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, and time spent teaching classes and workshops.  Invariably it is time in the field 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 the work backlog would await my return!).

I only had 36 hours to spend on the NJ shore 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.  And I was back for more the following morning in the pre-dawn darkness, and continued to shoot well past sunrise.  This image was made about 15 minutes before sunrise.  I like the contrast of the texture in the water caused by the receding wave, against the smooth, soft pastel hues in the sky.

I had a bit more time for my Maryland/ Delaware shore trip, but I also had more ground I wanted to cover, so I left DC 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 your morning shoot turns magical – this was one of those mornings!

I arrived with time to spare, scouted a good location and set up.  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 energy, and the repeating dark triangular and linear elements, contrasted 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 I had the opportunity.  In the aftermath of Sandy, I can’t help but wonder what these locations look like today.  I’ve heard the Fishing Pier was heavily damaged, and it is hard to imagine how the skeleton remains of the 59th Street Pier could withstand all Sandy had to offer.  I will visit both locations again when the time seems right.

There will never be a shortage of new photographs to be made, or new locations to discover.  But at the same time, events of the past few week remind me that life offers no guarantees.  If I want to photograph scene or location, I would be wise to make it a priority, and do so sooner rather than later.  One thing we have all learned over the last few decades, never assume things remain unchanged indefinitely.

Make time for what you value, and what is important you.  The rest can wait for your return.

A Few More Shore Shots . . .

“To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place… I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.”   ~ Elliott Erwitt

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