Open Window

East vs West

May 2nd 5:48:32 a.m.

May 2nd 5:48:44 a.m.

I recently posted a photograph on Facebook and was blown away by the response there was too it. I had more likes and comments on it than any other image I've ever posted anywhere.  (Photo is shown below.) I love the image as well but the response made me think.

My husband is a photographer too and I always show him the photos I take in any shoot. I appreciate his experience and his eye, and have learned a tremendous amount from him, photographically-speaking, over the years. So I asked him to re-review the images taken at sunrise on May 2nd, the same day I took that very popular one. I watched as he swiped through the file and I observed something very clearly. All of the images he preferred were vivid, with stark contrasts and shadows, and he sailed over any that were lighter and softer with pastel colors. In fact, he gave the latter no time at all.

By way of contrast, I spend a great deal of time on the images with pastel colors as they seem more of an exception in nature than the rule. They evoke more emotion in me. Don't get me wrong I love capturing the drama of those high-contrast moments; my heartbeat accelerates and my breath quickens as I try to capture the light (and dark) in an unusual juxtaposition. But, the calm, peace I feel when shooting a pastel sky is immensely comforting to me and in some ways the subtlety in the colors and contrasts demand that I focus even more closely on composition.

Thus I come to the title of this post. As you can see from the captions, these two images were taken only 12 seconds and 180 degrees apart. The high contrast image was taken facing East and the soft pastel image was taken facing West. Sunrise is my favorite time of day and most people who join me around that hour are fixated on the eastern horizon, pivoting little if at all. I just want to say, "Look both ways", you just may find nature revealing more subtle aspects of her ever-changing personality, some that may inspire you to say "Ahhh!"

 

May 2 nd 5:51:34 a.m. Sagg Sunrise ©2020 Claudia Ward

Thoughts? Comments? What's your preference, stark or subtle contrast, vivid or muted colors?

Up With the Sun

April Sunrise © Claudia Ward 2020

Ever since I was young, my favorite time of day was early morning. The peace and quiet is unequalled and there's anticipation in the air. Of what? We never know, but in my opinion that's one of the joys of life.

At sunrise, while others are still lost in slumber or just beginning to climb out of the comfort and warmth of bed, you can find me in one of my favorite places, the beach. Watching the sun rise out of the ocean is never boring and trying to capture the magic of those moments is one of my favorite pastimes. Thankfully pursuing this pastime doesn't involve a lot of effort to ensure social distancing.

There are four of us who regularly share these moments of peace: a German man who has a charming smile, a friendly wave, and is tucked in a sheltered corner of the beach house on the dune; a woman who's generous spirit includes bringing bread or leftover fish from dinner for the seagulls; and, a newcomer who is bundled to the hilt against the chilly ocean winds and steadfastly watches the horizon for the sun's debut. As for me, I am usually at the water line wearing my Hunter boots capturing the wind, water, and sand as they each dance across the shoreline, leaving only fleeting reflections and colors.

I'll be sharing some of these moments with you here. I understand that morning-people are the exception not the rule, so I think it's only fair that you get to see some of what you've missed.

P.S. I know it's been a long time since I've posted regularly, in part that was due to some "technical difficulties" which I believe are now corrected. Please do leave a comment to let me know you're still there. Share an image of your favorite time of day or pastime.

Dorian

It will be a very long time before anyone forgets the name Dorian and it’s been said that the National Hurricane Center will most likely permanently retire the name Dorian from their 6-year rotating name list.

This monster storm was named on August 24th and passed by us on the east end of Long Island two weeks later! Moving at a glacial rate, Dorian destroyed the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama, threatened Florida, unleashed a barrage of tornados in the Carolinas, and flooded poor Ocracoke, after which it kindly accelerated brushing the East End with only 7-10 foot surf. Thinking it was finally past, I was stunned to hear Dorian made landfall yet again in Nova Scotia, as a ‘hurricane-force post-tropical cyclone’ leaving half a million people without power, toppling a crane and damaging several apartment buildings. Did this monster die?

As these storms get stronger and stronger causing more and more damage and destruction, all of us along the east coast know that it could happen to us. Our hearts break for those who have lost everything, our hands reach out to help any way we can, for we know ... « There but for the grace of God ... »

 

What do Architects do at the Beach?

Build .. of course. The designer of this was heard telling an inquiring spectator "It's something to do." And so it was. This "masterpiece" took him a little under two hours and it was fascinating watching this pyramid  emerge from the sand. Our guess is this man is never bored. He provided a great deal of entertainment and fun to children of all ages. It's inspiring to see grown men build sand castles. 

Happy Labor Day weekend everyone.

The Life of Riley

Sagg Main Post Nor-easter Riley - Photo © 2018 Claudia Ward

In the 1950s comedy series, The Life of Riley", "a lovable lug turns order into chaos" - how apt. One day the skies are clear and then the heavens opened and the winds accelerated and it seemed like it would never end. Flooding, 90 mph winds, downed trees, and hundreds of thousands without power for days and days. That was the life of winter storm Riley, the first significant nor'easter of 2018. Prudence dictated staying at home and off the roads during most of the storm but once the rains stopped it was hard to reign in my curiosity. Surfline, a surf-app we follow religiously, has reported waves 20-25 feet high off Coast Guard Beach on Cape Cod and 10-15 feet high off parts of Long Island. 

