Photography: Personal Work
This July 4th we spent the weekend on Cape Cod. We have been doing so for the last 4 years. Last year a hurricane came through and pounded the coast, flooded Provincetown, and delayed the celebration of the birth of America. This year was a much nicer weekend and with it I was able to capture some photos from a unique vantage point.
While I was out exploring parts of the outer Cape, I pulled out my handy dandy iPhone 6 and made a panorama, not featured here, shot, edited, and posted the image with the quote, "To explore is to learn." I strive to find what is unique about the places I visit, travel to, spend time at. I want people to see what goes unseen. I want to show others how I see what is around them that they otherwise are not viewing. I took a drive to a place I found last year on the 3rd. I stood on the bluffs and watched as the impending hurricane filled the bay side of the outer Cape with threatening clouds and a lighting show. I was eager to get back and see what it would look like with a nicer day. While the path is well walked, I have never seen a single person walking in or around that specific area. Off in the distance, down the beach, people can be seen exploring.
Everyone loves a great sunset, right? When the sky lights up like the inside of a fireplace, it commands your attention. I find joy in making photographs, I always have. I have also found extreme joy in closing out the day with an incredible sunset. I love warm, natural light that makes a late afternoon glow. While watching the sunset, we were surrounded by what seemed liked hundreds of people, more so than the pervious years. At least half the people that were walking the bay had their cell phones out. I found it quite irritating that people were to busy making photos of each other instead of watching the sunset. Occasionally I would see someone using their phone to capture a few shots of the sunset. Being one of the only people that had a real camera, undoubtedly, I was able to capture what others were either to busy to or unable to do with their phone.
Have you ever seen a sunset in black and white, see below.
There are places that we visit that hold special memories that have now evolved into places of new memories. One such place is Rock Harbor. After 4pm you're allowed to bring your dogs onto the beach at Rock Harbor. We have a new little dingo, hound, shepherd mix that we adopted back in October. This is his first summer at the beach and at the Cape. We are extremely happy that we have a place we can take him to frolic and play.
If you are familiar with Cape Cod, explore what you have yet to see. If you are new to visiting the Cape, get out and explore. It is easy to get caught up in the tourist traps, the fishing nets of the cliche establishments that everyone thinks are "the best." Find what you like, find what is unique, and find a place to call your own. To simply put, go enjoy Cape Cod.
Cape Cod: Fourth of July and some Photos
This year I spent my fourth of July at the Cape. I was just out there a few weeks ago, and was back to celebrate the birthday of our America. American flags flew with pride and splendor. Towns were filled with people showing their pride with reds, whites, and blues. Flag tee shirts, flags, stars and stripes, and any other fashion accessory that you could imagine was displayed in a patriotic manner. I had unfortunately needed to return on the 4th and was unable to make it to any fireworks that night. However, on Monday night I had the privilege of seeing them from First Encounter Beach in Eastham Mass. Having spent and hour as Chef Jeff, grilling and cooking, I prepared a picnic to eat beachside while we waited for the sun to set. It was beautiful. It was a bucket list item, thats for sure. I have always wanted to put together a "fancy" picnic to have on the beach and watch the fireworks. Along with my grilling, we were joined by Amherst Farms Winery. A great little start up winery in Western Ma, (Amherst to be exact). It was a great evening and an even greater sunset. The fireworks were a slight distance away, but nevertheless, they were spectacular. Until the Friday before, June 29th, I had never turned my camera to the fireworks displays that I attended. It never really interested me as much as it did to just watch them. As I am fascinated by light and the different ways light is created, in this instance, by things that explode and blow up. Now, I realize that sounds kind of bad. I do not like things being blown up nor do I use explosives. But come on now, its fireworks. If you dont like fireworks, then you have some weird phobia that is kind of unconstitutional. Or you dont like loud and obnoxious sounds of explosions, which that is ok.
The display that we watched went of from Rock Harbor. Rock Harbor is a nice little harbor. It has one rock in it that stands up right just off the shore. But they know how to light a mean firework. I am sure the hundreds of others that lined the beach to watch would agree. Below are a few photos from our time out there.[gallery link="file" columns="4"]