Photogravure |
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In two nights at Maine's Boothbay Harbor, I managed to take some 225 photos. Here's a sample of what Lorry and I saw -- during the first half. The fellow rowing the dinghy is a private (probably retired) fisherman, who moors overnight at the TugBoat Inn, downtown. His boat is only 60 yards out, but the mooring charge includes a room, protection and a place to park. Is there beauty in a dinghy? If the light is right, the place is attractive, and there's a photographer around, you bet -- there is beauty in form, light and color. This down-Maine lobsterman was showing off his catch, and agreed to have this classic photo taken. It worked, the picture is interesting, he is a handsome dude, his catch is rather on the spectacular side -- so the resulting photo deserves good space. Speaking of good food, here's a sampling of what Lorry and I ate at Robinson's seafood shack: At the left are farm-raised oysters, for which I shelled out $18; then there is the main course, which was again oysters, but fried -- just delightful and more reasonably priced than coming on the halfshell. At the right are absolutely fantastic sea scallops. Lunch was something like sixty-five bucks, including a handsome tip for the college-bound waitress. This is what happens when one gets up at dawn -- it is one of dozens of beautiful views around Boothbay Harbor. I found the light intriguing, but did come back late that afternoon to catch rays from a low-setting sun. (There's not enough room in this issue for all those photos, so if the editors agree, I'll do a second issue next month). If you're perpetually in a fog, this is probably what you'll see on a misty morn in Boothbay Harbor. See that faint rope line behind the dockmaster's boat? It's about 60 feet long, has a lobster trap on the far end, while the front (where the lobster-buoy is) is lashed to an oarlock. The story is that a young lobsterman laid two such traps in the dockmaster's mooring area, which would be disaster if some $300,000 boat sucked up that leisure rope. So the man hauled both traps out of harm's way, while madder'n a wet hen. The dockmaster at work ... makes for classic pictures on a foggy morn. Reflections on a gray day in Maine. In less than 30 minutes, the sun burst out and melted the fog away. Absolutely beautiful, like this ... This is Boothbay Harbor ... ... coming out of the fog. To be continued ... Addendum: And finally, this flick was scheduled for Page One, but, as we approached deadline, Stringer Carole Tate produced several photos of local youngsters at a summer party. When it comes down to it, pictures of our children will always beat pretty harbor scenes. Don Norris. August 6, 2010
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