When I got to our beloved Sagg Main Beach, it was apparent it had been badly battered and Mother Nature was still playing with the tides and surf. So this is a small sample of the life of this Riley.

Photos and slide show © 2018 Claudia Ward
Music: "Guillaume's Confession" from soundtrack of "Chocolat" by Rachel Portman 

 

 

Summer at the Beach

On this the eve of the Autumnal Equinox, a.k.a. the last day of summer, I thought I'd share a slide show of summer fun at the beach. I love the beach and I love watching people of all sizes, shapes, colors, and ages enjoying sunny days playing in the water and sand. Everyone is happy at the beach, worries and cares left in the parking lot.

Beach time is a time to relax, bask in the sun soaking up all that vitamin D, and to test your skills at mastering the waves. Divers, swimmers, and jumpers alike are all smiling ear to ear as they return to the beach after a spin in the surf.

Happy last day of summer everyone. Enjoy the slide show.

 

Photos and Slide Show © 2016 Claudia Ward
Music: "Just Outside Paris" by Mark Adler; Soundtrack of "Bottle Shock"

 

The Mayor of Sagg Main

According to Merriam-Webster, a mayor is " an official elected or appointed to act as chief executive or nominal head of a city, town, or borough". Well, here on the East End, we have very own, self-appointed Mayor of one of the best beaches around, Sagg Main in Sagaponack. Lester Elliston is a local who adores Sagg Main and in season he is there every single day, rain or shine. He keeps an eye on everything and brings it to the right people's attention when something isn't as it should be. Lester loves to swim and is usually our source for knowing the water temps and the swimming conditions. The lifeguards this year were so impressed with his perfect attendance (even they take a day off), the "adopted" him by giving him an official lifeguard whistle.

If there's an event on the beach, Lester is there. Throughout the summer, there's drumming on the beach every Monday night. Started several years ago, this free-event is attended by tourists and locals, including our Mayor, of course. Dan's Kite Fly on the first Sunday in every August? Lester's there. And, of course, he'd never miss a Mimosa Monday, the day the locals reclaim the beach for themselves, even though he doesn't imbibe. It seems as though the Mayor is omni-present but we have seen him drive out of the parking lot at the end of the day, so we know he does go home.

Off season, the Mayor checks on the beach almost every day and he's "Lester on the spot" if there's a weather event. When hurricane Sandy came through around Halloween in 2012, Lester felt compelled to record the event for himself and posterity, which he did. He even interviewed Peter when we went down to investigate. The Mayor made no exception for the recent tropical storm Hermine, he was there proudly wearing the-one-and-only Mayor of Sagg Main hat.

Everyone knows the Mayor and he knows nearly everyone in turn. Whether ambling the beach, greeting one and all with a smile and a chat, swimming under the protective eyes of the lifeguards, or perusing the shore from the dune deck, our Mayor, Lester Elliston, keeps a loving eye on our beloved Sagg Main.

Labor Day Weekend at the Beach

The forecast for Labor Day Weekend for the Hamptons was initially pretty bleak. Hurricane Hermine was not only going to visit with extreme tides and extremely strong winds, but she was going to linger just off the coast, ruining the entire weekend. Fortunately that didn't come to pass. The ocean surely did get churned up and tides were quite high but not as damaging as originally forecast. We had a great time visiting our favorite beach (Sagg Main) every day to see what effect Hermine was having on our shores. I found it particularly entertaining to observe the lifeguards every day - now you see them, now you don't - a chair one day, a mound the next, railing on the deck in the dunes by Monday, and finally the parking lot. Summer in the Hamptons is officially over.

Friday 9/2/16 

Saturday 9/3/16

 Sunday 9/4/16

 Labor Day - Monday 9/5/16

 

Tuesday 9/6/16

 

Open Window's Sixth Year - 2015

Open Window was ajar most of 2015 as energies needed to be directed toward our photography business. In fact, there were only 47 posts to Open Window in 2015 compared to 231 in its inaugural year. Sadly I found it much easier to post a photo or comment to Facebook from "the field", and I know many of you don't participate in Facebook.

"Second Thought" © Claudia Ward

At the beginning of 2015, we'd planned on exhibiting in two shows in Florida, the plans for which had to change as Peter hurt his back just before we left and needed surgery once we got there. Brave soul that he is however (and with doctor's approval), we did meet up with our friends in Rincon, Puerto Rico where Peter rested and recuperated, and I got some of the best wave images I've ever taken. 

Chatham Arts Festival 2015

Spring, Summer, and Fall were filled with art festivals in New York State and Massachusetts (Memorial Day to Thanksgiving). In all, we participated in 12 art festivals (10 outdoors and 2 indoors). In addition to those, we participated in our own private show at Ashawagh Hall along with two other incredibly talented artists, 4 gallery shows, and one Christmas Fair. There's a lot of work involved in planning and executing the participation in these shows, which I hope explains my absence from Open Window. It simply could not be helped. Not only did we meet incredibly wonderful artists and sponsors, but we also found individuals who truly love our work. Connections have also been made with a Surf Clothing Company, a couple of galleries, and a framer/gallery in the Design Center in Boston. As we all know, "it's not over 'till the fat lady sings" - please pray she sings.

