Portland Head Light Station

The highlight of a trip to Portland, Maine for any photographer has to be the Portland Head Light Station on Cape Elizabeth, because the lighthouse is one of the most photographed in the country.

I had seen some of the spectacular shots of the lighthouse before we left on the trip, so I wanted to get over there as many times as possible to take pictures under varying lighting conditions. This wasn’t much of a problem since our hotel was only 20 minutes from Cape Elizabeth, and the weather during the two days ranged from cloudy and rainy on Saturday morning to bright and sunny (and windy) on Sunday afternoon.

Moon over Portland Head Lighthouse (Click on photo for info)

According to a number of sources, the lighthouse has an historic past. George Washington engaged two masons from the town of Portland in 1787, while Maine was still part of the colony of Massachusetts, and instructed them to take charge of the construction of a lighthouse on Portland Head. They were Jonathan Bryant and John Nichols.

The tower was completed during the year 1790 and first lighted January 10, 1791. The old tower, built of rubblestone, still stands as one of the four colonial lighthouses that have never been rebuilt. Today Portland Head Light stands 80 feet above ground and 101 feet above water, its white conical tower being connected with a dwelling. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, a native of Portland, often visited the Portland Head Lighthouse and was friends with the keepers. It is believed he received inspiration at the lighthouse for his 1849 poem, The Lighthouse.

Clouds over Portland Head Lighthouse (Click on photo for info)

Portland Head Lighthouse sits majestically on the rocky Maine coast adjacent to Fort Williams Park. The park is a popular destination for picnicking, barbecuing, hiking, all types of sports, and spectacular views of the ocean. Kids love exploring the remains of the old abandoned fort and battery on the grounds. It’s a great place to spend a Sunday afternoon. I understand it’s also a great place in the winter for cross-country skiing, sledding, and ice skating. The lighthouse itself is not open to the public, but there’s a small museum and gift shop attached. The beauty of photographing this lighthouse is that you can shoot from so many different angles and elevations.

Portland Head Lighthouse in the Fall (Click on photo for info)

Portland Head Lighthouse (Click on photo for info)

On our drive from Plymouth, Massachusetts up to Portland, Maine, we took a side trip to the scenic fishing village of Rockport, Massachusetts, which will be the subject of my next post.

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Portland, Maine

We took a trip up to New England last week. Although the weather wasn’t that great, I’ll use my next few blog posts to show some of the photos of that trip.

We spent three nights of the trip at the Marriott at Sable Oaks in South Portland, Maine. The last time I visited Portland I was a teenager in the summer of 1964. I took the bus from Philadelphia to Portland to visit friends of the family. The main memory of that trip for me was taking the ferry out to the islands in Casco Bay and exploring old abandoned military fortifications.

This time we didn’t do any exploring through abandoned forts, but we did do some exploring around the streets of Portland. The main part of town is divided into three districts: the Old Port; the Arts District; and the East End. We spent a little time in the Arts District with its many galleries, but we spent most of our time walking around the Old Port area which extends up the hill from the busy port of Portland.

The Old Port is filled with shops, restaurants, and cafes, and has something of a 19^th century European feel to it thanks to its many narrow cobblestone streets and old brick buildings. Commercial Street runs along the harbor at the foot of Old Port which has docks for the Casco Bay ferry to the islands and The Cat high speed ferry to Nova Scotia, as well as countless yachts and fishing boats.

A stay in Portland wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the LL Bean flagship store located in Freeport, Maine, a short 15 minute drive north of Portland. Besides the LL Bean Flagship Retail Store, which is huge, there is also an LL Bean Hunting & Fishing Store, an LL Bean Bike, Boat & Ski Store, an LL Bean Home Store, and an LL Bean Outlet Store, all within two blocks. The town of Freeport obviously exists because of LL Bean, but there are also many other shops and restaurants to explore along Main Street, plus a small outlet mall. We stopped for lunch at a small restaurant just off Main Street called the Corsican Restaurant. I had a bowl of clam chowder that was the best I’ve ever tasted.

The highlight of a trip to Portland for any photographer has to be the Portland Head Light Station on Cape Elizabeth, south of the city. The lighthouse is one of the most photographed in the country and will be the subject of my next post.

If you have a chance, please check out my ImageKind Galleries and Flickr Collections.

Monterey, California – Part I

One of my favorite places in the country to visit is the San Francisco / Monterey area of Northern California. I was fortunate enough to travel to the area many times on business over the years and a couple of times on vacation. Taking a look back... Our latest vacation trip to the area was in May of 2007 – we had a wonderful time.

