Gloucester Harbor twilight hues as the light shifts from saffron to cinnabar to rose-violet. Click through slideshow to see full size.
GLOUCESTER HARBOR GLOWING TWILIGHT
Leave a reply
Tag Archives: Gloucester Harbor
WOWZER!!
Head of the Harbor WOW factor sunset.
Not too shabby from the the state fish pier, either!
Plum violet – when red meets blue.
Red Ten
Gloucester Harbor foggy morning.
THREE VIEWS GLOUCESTER CITY HALL AND SKYLINE
A view that never disappoints
Choppy Harbor waters
Storm clouds departing
Later the same afternoon
SNOW MOON SETTING OVER GLOUCESTER PHOTOS
Snapshots from the time lapse filming – The day before the Nor’easter Riley, the early morning air was so still and calm, I was able to photograph while filming. That isn’t always the case because the slightest wind will jostle the movie camera and wreck a time lapse. Usually, you have to hold the tripod down with a death grip to get a good time lapse.
TIME LAPSE VIDEO: SNOW MOON DESCENDING OVER BEAUTIFUL GLOUCESTER HARBOR
The full moon of February is most often called the Snow Moon, but some Native American tribes called it the Hunger Moon or the Storm Moon. After this past week’s nor’easter, I think perhaps Storm Moon is most apt. The full moon actually took place over the cusp of February 28th and March 1st, and just as it occurred in the month of January 2018 when we had two full moons, the end of March will bring a Blue Moon.
Full Wolf Moon Over Gloucester
Beautiful January Wolf Moon rising and setting over Gloucester.
Moonsetting over the Harbor
Moonset over the Fort
December Frost Moon Over Gloucester Harbor
One more photo from December’s Frost Moon at dawn. The moon was rapidly loosing color in the sun’s first light, but still beautiful I think.
Saturated Sunset Over Gloucester Harbor
Gorgeous sunset over Gloucester Harbor and Rocky Neck, with the colors of the sky flowing from red hot reds and oranges to soothing shades of violet pinks and blues. 
Within moments, the sky’s hues changed from orange to violet. FV Pioneer in the foreground. 
Sky Drama Over Gloucester Harbor
Layers of of fast moving April storm clouds swirling over the Harbor last night.
Click image to view larger panorama larger
Smith’s Cove Rocky Neck
Gloucester’s Inner Harbor at Daybreak
The light oftentimes glows warm golden pink over the Harbor late in the day, at sunset. On my way to photograph Niles Pond Saturday morning, it was surprisingly beautiful to see overhanging the Harbor wispy vertical pink clouds.
I love the time change with the sun rising an hour earlier because I can get out and film before the work day begins. Lately we have been treated to extra amazingly gorgeous and sumptuous sunrises and sunsets!
Nightfall
Beautiful from every vantage point all around the harbor. Click panoramic images to see full size.
Happy Hauntings!
It was a foggy moonless night in Gloucester town…
Like Breath on Glass, or Living in a Whistler Moment
James McNeill Whistler once said “Paint should not be applied thick. It should be like breath on the surface of a pane of glass.” My question is, which came first, the “soft paintings” of the later half of the 19th and early 20th century or soft focus photos? Knowing that Edward Steichen transitioned from painting to photography, its not hard to imagine that Whistler and Innes were also using photography as a tool.
Tall Ship Lynx Departs Gloucester
Exciting news–the Schooner Lynx will be returning to Gloucester next year for the Schooner fest! The captain of the Lynx, Donald Peacock, wrote the following, “Thank you for noticing Lynx in your harbor. Gloucester Marine Railways have been most hospitable and we look forward to returning for Lynx 2017 yard period and the 2017 Gloucester Schooner Race and Festival.”
A magnificent ship under sail, she was a joy to watch and to photograph as she moved through the Harbor, setting course for Saint Petersburg, Florida, via Portland, Maine. You can see in the last photo that by the time she was passing Brace Cove she was under full sail with her square sail hoisted too. Safe travels Schooner Lynx and crew!
At the Railways with crew members Casey and Hunter
Passing Ten Pound Island -note how much taller the Schooner is to the Lighthouse
Along the backshore with Boston in the distance
Brace Cove
Fall Sailing Aboard the Schooner Thomas lannon
The beautiful (and wonderfully fun) Schooner Thomas Lannon continues to offer sailing excursions throughout autumn. Check their website here for availability.
Mini Video: Simply Spectacular Gloucester’s Best Fireworks!
The “never ending” was my favorite part of the Gloucester Schooner Festival/Labor Day fireworks, but it was all super spectacular. An adorable little girl, Belle, was standing next to me while filming the fireworks. At one point during the show Belle asked her Mom if the sharks and mermaids were watching the firework.
The Beautiful Schooner Thomas E. Lannon
During last evening’s Schooner Festival Mayor’s Reception opening festivities, a moving song of tribute to Kay Ellis was sung by Allen Estes. The Schooner Lannon wended past during the performance.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ4KL6MjIDz/
Undulatus Asperatus?
You couldn’t help but notice this morning’s dramatic cloud formations. Facebook Friends have been posting from several different times of the day and these photos were taken around 7am. I am so curious and tried looking it up although it was all a bit confusing. Its fun to say undulatus asperatus, but that’s only a guess. Do we have any cloud experts that would like to write and let us know? 
The Magnificent Oliver Hazard Perry Comes to Gloucester
Wow and double wow! What a treat to see this splendid ship up close!!!