Good fortune had us shooting in the Southern Caribbean for a week just before Christmas. Water may have been the draw but it was the sunrises, sunsets, and fall skies that truly took our breath away, every single day. 

The Freedom Tower © 2015 Claudia Ward

As I watched the attached slide show before sitting down to write this, what struck me was how very fortunate we have been in addition to having worked harder this year than either of us have for several. Given all that, the highlight of my year was spending two nights in downtown Manhattan in the beginning of December. Having been on Wall Street on 9/11 and living down there from that day until I left in 2009, I'd seen the cleanup, read about the plans, and watched the beginnings of rebuilding, but it wasn't until December 7th (truly) that I saw for the first time, in person, what has replaced all of that destruction/construction and I must say, it is nothing short of breathtaking.

Past & Present Downtown New York ©2015 Claudia Ward

We came upon the reflecting pools our first night walking back to our hotel after dinner and I can honestly say I wept to see what we have created in memory of so many and despite so few.

The Reflecting Pools in Lower Manhattan After Dark 2015 ©Claudia Ward

The next day we explored it all and Peter was even able to coax me to the top of the Freedom Tower - something I will remember for all of my days to come.

New York After Dark from the Top of the Freedom Tower ©2015 Claudia Ward

Despite all of the despair we all felt that day, there is nothing but hope in the air as you traverse the park, or linger to contemplate  - watching the waters cascading into the reflecting pools.

As 2016 begins - there's an Open Window for all of us.

I hope you enjoy the slide show of 2015.

 

Photos and Slide Show ©2015 Claudia Ward
Music: "Up with End Credits" from the soundtrack, Michael Giacchino

 

Stage Harbor Lighthouse

One of the most photographed, drawn, and painted scenes in Chatham, Massachusetts on Cape Cod is a scene including the lighthouse that marks the entrance into Stage Harbor. It is picturesque, standing by itself at the mouth of the harbor, reminding us all of days of yore when the lighthouse and its attendants protected all who approached or passed.

The Stage Harbor Light was installed in 1880 to compliment nearby Chatham Light in guiding the increasing fishing traffic into Old Stage Harbor, especially during bad weather and frequent thick fog. There are fun stories that can be found on the internet about the lighthouse and its keepers, even one about bootlegging liquor and storing it under the floorboards of the passageway between the lighthouse tower and the keeper's house. In 1933, to save money, the government removed the lantern and capped the tower, after which the property "fell" into private hands.

The Stage Harbor Light property was purchased by a school-mate's grandmother and her two brothers, in 1936. This school-mate and I attended the same school over 40 odd years ago where we only knew of one another and knew nothing about our common connection to Chatham - she as a "summer resident" and me as a "townie". It's thanks to the internet and Facebook that we have connected and learned more about one another over the last few years.

Emily's family has many branches these generations later, and the "seasons" (summer and shoulder) are divided as equitably as possible among the many related families. The property and buildings still have no plumbing, except for a single pump, nor do they have electricity - making a week-long stay on the point a wonderful, rustic adventure. Peter and I were recently invited by my former school-mate to see the lighthouse and property firsthand, and we jumped at the opportunity to see one of our favorite photographic subjects "up close and personal". It was a gloriously sunny, breezy Spring day - ideal for being out in the salt-air and ideal for climbing to the top of the tower to take in the 360 degree views of Stage Harbor, Harding's Beach, and the ever shifting shoals and beaches in Nantucket Sound. Emily and her family graciously gave us a tour of the house and tower, and then allowed us to photograph any corner that caught our eye. In our short stay, Peter and I saw evidence that days here are filled with swimming, kayaking, exploring, and reading on rainy days; and, nights are filled with simple food, conversation, laughter, and lots of card and board games.

This slide show is a small representation of the charm and beauty of this unique  location, and is a token of our thanks to its current residents.

 

Photos by Peter Tooker & Claudia Ward ©2015
Music: "Summer Sailing", by Brian Carter

 

Open Window's Fifth Year

First Sunset of the New Year on Baker Beach San Francisco CA ©2015 Claudia Ward

It's hard for me to believe that it was five years ago this week that I began Open Window as a blog to feature posts on travel, food, photography and life in the "not-so-fast lane". Not unlike last year, posts to Open Window were less frequent this year as attention had to be paid to building the business part of our photography venture and to participating in art shows whenever possible. We did travel some, starting the year in San Francisco, taking a slow road trip south to visit friends and sisters in Florida in the Spring, and swinging by Newport RI, on the way back from the Cape, for the start of the Newport Bermuda Race in June.

Newport Bermuda Race Start 2014 © Claudia Ward

Summer found us attending any and all art festivals that we could find on either fork of the East End, researching tents, displays, and transport. We were pleasantly surprised by how helpful and forthcoming so many of the artists are, making us feel more confident about our decision to embark on the Art Festival Circuit this year. We've bought a tent, a trailer, and lots of prints, and have been accepted into two juried shows and have seven other applications pending. This is going to be a year filled with lots of learning and adventure, and we're looking forward to it with excited trepidation. Please do stay tuned.

