsh grass itself is different in every season -- there's a long boardwalk that lets me change my perspective -- and a small boat dock for added interest. I doubt anyone considers it the most beautiful beach on Cape, but it's been an incredibly photogenic place for me.
Despite, or perhaps because of, the abundance of glossy postcards of Cape Cod beaches, it can be challenging to take a good picture of a beach. The beauty of the beach is not just visual, it's also about the hot sun on your shoulders, the sound of the waves, the smell of salt water and coconut sunscreen, and frankly the excitement of being on vacation. None of which will get recorded on my camera's memory chip or film, although a good picture can evoke them.
This post is taking too long to write, because I keep getting myself sidetracked into unproductive rants and rambles. So, to make a long story short, one of the most valuable things I've learned is the difference between pretty (or even beautiful) and photogenic.
There are plenty of things which are pretty, but not necessarily photogenic. An open strip of sand with a clear sky and calm ocean, while pretty in person, is not necessarily photogenic. It actually tends towards boring photographs.
And I firmly believe that there is plenty in the world that is deeply photogenic, but not at all conventionally pretty. And this is the area that I'm drawn to; finding something interesting to see and capture on film (well, memory chip, now) even when the subject isn't conventionally pretty, or at least to find a different, interesting side to a pretty scene we've seen on a hundred postcards.
All of the photos in this post are from a mucky little beach, with rocky, dusty sand and tiny swimming area in an opening in the marsh-grass. But I've been going back there for years, always expecting that I'll eventually run out of pictures. And I haven't yet. The light on the marsh is different every time I go -- and the marsh grass itself is different in every season -- there's a long boardwalk that lets me change my perspective -- and a small boat dock for added interest. I doubt anyone considers it the most beautiful beach on Cape, but it's been an incredibly photogenic place for me.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Twirling
(Part Two of my "Favorites" series )
I'm not a big amusement park person. I'm not enough of an adrenaline junkie for the rides, in fact, I'm a downright wimp. I'm no good at the games, and don't really want a cheap stuffed animal anyways. And you can only eat so much junk food off paper plates.
But I love the spectacle. The lights, the crowds, the tents, the rides, so much to watch. (so much to photograph)
This particular photograph, of the twirling tea-cups ride is from the Barnstable County Fair. Barnstable County is Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where I grew up. And every summer, sometime in late July or August, there's a great big carnival.
The fair's a mix of elements. This, obviously, is from the Midway: bright lights, rigged games and fast rides, families with kids during the sunny afternoons, crowds of teens and young adults at night. But, off to the side, not nearly as crowded are still big barn-like buildings with 4H club displays, and quilt competitions and vegetable competitions.
I don't live there any more, and have missed some recently, but growing up we went for an afternoon every year to wander around, have an Italian Sausage (my personal favorite fair-food) and enjoy the show -- primary colors, bright lights and madly spinning teacups.
I'm not a big amusement park person. I'm not enough of an adrenaline junkie for the rides, in fact, I'm a downright wimp. I'm no good at the games, and don't really want a cheap stuffed animal anyways. And you can only eat so much junk food off paper plates.
But I love the spectacle. The lights, the crowds, the tents, the rides, so much to watch. (so much to photograph)
This particular photograph, of the twirling tea-cups ride is from the Barnstable County Fair. Barnstable County is Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where I grew up. And every summer, sometime in late July or August, there's a great big carnival.
The fair's a mix of elements. This, obviously, is from the Midway: bright lights, rigged games and fast rides, families with kids during the sunny afternoons, crowds of teens and young adults at night. But, off to the side, not nearly as crowded are still big barn-like buildings with 4H club displays, and quilt competitions and vegetable competitions.
I don't live there any more, and have missed some recently, but growing up we went for an afternoon every year to wander around, have an Italian Sausage (my personal favorite fair-food) and enjoy the show -- primary colors, bright lights and madly spinning teacups.
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