As a photographer and educator I’m always looking for the “right” balance between time spent in the field making new images, time spent in the lab post-processing images, and time spent teaching classes and workshops. Invariably it is time in the field making new images that most often gets neglected.
I love the play of light at the ocean’s edge. So recently, when I had an opportunity to shoot both the New Jersey shore and the Maryland/Delaware coast, I jumped at the chance, (knowing full well my never ending work backlog would be waiting for me when I returned – which of course it was!).
My schedule allowed for only 36 hours along the NJ coast so I had to plan wisely. Of the photographs made during that trip I was most pleased with the images of the crumbling 59th Street Pier, located at the southern end of Ocean City (NJ).
I was in place well before sunset and made several exposures as the sun sank below the horizon. I was back in place the next morning in the pre-dawn darkness, and continued to shoot well past sunrise, capturing many variations of the scene. I like this particular image made about 15 minutes before sunrise because of the texture in the water caused by the receding wave, contrasted against the smooth sky with soft pastel hues.
I had a bit more time for my Maryland/ Delaware shore trip, but I also had more ground to cover, (I planned to visit my favorite shooting locations, but also scout out a few new ones). I left the DC area at o’dark-thirty to be in position to shoot the OC (MD) Fishing Pier at sunrise. As with every absurdly early morning photo shoot departure, you repeatedly question your sanity and remind yourself what a total bust sunrise photo shoots can be. But every now and then the photo-gods cooperate and the morning shoot turns magical. This was one of those mornings!
I arrived with time to spare, scouted a good location and set up my equipment. It was a faultless morning. The air was clean and fresh; the light was crisp and sharp. I shot for close to an hour, well past sunrise. My favorite image happened to be the very first capture of the morning, made about 20 minutes prior to sunrise. The oblique lines provide lots of energy. The repeating dark triangular and linear elements, along with the complementary warm and cool hues, keep your eye active throughout the image.
Aftermath of Sandy
I’m glad I made time to photograph both coasts when the had the opportunity. In the aftermath of Sandy, I can’t help but wonder what these locations look like today. I’ve heard the OC (MD) Fishing Pier was heavily damaged. And it is hard to imagine the skeleton remains of the 59th Street Pier withstanding Sandy’s wrath. I’m glad I made the trips when I could; and I will visit again soon to see how they fared.
Yes, there is no shortage of new photographs to be made; and new locations to discover. But at the same time, events of the past few days remind me that life offers no guarantees. If I want to photograph a particular location or scene, it would be wise to do so sooner rather than later. And to never assume things will remain unchanged indefinitely.
Make time for what you value, and what is important you. The rest can wait for your return.
A Few More Shots . . .
Colleen Henderson 