Art Show Booth

Our photography was focused much closer to home this year which resulted in a series of still life projects centered on all manner of fruits and vegetables. Those shoots were some of my happiest days this year and I'm glad to be able to share some of the images with you now.

Basil & Tomatoes © 2014 Claudia Ward

As always thank you all for your continued interest and support. I hope you enjoy this summary slide show of 2014 - Open Window's fifth year!

 

Happy New Year everyone!

A Beautiful Fall Day

Has anyone else been able to enjoy this incredible fall. The colors, the light, the warm/cool breezes, the fresh air, it can't get better than the weather we've been having here in the Northeast .... albeit our thoughts may be elsewhere.

 

Summer's End

It's a glorious day on the East End - the last official day of summer, and it's been a good one all around. Get outside and enjoy it. Winter's only three months away and "Baby, it'll be cold outside!"

Fun at the Beach

 

Look what Peter swallowed at the beach! 

It's been a very busy summer with the preparations for exhibits of my wave photos in Chatham on Cape Cod (Framer's Framer Gallery) and here in the Hamptons, so I apologize to the faithful for not posting more often. I thought I'd share one of our lighter moments with you with the hopes that it will bring a smile to your face.

Cheers!

41st Annual Dan's Papers Kite Fly

The first Sunday of every August since 1972, Dan's Papers Kite Fly is held on Sagg Main Beach in Sagaponack, NY. Held in the heart of the very tony Hamptons, this is about as un-tony as you can get. It's a family event, held on the beach after 5:00 p.m. and before the sunsets. Parents and children alike are all smiles as their kites fly high above the beach and ocean. Dressed for the beach no one can tell a local from a summer-time resident and no one cares, as this is good clean fun and a friendly competition.

 

Slide Show & Photos © 2013 Claudia Ward

Music: "Whack-Bat Majorette Ensemble", Alexandre Desplat, Fantastic Mr. Fox Soundtrack

The variety of kites floating across the cloud filled sky kept everyone entertained. There were colorful geometric kites; kites printed with images of cows, monkeys, bears, and even Barbie; and (my favorites) kites in the shapes of planes, turtles, fish, butterflies, owls, lady bugs, dragons, and even one that proved that pigs really do fly. Have I left any out? Oh yes, that swarm of black sharks that hovered over the shoreline, gayly dancing amongst the clouds.

           

Lines did get tangled from time-to-time but I never heard an angry word. Flyers simply walked in circles until they were undone. There was even one guy who tried to get his kite to fly with a GoPro attached, so he could get a birds-eye view, oh ya ... that was my husband, the one who's always trying something new.

Sadly the camera proved too heavy for the kite but he still recorded the event just not from 30 feet high. Check out the video attached below.

The breezes were fair, the weather clear, and the crowds were happy listening to the music of the Jim Turner band, the laughter of children, and the ocean's waves reaching shore.

It doesn't get much better than this!

 

Video © 2013 Peter Tooker and Photos © 2013 Claudia Ward 

 

Martha's Vineyard

Growing up on Cape Cod, I always heard the news- and weather- men refer to where I lived as "Cape Cod and the islands". It wasn't until well into adulthood that I ever visited "the islands". In fact, I never made it to Martha's Vineyard, for a real visit, until four years ago and this year we returned.

When I first arrived on Martha's Vineyard four years ago, I was in shock and feeling liberated all at the same time. I had been part of a "reduction in force" in 2009 at the bank I worked at on Wall Street. It's amazing that in just moments your life and energies can be redirected. Martha's Vineyard was a good place to start the re-creation process and return to my photographic journey. I have yearned to return to this special island ever since, and this past week we did.

Oak Bluffs is where we landed the last time and that was our destination on this trip too. The Dockside Inn has changed hands since we were last there and the new owners are obviously taking tender loving care of this wonderful waterfront property. One of the owners is a fourth generation local, full of enthusiasm and boundless energy. He sparked an interest in the history of Oak Bluffs in me and this is some of what I learned.

Originally, Cottage City (Oak Bluff's prior name) seceded from Edgartown in 1880 and changed it's name to Oak Bluffs in 1907, acknowledging it's growth from simply a cottage community. It was in 1866 that "a group of investors formed the Oak Bluffs Land and Wharf Company and purchased approximately seventy-five acres of land ...  The Company engaged Robert Morris Copeland, a Boston landscape gardener, to prepare plans of a residential summer community. Copeland created a subdivision plan entitled, 'Oak Bluffs,' in which he laid out the property in small lots and curved avenues. He also designated eight areas on his plans as 'parks.'  ...  Vineyard historians claim that Oak Bluffs was the first planned residential community constructed in the United States, noting that it preceded Frederick Law Olmstead's 'Riverside' in Chicago by three years."¹ The Vineyard Gazette has noted that Copeland was "a landscape architect inspired by Frederick Law Olmsted", one of the designers of New York City's Central Park.

Whatever its history, the town of Oak Bluffs, our favorite on the island, is delightful sitting upon the bluffs overlooking the Sound with its large parks and charming architecture. It's eminently livable and the Dockside Inn couldn't be more convenient -in walking distance to the ferries, the harbor, Circuit Avenue, and lots of wonderful restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Our favorite restaurant on this trip was Fishbone's, a restaurant we could see from our bedroom window and located right on the harbor dock. The Lookout, our second favorite restaurant, is just a short walk up the dirt alleyway next to the Inn, heading East to the Bluffs overlooking the Sound. Whether it was raw local oysters from Katama, shark bites, sashimi, lobster rolls or even fried chicken - we never had a bad meal on this island.