We started our vacation in Monterey and spent three days taking in the sights of one of the most scenic areas in the world. The city of Monterey is not very large - about 11 square miles sitting on Monterey Bay. The focal point of the town (at least for tourists) is Cannery Row, with the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium sitting at the end. Cannery Row is a street along the bay, made famous by John Steinbeck, lined with long abandoned sardine canning factories, which have been turned into numerous shops and restaurants.

As beautiful as the scenery around the area is, the highlight to any visit to Monterey has to be the Monterey Bay Aquarium, one of the premiere aquariums in the world. From the huge kelp tanks to the penguins to the sea otters to the Monterey Bay habitats, you can spend days in the aquarium and not see everything. It was fascinating just standing in front of the huge kelp forest tank watching the many species of sea life swim by. I could have sworn that I saw Mr. Spock swimming along with them.

But the highlight for me was the “Jellies: Living Art” exhibit. I didn’t realize that there were so many varieties of jellyfish – from microscopic to huge. The fluorescent-lit exhibits of jellies lazily floating around with the current were just beautiful. I understand that there is currently a seahorse exhibit that is equally as amazing.

Jellyfish, Monterey Bay Aquarium (Click for more info)

A visit to the Monterey peninsula wouldn’t be complete without a leisurely drive around the famous 17-Mile Drive. The area features some of the most expensive mansions and most beautiful and famous golf courses nestled among some of the most stunning seascapes in the world. I know a lot of people say that 17-Mile Drive is nothing special – I assume that those people are not golfers. To me it is a golfer’s and a photographer’s dream. As my kids said to me the last time they were there with us, “Can’t we drive more than 50 feet without you jumping out to take pictures?” The rocky coastline with the crashing waves, along with bird rock and seal rock make for beautiful photos.

As someone who played a lot of golf in the past, including a round at Pebble Beach Golf Links, just being able to walk around the Lodge and pro shop and see the 18^th hole makes it worth the drive. Pebble Beach is just the most famous of the many world-class golf courses on the peninsula, including Cypress Point, Spyglass Hill, Poppy Hills, and Spanish Bay.

Probably the most famous and most photographed sight along the drive is the Lone Cypress, symbol of the Pebble Beach Company, and object of much controversy regarding trademark and intellectual property infringement. The first time I came to the area was in 1969. Then you could walk out on the rocks to just a few feet from the tree, however, today you have to stay back at the road. The pictures of the Lone Cypress are still very stunning with Monterey Bay in the background.

Lone Cypress (Click for more info)

On the coast, just off the 17-Mile Drive, lies the town of Pacific Grove, noted for its Victorian houses, the Point Pinos Lighthouse, and the annual migration of Monarch butterflies to the area. It’s also noted for the pink flowers that flourish along the coastline.

Pacific Grove (Click for more info)

During our time in Monterey we had a very enjoyable stay at the Monterey Bay Inn, a small boutique hotel located on Monterey Bay. The hotel has very reasonable rates, free parking, and was very convenient – a scenic and easy 10-minute walk to Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. We had a spacious room on the fourth floor with spectacular views looking directly out over the bay. I really enjoyed sitting on the balcony watching the otters and sea lions with the binoculars supplied in every room. Another nice feature was the complimentary breakfast every morning served right to your room.

If you have a chance, please check out my ImageKind Galleries and Flickr Collections

NEXT POST: Monterey, California – Part II

Living in Amish Country

After living most of my life in and around the city of Philadelphia, PA, we moved out to the Amish farmlands of Chester and Lancaster counties in May, 2008. What a change from the hustle and bustle of the big city and suburbs. The slower pace and beautiful scenery of the country is a welcome change. From the wonderful farms to the interesting scenes of Amish life, the opportunities for photographs are endless… although I have to admit I haven’t been taking full advantage of it.

Fall in Amish Country (Click photo for info)

The thing that has impressed me the most about the Amish people over the last year is how hard they work. Not just the men, but the women and the children of all ages. It’s not unusual to be driving along a country road and see a young woman or a 12-year old boy working the fields behind a team of six plow-horses.

I always try to keep my eyes open for good photo-opportunities, but I have to admit that I’ve missed a number of good shots for one or more of the following reasons:

• I didn’t have my camera with me at the time (I know – a cardinal sin for a photographer).

• I couldn’t stop the car because the location or traffic made it impossible. Driving in Amish country is generally easy and peaceful, but at certain times you get a strange mix of traffic on some of the roads. You start with the slow-moving horse-and-buggies and farm equipment, add in a bunch of big-rigs flying up and down the country roads to avoid the turnpike tolls, and mix in hordes of impatient tourists on sunny weekends… I’ve seen many dangerous situations unfold.

