Mornings here on the coast have often been foggy...leading to interesting formations over the water come mid-day.
 I have submitted images to professional contests over the years, but not often.
The first time was Communications Arts magazine I believe, and my shot was accepted to the annual...not as a winner or even an honorable mention...just in the third 'accepted' category. But I was published, very cool for a kid fresh out of photo school. I even stuck the original 8x10 b/w print in the back of the copy I bought. Wish that book had survived the moves. I did not submit again for a long time while running a business and then transitioning away from film, but picked it back up recently. My next submission to a Photographers Forum annual last year was accepted and published in the same manner. Again an 'also ran' but given the huge number of submissions not an insignificant accomplishment. I just received a letter of notification that the image above won something in this year's contest. They don't tell you whether you've won, placed, or shown...although I assume winner's receive a more flowery notification...but in any event it sure is nice to see your work acknowledged on any national stage. I'll let you know when I hear of how well we placed. :) The images above, which you've seen here before, were also included in a gallery and blog post I contributed to dearsusan.net earlier this month. In the comments [which were fascinating to me] I was asked more than once to expand on how some of them were created. Below was one of my more breathy replies that touched on three in particular...repeated here for posterity. :) [On the sand photo] The ‘almost identical dents’ are simply runnels carved into the sand by receding water [waves]. I think the optical confusion folks are experiencing is created by the lack of any scale or familiar object. This was very intentional, and I think the reason the images works. I’d go so far as to say that all of my successful images [I can’t speak for anyone else] are missing some natural element [intentionally] that [allows? requires?] the viewer to fill in the blank from their memory or imagination. I think that’s what makes some images memorable…the viewer owns them via their personal input.
So, again, the image was taken from a relatively close range, which may be throwing your eye off. Also, the slope is quite shallow on this beach allowing for lots of time for the water to do its work on the super-saturated sand, and if you find a similar beach to walk someday I believe you’ll see a formation like this. [The crows in snow] In the other shot the ‘stuff…drifting down the image’ is simply snow. Reviewers have suggested that flash was involved as well, but no. Just perfect snow and perfect light filtered through amazing clouds. It was just ‘one of those days’. I particularly like how the flakes appear white against the dark stone of the tower, yet gray against the lighter sky. Such was the weight and opacity of the flakes. Really quite remarkable. It was mid-week in January in Newport, Rhode Island. My son had been born that month and I needed to get some paperwork from the town office. The snow was quite heavy and rather than drive I knew to grab the camera and take a walk. Keeping it under my coat and out of the snow was a priority, but as I came down the walkway of a park I saw crows, a favorite subject, playing around this stone tower. One shot was all I got, but it worked beautifully. [The man in a t-shirt] The guy in the last shot is an amazing friend. He doesn’t complain, but he certainly does see.  We had a food truck lunch on the dock in Camden over the weekend. Fantastic.
 We're deep into the wonder that is Summer in Maine. Long days, cool nights, and just flirting with too warm in the afternoon. All told, the weather is great for sleeping, grilling out, walking to the beach, and home-improvement projects.
The image above was taken in what I've come to call 'the aviary'. The master in this house occupies the entire 4th floor, and has windows on all four sides. The breezes are great, and the sound of the pounding surf just down the road is soothing on a warm summer night. I should have another contribution coming out on dearsusan.net soon. This time it's a colaborative article on using one camera kit for both personal and client work. Looking forward to seeing everyone's opinion. Stay tuned!  My second contribution to dearsusan.net is here: bit.ly/2zhssbE
I enjoy every interaction with Pascal, and of course get a charge out of being published on such a large stage. Putting your thoughts in writing tends to make you really think about the positions you hold. Not so much here as these observations are not very controversial, but in general. The 4th of July holiday is past here in America, and another summer weekend beckons. Enjoy. Really fun afternoon on s/v Owl out of Camden, Maine. Cap't Lincoln was great, and the bride and groom could not have been a nicer couple. Ended up using mainly the 16-35mm f4L lens. I really like the 20-35 f2.8L, but it's a bit soft in the corners.
This is not as much of an issue for general street shooting, but it is for a job like this where people could very well be on the edges of the frame. I bought the 16-35 for precise commercial work, and it was the perfect choice here as well. Happy Summer to all.  Same 'new perspective' as below. Prime f2.8 lens. FF camera. Shooting from the hip. Summer Fun.
 Trilled by the opportunity to guest-post on DearSusan.net [https://bit.ly/2MggpO1]. Photo above unrelated.
Continue to revel in the moment. Particular camera and lens in use at the time being of no consequence whatsoever. Incredible. |
"Sometimes I feel like the world is a place I bought a ticket to. It’s a big show for me as if it wouldn’t happen if I wasn’t there with a camera."
--Gary Winogrand Some photo sites we enjoy:
Magnum The Online Photographer John Paul Caponigro Onne van der Wal Kirk Tuck By Thom Steve Huff B&W Mag LensRentals DearSusan Archives
January 2026
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