It's easy to enjoy sunrises and sunsets in this quaint New England island village. We hope you enjoy seeing just a glimpse of what can be seen on Martha's Vineyard.

 

Photos and Slide Show © 2013 Claudia Ward
Music: Anticipation by Paul Breiner & Don Gillis 

 

¹The Martha's Vineyard Times 2008

Nantucket Adventure

Chatham Lighthouse Beach

As many of you know, I'm originally from Cape Cod - a place that is near and dear to my heart. We've been lucky enough to visit relatives there for the last several years, but I think this year's visit tops them all. Best of all we were able to spend time with relatives we rarely see, "breaking bread", laughing and talking but, we were also able to see the Cape from a vantage point rarely accessible to most. We flew in a private plane over and back between Chatham and Nantucket on one of the only really nice days this spring. 

Flying over I could hardly get my bearings but found the Lighthouse at the end of Hardings Beach at the entrance to Stage Harbor and then was simply astounded to see all of the changes in the shore line and barrier beaches east and south of Chatham. North Beach is now North Beach Island. There is now a South Beach (in Massachusetts!), and it is separate from Monomoy Island and its distinctive lighthouse. The "new break" is easily seen from the air with the triangle of sand created by the break just yards from the new opening. The patterns and colors of all of the shoals, bars, and beaches is spectacular and I can't believe our good fortune at being able to see it all from the air. The trip between Chatham and Nantucket took less than thirty minutes but I was glued to the windows and my camera (of course).

Once on the island, we took an hour tour in a van to see parts of the island we couldn't have on foot in one day. Jozie, our driver, was a colorful character who was born (prematurely on vacation) on the island and has lived here for the last twenty five years or so. Her love of it was apparent and her knowledge of it was better than she professed. After that, we ambled the cobblestones of downtown Nantucket, window shopping and getting ready for our sail on the Endeavor.

Endeavor, is a Friendship sloop built by it's owner and captain, Jim Genthner. Peter and I have visited Nantucket for the last several years during our visits to the Cape, specifically to sail with Captain Jim. He's a delightful guy, with a thick New England accent and mischief in his eyes, and he's full of knowledge and funny stories about the island upon which he's lived with his family for the last three decades (plus). An hour and a half on Nantucket's waters on the Endeavor are guaranteed to clear out all the cobwebs and relax you beyond your dreams.

Next? Lunch of course, and we enjoyed a leisurely lunch on the cobblestones at the end of the pier at a restaurant called Cru. First order of the day? A plateau! What, you might ask is that? It's a "tower" of seafood including oysters, clams, crab, shrimp and lobster. It's dramatic and fun, especially if one in your crowd has never had one. Special drinks were in order followed by something sensible like hamburgers and espresso.

Our pilot has been spotting tuna for two fishing boats for over 20 years and when he dropped us off he went to work. He called us around 4:30 p.m. to say he was heading back to Nantucket to collect us. We met him at the airport and flew back to Chatham, savoring every glimpse from the windows. As we approached Chatham, my bearings were with me, so I recognized from the air the Chatham Lighthouse beach, Ryders Cove, Pleasant Bay, "the Outer Beach", and Eastward Ho. This was my home for many years, a place I know well, a place I love - and I cannot thank Leslie enough for letting us see it from the air! What a day, what memories, and what images. I hope you enjoy this slide show as much as I do.

 

Photos and Slide Show © 2013 Claudia Ward
Music: "Old Cape Cod" by Patti Page 

 

"The Babysitter" - The Painting

The Babysitter painted by Barbara Andolsek

Anyone who has followed Open Window for some time knows that a wonderful California painter named Barbara Andolsek befriended me several years ago and has been painting many of my photographs. In fact, at last count, I think she's painted 10. I always love seeing the images she chooses to paint and how she conveys the light, lines and color with her paints. Well she's done another one called "The Babysitter". A family with three boys, all under the age of 11, were at the beach one evening after the life guards had gone home and they were playing on the life guard chair along with their "babysitter", a teenage girl who was obviously keeping an eye on them and playing right along - thus the name for the painting.

As always, I am complimented by Barbara's continued interest in my pictures and in this case, as in most, I find Barbara's painting more compelling than the original photograph. Bravo Barbara and thanks again!

A Week in Normandy with .................................Valérie Jardin

Valérie Jardin is a photographer I have followed on the internet for nearly four years and until recently we'd never met in person, although we had spoken twice on the phone. We share a passion for photography and I've found it fascinating and inspirational to follow the growth in her business. Originally a commercial photographer based in Minneapolis, Valérie focused professionally on food photography as well as residential and commercial interiors, and personally on street photography allowing her to tell wonderful stories - usually in black and white. In the past year, she has re-focused her considerable energies to include photography workshops in the U.S., Europe and even Australia, and Peter and I were fortunate enough to join her for one in her native-Normandy along with six other like-minded photographers.