• I didn’t want to violate the beliefs of the Amish regarding having their picture taken. The reason generally given for their aversion to pictures is the second commandment in Exodus 20, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” I’m not sure how many Amish actually apply that commandment to picture taking – however, I think the reason has more to do with vanity and humility. I think they feel that a picture of a person is a way of glorifying the outward man, not strengthening the inner man, which would lead them away from their goal of true humility. Being a photographer, I obviously don’t share their beliefs about picture taking, but I certainly respect them. I have taken a few pictures with Amish people in them, but usually from a distance where they are not very recognizable.

Amish Farmer (Click photo for info)

Off the topic of photography a little... I always knew a little about the Amish with their buggies and lack of electricity, but in the short time we’ve lived here I've learned a few additional things I didn’t know before:

• They have church services every other Sunday, with services held in homes or farms.

• When two young people want to get married, they usually “publish” their engagement in October. All weddings are usually held on Tuesdays or Thursdays in November or December.

• Some Amish groups practice “Rumspringa”, meaning “running around”, where boys and girls in their late teens are allowed to experience the ways of the world before they decide to leave or stay in the Amish church. Despite the spotlight of the media on the few who get into rebellious behavior, the vast majority (80 – 90%) of Amish youth decide to stay.

• Under no circumstances would an Amish farm be connected into the power grid – it’s too much of a direct link to the outside world. However, they can use off-line sources of power like batteries and gas generators for things like refrigeration, welding farm equipment, and certain businesses, like carpentry. They also are allowed to have phones, but not in the main house – only in outbuildings, where it won’t interfere with family life.

Baling the Hay (Click photo for info)

Working the Fields (Click photo for info)

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NEXT POST: Another Step Back in Time

A Word about Equipment

In case you’re interested in what camera and computer equipment I own, here’s a list of what I’m currently using:

Camera: Canon EOS 30D (3-years old)

Lenses: Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM

Computers: Toshiba Satellite M35X Laptop (5-years old)

Gateway 700X Desktop (7-years old)

w/ HP 2159m Monitor (Recent replacement)

Software: Canon Digital Photo Professional

Adobe Photoshop 7

Here’s a list of camera and computer upgrades and additional lenses I’d like to be using someday:

Camera: Canon EOS-5D Mark II or Canon EOS 7D

Lenses: Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM

Canon Extender EF 2x II

Computer: Apple 24” iMac

Software: Adobe Photoshop CS4

Rationale for upgrades:

The Canon 30D is an 8.2 megapixel camera, and even though it’s not quite 3-years old, it’s already getting outdated in this age of 18 – 24 megapixel cameras.

As you can see, I have a range gap between the 17-40mm and 70-200mm lenses that needs to be filled. Also, I’d like to get more into macro-photography.

My computer equipment is also showing its age when it comes to processing power and speed. I’ve been keeping an eye on the iMac line for awhile. I think it may be time to “come over from the dark side”, as the Mac-enthusiasts say. As of this post, there are pretty solid rumors of an update to the iMac line in the near future, so I’m waiting to see what improvements that will include.

I use the Canon DPP software to do all of my basic digital post-processing (e.g. color, brightness, saturation, cropping, etc.), and I use Photoshop 7 for more advanced manipulations. I’m no expert, but I’d like to move up to CS4 to start developing more advanced processing skills, like HDR processing.

NEXT POST: Living in Amish Country

Introduction and Welcome

Welcome to my blog!!

My name is Lou Ford. I was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and have lived in Southeastern PA for most of my life. I currently live amid the Amish farmlands of Chester and Lancaster counties. I’m not much of a writer and have never written a blog before, but I hope this will develop into something meaningful, not only to myself, but anyone else who happens to stumble upon this page.

I’m not a professional artist. I’m not a professional photographer. In fact, at the moment, I’m not a professional anything. Just a guy looking to have a hobby in his retirement years that will not only pass the time, but provide something that will be enjoyed by myself and others.

I've always been into photography - going back to my childhood days with a Kodak Instamatic. Through the years, most of my work has involved filling photo albums with family pictures and documenting family vacations. Only recently, through retirement, have I been able to dedicate more time to developing a style and building a portfolio. I really enjoy photography. To me it is a way to get out and enjoy and celebrate the beauty of God's creation.

I haven’t developed a specialty yet… I have a wide range of photographs in my galleries - flowers and water lilies, cityscapes, travel and landscape photos, photos of rural Pennsylvania around my home, hummingbirds, and digitally altered works. I hope to add even much more variety as we go along.

I don’t know where this blog will be taking me, but I’ll probably start out with photography around the southeastern PA area, where I live. Maybe throw in some topics from trips we’ve taken in the recent past, or will take in the future.

I have no grandiose expectations that this blog will be read by many people – or even ANY people. But I hope to use it to improve my skills in digital photography, and hopefully the skills of others.

Lou Ford

PS - If you have a chance, please check out my ImageKind Store and Flickr Collections.

NEXT POST: A Word about Equipment