JONATHAN TURNS

He flies north in darkening tides of green and yellow; doing as all gulls are expected of them … But thoughts of family and friend soon turn him to change, where yellowing skies prevail.

MOIRE’, PERCEPTION & POSITION

It is quiet on Copley Square.. Early; even for the rising workmen and women.. A homeless man slumbers under one of the Trinity Church eves.. So damn cold.. how can they stand that; Shouldn’t he be somewhere else or try to pull it together….I move on.. a geometric illusion catches my eye. I set camera; edging Hancock Building and church structure.. New vs. Old.. It looks odd. My eye is trying to figure out what its’ picking up. In mind, I know what’s there.. but the eye doesn’t see it.. It’s starting to give me a headache.. I position the camera again; try to make the union razor sharp.. click.. The Hancock building is so much larger, but the eye doesn’t see this.. The Hancock is linear, but I can’t pick up the line’s intersection. Like a pond,the mirrored exterior of the building filters sunrise-light; warming it, but I know it’s cold.. Is this what the camera sees.. Is this moiré… position… perception? I know the building’s size, largest in Boston. I know its’ shape..But like I write, my eye sees different. My frame of visual reference dare not judge what I see as fact… Just as I see the homeless man sleeping in this biting cold. I should dare not judge what he can or can not do; or where he should or should not be.. I may not be seeing what is really there.. It’s moire’, perception and position.. and it’s wrong….

TWO DUCKS ALWAYS MAKE A FORMATION

Some sunrise light coming through… low clouds eerily illuminated; just above horizon two clouds that look like sails. I like the feel of today; Quiet, ocean sound but you can still hear your breathing. I’m still drawn to those sailing clouds, It’s quiet. Yes.. I have to say, it’s a nice morning. Out of the corner of my eye I see what I believe are two ducks, flying in formation.. Then I thought “two of anything fly in formation”.. I keep tracking them from the corner of my eye. They are on the same horizon line as the two “sail” clouds and with the same spacing… Not much time. I raise lens and focus on the waterfowl..full attention now.. tracking. They are over “sail”. I fire.. no time for a detailed focus or change in speed or aperture.. but all the same I love the shot.. You can barely see them; be patient.. focus.. They are there, in formation.. It’s a great morning when one can hear ocean wave and breath.

PERSPECTIVE

WHAT LEGENDS THERE WOULD BE!…In 1810 the US Congress earmarked $4k to build the Scituate Lighthouse.. constructed, and completed, in 1811. .. And has serviced, and survived for 202 years…even the Blizzard of 2013..As the lighthouse stands guard it is aided in survival by a CAT.. I could only think.. Sea Monsters do exist………. Put this scene back in 1811.. And…. “It rose out of the ocean, slowly creaking and grinding; crushing rock to do battle in hopes of draggin’ Scituate folk down to Davy Jones Locker.. But ALAS! Simeon Bates, 1st lighthouse keeper of the “Scituate Light”, lit the lantern and with torch in hand and sailor’s mouth fully amplified sent beastie back, tumbling to its master..
Or if it were to be transported to the War of 1812 it would put a new meaning to the famous, and true, historic event of “Rebecca and Abagail Bates “The Lighthouse Army of Two”.. So… “It rose out of the ocean, slowly creaking and grinding; crushing rock to do battle in hopes sacking Scituate for the British Crown.. But ALAS! out of the misty shore came Rebecca and Abagail Bates with fife and drum.. playing loudly, sounding like many a soldier coming to Scituate’s aide sending once feared now fearful beastie back to it English master…. Either way, sea beasts do exist, just a matter of perspective…

EXTREME WINE TASTING

Night of the Blizzard….. We have no power. The family is asleep by the fireplace…. I’m up past 10 pm waiting for the high tide to occur to make sure the surge is safe.. till then I put on the “Beaujolais or Blizzards” 2013 extreme-wine-tasting tour jacket… head to the leeward side of the home to avoid the 50+ mph winds.. and do some extreme wine tasting.. and I must add a fine vintage it was… Keep it extreme.. go for the French wine..

HINGHAM LAMP POST

Prepping for the winter storm, Nemo.. next few days are going to be black and white….

LOBSTERMEN

I’m at the start of his day, before he arrives; The Cohasset lobsterman’s dock.. There to take a few exposures: Skiffs tethered and neatly placed on surface; waiting for their purpose: To ferry the Lobsterman to his boat. I take a few shutter clicks and move on, but stay close enough to see his arrival.. With coffee in hand he heads to dock’s end; to the smallest skiff, orange interior, between the two with motors. He easily gets in; standing like he was a gondolier; oar in eye he moves back and forth; moving towards his target, all the while sipping his coffee.. The lobsterman is in his element, a salt of the earth appearance, focused..confident.. He’s on board, the boat comes to life and he moves back to his “start of the day”; secures the skiff; picks up his crew of one… Quiet, other than seagull and boat sound; hull slapping water.. He moves out to sea.

REFRESHING

Massachusett’s “Dia de los Muertos” is every day… I have come to know Massachusetts as an amazing, subtle, quiet and strong American culture… Flags and memorials , veteran and the like, abound throughout town cemetery, dedicated intersection and town park.. Patriotic vigor in this state is intense but with no malice or hatred for those that you may disagree with.. It’s refreshing…

MUSQUASHCUT SOUNDS

Looking across Musquashcut Pond with 30 seconds of light collected.. I hear subtle movement of tide: soft ice break and wildlife stirring… and nothing else. A row of Surfside homes awaken … while others slumber with Musquashcut sound at front stoop and Atlantic surf at back deck…

Also the Sunrise Project exposure for 2/2/2013

CLARITY

Hey Sydney… What are your thoughts… No matter; for I know they are steeped in imagination, focus and clarity… what else could one hope for.