Our Normandy group hailed from South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Virginia, South Carolina, New York, and Australia. We convened in Paris, boarded a large van and set off for Honfleur, the first stop in our week-long journey together. Valérie started the week off with an overview of how to think about composition and light with examples from her own portfolio which was really good food-for-thought, and we began the adventure early the following morning. Rain kept us on the move in Honfleur, hopping between churches and shops carrying the local specialty - Calvados. After lunch, we bid a fond adieu to Honfleur and set out for Bayeux via Deauville.

The boardwalk in Deauville was still drying from rain and the colorful umbrellas on the beach were all tied down so not to be caught by the wind. Despite that the colors of Deauville stood out starkly and beautifully against the gray Norman skies. 

The Château de Bellefontaine would be our home in Bayeux for the next three nights and it couldn't have been a more perfect location. Set back from the road but not far from town, the 18th century Château is surrounded by a two hundred year old park with mature beautiful trees and a lake populated with a pair of swans and lots of very lively ducks.

Bayeux is the home to Notre Dame of Bayeux, a truly beautiful cathedral and the remarkable Bayeux Tapestry. The "tapestry" is 230 feet long and depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England and culminates in the Battle of Hastings in 1066, and it is truly remarkable. Bayeux is also a perfect base from which to see the D-Day beaches and memorials, and we did one day, starting at Arromanches, moving on to Gold and then Omaha beach, stopping at the American Cemetery at Colleville, and ending at Point du Hoc. This was a day that left us all quite breathless from the staggering evidence of what had happened here and the staggering beauty of this northern coastline of France.

On our last morning in Bayeux, we each got to sit with Valérie to review several of the images we'd taken so far and discuss one-on-one what we'd accomplished, and what and how we could improve. This "quality-time" to chat about our own work was appreciated by every enthusiastic photographer in the group, and then we packed an overnight case for our stay on Mont Saint Michel.

Mont Saint Michel is a rock upon which has been built an Abbey and around which has grown a small village, catering mostly to the three million tourists who come to see this incredible sight every year. We stayed at La Mère Poulard, an inn established on the island in 1888 near the "front gate" and one famous for it's incredibly light omelets. The four flights of stairs nearly did us in although, we learned, they were nothing compared to the stairs leading to the Abbey, ... but persevere we did and glad for it. The Abbey is peaceful and solid and made me believe almost anything could survive the test of time.

With Mont Saint Michel in our rear-view mirror, we set our sights on Caen, a city that was almost completely decimated during the war, except for the churches and part of the castle of William the Conqueror - you know, the one who conquered England in 1066 - oh, I mentioned that already didn't I. Walking the ramparts of the castle afforded us a beautiful view over the city, the one where we would end our journey together and this photographic adventure.

What did we learn, from Valérie and each other?

• How to compose an image using leading lines, patterns, dimension and scale, color, and ... of course, the light.

• How to photograph people on the street and food in natural daylight.

• How to share - our vision and enthusiasm, something Valérie taught by example and is never short on.

It was a wonderful week, one we'd recommend to anyone with an interest in photography and, of course, France, with a teacher who wants to share all she knows to help you love photography as much as she does.

Here's a slide show that really shows the week we all shared.

 

Photos and Slide Show © 2013 Claudia Ward
Music: George Valentin by Ludovic Bource from the soundtrack of "The Artist" 

And here's a map to show you exactly where we were.

Au revoir!

 

Post Cards from Deauville

Deauville is the Cannes of Normandy, a charming seaside town known for it's boardwalk, the American Film Festival, Horses Shows, its Casino, and for being "seen".

Off to the beaches today so enjoy our short stop in Deauville.

 

 

Sandy?

These images were captured the day "after" Sandy but I was unable to post anything until now.

Sagg Main Meets Sagg Pond 

Bridgehampton South Coast

Sagg Main's "Sandy" Parking Lot

Breached Dunes in Bridgehampton

Road Entrance and Parking Lot of Sagg Main Beach

Sandy Breached the Dunes at Sagg Main

Sagg Main Dunes Are Gone

There were once dunes leading to the ocean at Sagg Main. Roughly 20-25 feet of dunes has been ripped away and the lifeguard station has been damaged but isn't gone. Lester Elliston, the unofficial Mayor of Sagg Main, was video taping the damage to his beloved beach, as we were surveying it too.

 

 

Labor Day

It's hard to believe Labor Day is here and summer is nearly at an end. Time flew this summer. Hope you had time to stop and enjoy the warm evening breezes and maybe even some sand between your toes.

Happy Labor Day everyone!

Sent from my iPhone
Claudia Danforth Ward

Brave Souls

Spring is definitely here and some brave souls are even trying to rush summer! What a wonderful day at the beach - summer temps, a perfect picnic, and no crowds. Hope you all have been able to enjoy this weather.

