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| Cloudy skies created the perfect light for photographing this lobster shack near Gloucester. © Rad A. Drew |
Last month I had the pleasure of leading a workshop with my
good friend and extraordinary photographer, Betty Wiley, in an area of New England known as The North Shore. It’s
an area along the coast just north of Boston, and is home to fishermen and
lobstermen in cities like Gloucester and Rockport. I love even the names of the
places in the area like Bear Skin Neck, Annisquam Harbor Light, Halibut Point,
and Jones River Salt Marsh.
Betty and I arrived two days prior to the workshop to scout
the areas we wanted to see, check the sun, check the tides, etc. We were
blessed with extraordinary light and Betty’s skill at reading the light, wind,
and tides, put us at Annisquam Harbor Light for one of the most spectacular
sunsets that either one of us has ever seen (below).
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| Annisquam Harbor Light © Rad A. Drew |
Then our group arrived and all that beautiful sunlight was
replaced with threatening rain, solid gray cloud cover and wind – a bad
combination for shooting sunsets and fishing boats on the harbor.
So, as group leaders and photographers, what do you do when conditions don't appear optimal?
It’s been said by someone that there is
no good light or bad light, there is only light. The goal of a photographer is to use the
available light well. Of course, as group leaders, Betty and I wanted our group to have the sunset
experience that we’d just had, but that was out of our control. So, we forged
ahead, remained positive, and planned our days to use the light we had to our best possible
advantage.
Our group was wonderful. Everyone maintained their excitement,
in spite of the clouds, as we shot in small sheltered harbors, and in the city
of Rockport, and the cloud cover created a wonderful soft light that allowed our
group to get some great photos. As each day progressed, and we spent time in the
classroom, we remained hopeful that the clouds would part and give us a good sunset. And our
patience and optimism was rewarded!
Debbie Owen made the beautiful image of our
group on the beach, and as you can see, the clouds and light were fantastic!
Everyone had the experience of getting a great sunset shot, along with a host
of other great images in spite of the “bad” light for part of the trip.
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| Sunset at Annisquam Harbor Photo by Debbie Owen |
Posted here are some of my images from this great location.
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| "I dreamed a red boat..." © Rad A. Drew |
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| Shop Window in Rockport, MA © Rad A. Drew |
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| Jones River Salt Marsh © Rad A. Drew |
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| Motif #1, Rockport Harbor © Rad A. Drew |
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| Lone Tree and Grasses, Wingaersheek Beach © Rad A. Drew |
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| Annisquam Harbor Light © Rad A. Drew |
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| Rockport Harbor © Rad A. Drew |
Betty and I have next year’s North Shore Workshop posted
already. We’re doing it just before our Provincetown Workshop in the
neighboring Cape Cod area. We’re offering a $150 rebate to those who sign up
for both workshops. We hope to see you next year!
Other 2017 Workshops