Category Archives: Nature

SEASCAPE :: Sunset, Ocean and 19 Friends

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Chip Bunnell Photography Travel Images from Boston Palm Beach FloridaWhat do you do when Beantown has a heat index of 101 on a July afternoon?  Find the nearest boat, meet roughly 280 people and head 26 miles off shore for a 3 hour tour.  Yes, there was a skipper, several that looked like they wanted to be Ginger and I had my own Mary Ann, but no, this was not part of a remake of a famous TV show from my youth.  It was a quest for adventure on the ocean with some of the largest inhabitants of our blue world…and a magnificent show of color for a closing treat.

One of my enjoyments in Boston during the summer is taking a whale watching tour.  This is one of only a few places you can be so close to these incredible creatures and witness some of their natural behaviors on their terms. There are no trainers or tricks, just observing them surfacing to catch a breath and then, with a high waving tale, descending to great depths. Sometimes they are seen in the distance and other times they come close…quite close…giving us wonderful view.  Inspired by the great novel from Herman Melville, I texted by bride, who was sitting right next to me mind you, the simple words “Calm me Ishmael.”  With a smile, she quickly replied with a witty quote from the same.  This continued for the duration of our trip.

After priceless encounter after encounter with a small group of humpback whales, it was time for our 120’ vessel to return to her home port in Boston Harbor.  The setting sun had not only cast a wonderful golden light on our aquatic friends, but now it was to treat us with a truly amazing show of rich colors for the closing act of the day.  While I knew I could never capture the full natural beauty we were enjoying, I wanted to capture the feeling of the moment through our eyes and the reaction of those around us.

To make this image, I used the perspective of the unique bow design of the boat to move your eye forward in the image towards the setting sun.  The soft cloud pattern added interest in the sky.  The near-white reflection in the water acts as a welcome map leading to the principle player in this play. I was careful to capture the gentle rim-light that outlined the 19 souls that frame the bottom edge of this image. It was truly the perfect end to a perfect adventure on a perfect day!

“I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I’ll go to it laughing.”
― Herman Melville, Moby-Dick

Photo Tip: 3 Frame Hand-Held HDR, Processed in Photomatix Pro, LR and Topaz Clarity.

Travel Tip: Boston Harbor Cruises provides an excellent service for whale watching with frequent trips from Boston’s Long Wharf.

www.ChipBunnell.com

LOCATION :: Mystic Sunrise

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Chip Bunnell Photography Boca Raton FloridaOn a recent photo-trek with friends Claudia Cohen and Glenn Taylor, I had a chance to visit the mystical place of Mystic, CT.  Okay, while it was not really “mystical”, it was definitely quite impressive in many ways.  The greatest claims to fame are the very unique bridge that allows ships passage to the seaport, the historic town still with many of the original facades and the living museum of the Mystic Seaport itself.  Oh yes, and there was some pizza Julia Roberts once ate in 1988…although the movie was not made in the current restaurant that bears the name.

Originally settled in 1654, the small village of Mystic is steeped in maritime history.  Primarily due to its location on the Mystic River, the village was an active hub for the movement of goods as well as part of the whaling industry.  Flowing downstream, ships would follow the river to the Long Island Sound and ultimately gain access to the ocean.  Ironically, even though a little over 4,000 people live in Mystic, this important village is not recognized as a municipality in the state of Connecticut. Instead, parts west of the river are located in the town of Groton and the eastern parts reside in Stonington.

On this particular morning, our brave band of intrepid photographers ventured into the pre-dawn morning (…430AM), armed with only cameras, tripods and the goal of capturing the Mystic sunrise. We found a wonderful location on the Mystic River Bascule Bridge which provided an excellent view of the bay and dock areas.  The glow from the street lights on the surrounding buildings revealed just a hint of the town features as we waited patiently for the morning sun.  Slowly, several clouds began to take shape overhead. Little by little colors radiated from their edges and ultimately reflected gently on the calm waters below.  From our vantage point we could see two tall-ships surrounded by many other vessels secured to their docks.  The calm of the morning and vivid colors quickly made me forget of the sleep others were still enjoying.

While this area is relatively small, it is filled with treasures of nautical history. I look forward to again returning to explore even more of this charming area.

Single Frame, Processed in LR and Topaz Clarity

www.ChipBunnell.com