Sent from my iPhone
Claudia Danforth Ward

Open Window's Second Year

It's official, Open-Window is now two years old. I can hardly believe I began this blog on a cold January day, sitting at the island in my kitchen, 730 days ago. In the past two years, Open-Window has focused my days on creating stories, snippits, and photographs that I hoped you would find entertaining, sometimes informative, and maybe even amusing. We've covered a lot of ground and many diverse topics over this time ranging from Hawaii to Paris, Hamburger Relish to Caviar, Horse Racing to Airshow Acrobatics. As time has passed, we increasingly focused on the images and slide shows that would accompany a post, and have worked diligently to improve the quality of all that we delivered. Peter has continued to emphasize wide-angle HDR (high dynamic range) photography whether on his DSLR (digital single lens reflex-camera) or his, ever-handy, iPhone, and I have continued with my love of all-things-macro, although we each dabbled in the other's specialty just to keep it interesting.

Mexican Train Tiles and Turtles
Photo © 2011 Claudia Ward 

Over the past twenty four months, we've made 388 postings to Open-Window which is an average of almost 4 per week, nearly every one containing at least one photograph and 60 of which included a slide show with music. When we embarked on this endeavor, we expected to focus on travel, food and photography. As it's turned out, the focus has been just that ... but in reverse - photography, food and travel. See, we'll photograph nearly anything - food that we eat, games that we play, children at the beach, machines of any sort, flowers and their residents, landmarks and landscapes, moon-rises and sunsets, and even light itself. 

The Outer Banks of North Caroline
Photo © 2011 Claudia Ward taken with the iPhone using the Pro HDR App

This year has been quite a journey photographically as well as geographically. Peter and I traveled over 14, 500 miles. We drove the entire east coast from the east end of Long Island to Orlando, Florida, traversing Florida, and turning north to reach Memphis Tennessee. We crossed the states of Tennessee and North Carolina end-to-end (west to east), photographing some of this country's most beautiful scenery in the Great Smoky Mountains. When we reached the Atlantic Ocean, it felt like we'd returned home, for tidal waters are in our veins, and the days on the Outer Banks are now cherished memories. Early morning sunrises over the ocean, wild horses on the beaches, hang gliding from the dunes, and fish tacos are just a few of the things we captured in-frame. With tornadoes nipping at our heels from western Florida, to Memphis and eventually to eastern North Carolina, we headed home just hours before their destruction hit the locales we'd come to know and love. Atlantic City was our refuge from the storms, before returning to the calm, untouched East End.

Spanish Mustang on the Outer Banks
Photo © 2011 Claudia Ward

Thirty days and thirty nights, and 4,000 miles on the road gave us a tremendous, renewed appreciation for the beauty and diversity of this country we live in. A couple of hundred more miles were covered seeking out horses at Saratoga Springs in August. For one who isn't known as an animal lover, I do love photographing them. Whether in their stance or stride, they speak volumes to me and hopefully that is being captured by the lens. Finally, the balance of those miles (nearly 10,000) were accomplished by a trip to The Big Island of Hawaii, where we were able to photograph the incredible diversity of this island's landscape and all of its beauty from a helicopter. 

Antique Hood Ornament
Photo © 2011 Claudia Ward 

More locally, we visited Belmont Park just a week before the Stakes were run and attended the Hampton Classic Horse Show every single day it was held over Labor Day weekend. There were at least three Antique Auto Shows, one Road Rallye and a Mini Cooper Scavenger Hunt that we shot as well. Our beaches on the east end of Long Island are some of the most breathtaking in the country (right up there with North Carolina's) and we spent many happy hours either hip deep in snow in January or ankle deep in sand in August, capturing the undulating shapes of their dunes draped in snow or the power of their seas after a storm.

Light Painting for New Year's
Photo © 2011 Peter Tooker 

The holidays that dot our calendars were also not ignored. Memorial Day is always an homage to the "Opening" of the Hamptons season. Flag Day, the 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the Christmas season were all duly noted and celebrated with photographs too.   

Meaty Tomato painted by Barbara Andolsek

Let me also add, ever so humbly, that I have once again been thrilled that Barbara Andolsek continues to make paintings based on some of my photographs. Barbara and I have yet to meet but feel a friendship beyond pen-pals. Nearly 3,000 miles apart but with a shared appreciation for the beauty of the world around us, Barbara and I have forged a friendship that could only occur in this wonderful 21st century. It still astounds me at how incredibly open and selfless so many people are using the internet to connect, communicate, and share. I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to be a part of it.

The word "blog" is derived from the expression "web log", which originally was an online journal of sorts and has morphed, over time, into a platform for communicating and exchanging information and ideas. I want to thank you all for your enthusiasm and support over the last two years but more importantly for your participation - "communication and exchange" are exactly what has occurred when you've left comments for us, and you've made it just that much more fun and interesting.

So here is a slide show which represents a snapshot of Open-Window's second year. It's shorter than last year's and yet still longer than most at just under 10 minutes. Perhaps you can set aside a little time next Sunday morning. We've made this for you, to enjoy and remember a year that we shared, and for that I want to say with great sincerity "Thanks for the memories". 

  

Photos & Slide Show by Claudia Ward & Peter Tooker © 2011
Music: Concerto in E-flat Major for Trumpet & Orchestra: 1. Allegro Con Spirito by Wynton Marsalis, National Philharmonic Orchestra & Raymond Leppard 

 

P.S. Please feel free to leave a comment and let us know what you thought of year two and if there is something you'd like to see more of in the coming months.