Many thanks to Paul Morrison and his sister Kathy. Paul called a few days ago with the very generous offer to show me the osprey nest on the Annisquam, spotted by Kathy, about half a mile from the Marina, and best seen by boat. On the way to see the nest, we spied the Oliver Hazard Perry just beginning to make its way into Gloucester Harbor. Paul, again very generously, suggested we detour out to see the arriving tall ship. And it is a beauty! The Oliver Hazard Perry will be in Gloucester Harbor for one night only however, look for its return in September, when it will remain in Gloucester a few days. I believe, at that time, folks will be able to tour the boat!
The Oliver Hazard Perry is the largest civilian sailing vessel in the United States and the first of its kind to be built in over 100 years. Its mission statement is to, “provide innovative and empowering education-at-sea programs to promote personal and professional growth.”
Read lots more about the Oliver Hazard Perry on the ship’s website here.
About the ship, from the ships’s website: The hull for this new ship was initially begun in Canada and continued at various shipyards in Rhode Island since 2008. These included; Promet in Providence, Senesco in North Kingston,Newport Shipyard and she is now being commissioned in Portsmouth at the Hinckley Marina. Once complete she will move to Newport to the new dock at Fort Adams.
The Check out the construction of our vessel through our blog or through Narragansett Bay Shipping.
We are grateful for the support of a number of marine trade partners who have been an instrumental part of this magnificent project.
The ship is named for Newport’s War of 1812 naval hero Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. SSVOliver Hazard Perry is owned and operated by the non-profit Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island, and represents Rhode Island and our rich nautical heritage wherever she goes. Her home port will be Newport and she will sail the world as an ambassador of our proud state.
The success of SSV Oliver Hazard Perry relies on the generosity of donors and supporters, both large and small, from individuals and businesses to corporations, so please consider making a generous gift or donation today.
Objectives
- Build and maintain Rhode Island’s own tall ship that is the largest, privately owned active Tall Ship in the US.
- Offer sail training programs for all ages.
- Develop and teach sea-oriented educational programs for secondary and college level students.
- Provide pre-professional training for individuals wishing to make their careers at sea.
- Work with Rhode Island marine trades to establish training programs and to create job opportunities.
- Represent Rhode Island in American and foreign ports.
- Display and interpret the ship’s history for the education and enjoyment of the general public.
BUFFLEHEAD KERFUFFLE
Bufflehead Kerfuffle
The smallest, and I think most would agree, among the cutest North American sea ducks, every autumn Buffleheads arrive on the shores of Cape Ann after having journeyed many thousands of miles from their summer breeding grounds in the Canadian boreal forests. They are seen in twos or in small groups and unlike most ducks, are monogamous. Some males begin courting very early in the season as demonstrated in the flock currently residing on Cape Ann however, the birds will not pair until spring.
When out for a walk along shore and pond, you may notice a great deal of bufflehead kerfuffling taking place. The male’s courtship displays are wonderfully exuberant, with much head pumping, chest thrusting, and aggressive flying. The male goes so far as to exaggerate the size of his head by puffing out his bushy crest. Occasionally, the males chase females, but most of the chasing is directed towards other males in territorial displays, which are accomplished by both flying and skidding across the water as well as via underwater chasing. The female encourages her suitor vocally and with a less animated head pumping motion.
Female Bufflehead, left and male Bufflehead, right
Buffleheads are diving ducks, finding nourishment on Cape Ann on small sea creatures and pond grasses, as well as seed heads at the shoreline’s edge.
By the early twentieth century Buffleheads were nearing extinction due to over hunting. Their numbers have increased although now their greatest threat is loss of habitat stemming from deforestation in the boreal forests and aspen parklands of Canada.
The word bufflehead is a corruption of buffalo-head, called as such because of their disproportionately large and bulbous head. Buffleheads are a joy to watch and are seen all around Cape Ann throughout the fall, winter, and early spring. Their old-fashioned name, “Butterball,” aptly describes these handsome and welcome winter migrants!
Listen for the Buffleheads mating vocalizations. The Bufflehead courtship scenes were filmed on Niles Pond. The end clip is of a flock of Buffleheads in flight and was shot at Pebble Beach, Rockport.
Gloucester’s First Wind Turbine Photo Licensed for a Textbook
I thought everyone would like to know that a photo of mine, Gloucester’s First Wind Turbine, has been licensed for a million-run children’s textbook on wind farming. I think its pretty exciting that our turbine and Gloucester Harbor will be featured not only in one million textbooks, but in the electronic version of the book as well. Upon publication, the publisher is sending a copy of the book and I plan to donate it to the Sawyer Free Library. This photo was shot at daybreak last October while filming the barge transporting the wind turbine through Gloucester Harbor.
Thanks to a google search, I found this very handy Stock Photo License Pricing for Editorial Use chart and it really helped to negotiate a fair price: Photographers Index
Beautiful Waterfront
Standing at the parking lot’s edge I turned west toward the silvery setting sun. As the clouds broke the reflected light beneath the pilings caught my eye and a familiar scene became new again. We would be hard pressed to take a bad photo from nearly any Gloucester Harbor vantage point!
View from Captain Joe’s parking lot
Gloucester Harbor Day’s End
Views from Eastern Point and Raymond’s Beach with wildflowers Smooth Aster, Common Milkweed, and Seaside Goldenrod. Time lapse of Seven Seas Navigator cruise ship turning in the harbor.
Click on panorama and horizontal photo to see full photo. WordPress distorts horizontally oriented images.
Raymond’s Beach Gloucester