 

 

Shooting the Rising Moon

Moon Rising over the Beach © Claudia Ward
Nikon D60, 200mm: ISO 200, f/11 for 1/100 second, taken at 4:05 p.m. EST

Once a month, the day before the full moon, the moon rises before the sun sets. Did you know that? I didn't consciously know it until this Night Photography eClass I've been taking with Kent Weakley. Sure I've seen the moon still in the sky early some mornings and thought "that's a little odd" but never did I focus on it as I have over the past week.

The full moon here was on Saturday Dec 10th, so to capture a sunlit landscape image with a nearly full moon in it, we packed up our tripods and gear and headed to the beach on Friday afternoon, to a wooden deck that straddles the sand dunes and provides a perfect panorama of the dunes, beach, ocean and hopefully, the moon. 

Rising December Moon in the Hamptons © Claudia Ward
Nikon D60, 80mm: ISO 200, f/11 for 1/30 second, taken at 4:09 p.m. EST 

The moon was scheduled to rise at 3:42 p.m. and the sun was scheduled to set at 4:21 p.m. so there was a 39 minute window in which we might be able to get a photograph of the rising moon in a well lit landscape. Well, 3:42 p.m. came and went; we saw nothing. There were a few cumulus clouds along the horizon but nothing anyone would consider cloud cover, so hope persevered. By 3:52 p.m., I was walking the beach, peering around dunes, to see what could be hiding our precious moon - to no avail. We checked our iPhone apps to reconfirm exactly where the moon should appear, and we knew it should be there. 

Moon over the Hamptons © Claudia Ward
Nikon D90, 55mm: ISO 320, f/9.0 for 1/15 second, taken at 4:29 p.m. EST 

It was nearly 4:00 p.m. before the moon made its appearance, just above the clouds, as a large pale white disk rising slowly in the sky. We were thrilled.

Rising Moon at Sundown © Claudia Ward
Nikon D60, 135mm: ISO 200, f/11 for 1/30 second, taken at 4:16 p.m. EST 

The winds were brisk, off the ocean, and it was mighty cold on top of that platform, but Peter and I had a ball and kept shooting until the sky to the west was nothing but fiery orange and black. It was a challenge to firmly anchor the tripods but I think we got some good shots and hope you agree. This is the first post on "Shooting the Rising Moon", more to come.

Full Moon in December © Claudia Ward
Nikon D60, 200mm: ISO 200, f/5.6 for 1/100 second, taken at 4:20 p.m. EST 

Let us know what you think and if you have any tips on shooting the moon, feel free to pass them along.

 

Beach Weekend

Beach Weekend  painted by Barbara Andolsek

I get such pleasure out of seeing Barbara Andolsek's paintings of my photographs, and if I were to be quite candid, I often prefer the painting to the photo. I truly believe there's a frustrated painter inside of me and her only means of expression is through photography - thank goodness! - but this painterly side of me gets immense satisfaction from seeing Barbara's paintings. 

Thank you so very much Barbara, I'm so glad we met.

 

Hapuna Beach on Hawaii

 

Hapuna Beach on Hawaii © 2011 Claudia Ward

Hapuna Beach on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii is a long stretch of pristine white sand framed to the north and the south by dark lava reefs. The tropical blue waters are warm enough for a long swim and yet cool enough to be refreshing but not cold. The clean waters permit snorkeling and the shallow surf provides for some fun rides for the younger boogie boarders on the beach. As the center of the Hapuna Beach State Recreational Park, the beach is easily accessible. It also has free parking, rest rooms and showers, a snack bar, and beach chairs and umbrellas for rent.

We spent two lazy days walking the beach from end to end, bobbing in the water basking in the beauty all around us. Mauna Kea, the often snow capped mountain on the island, overlooks this beautiful beach, and could be seen or perceived below, behind, or in the clouds, depending on how the wind would blow. The western part of Hawaii is largely desert in nature, and is the only side of the island that has these beautiful white sand beaches - delightful treasures nestled in along the coast.

Enjoy the slide show. If you want to see it in HD, and I recommend you do (the quality is so much better and is what I shot), click on the HD in the lower right corner and it will tell you that you can "watch this video in High Definition on Vimeo". Click on those words and you'll be taken to Vimeo where you simply click on the play button to see it in HD.

 

Photos and Slide Show © Claudia Ward
Music: Wood Wind by the Henry Paul Band 

 Wish you were there?

 

Sanderlings at the Shore

Photographing birds at the beach I always find entertaining but this group kept me busy for nearly an hour. Running to-and-fro, chasing the waves and pecking for lunch, and then taking flight in a flock for no apparent reason but flying only yards from where they left, sanderlings are in constant motion. No wonder these birds are so svelte! They use up the calories they consume pursuing the next morsel.

I found their behavior fascinating and their colors against the sand and sea captivating, I hope you agree.

 

I'm OK. You're OK?

It's been one week since my last post, that's a first in over a year and a half. One week ago today, we were bracing ourselves for Hurricane Irene which arrived in Tropical Storm form the following day leaving a path of destruction and outages in her path. Long Island was hit quite hard with downed trees every where, hitting houses, cars and power lines. We fortunately survived unscathed, however we did lose phone, TV, and my beloved internet on Sunday and just got it back, thus the reason for my silence. There are plenty of photos of the impact of Irene and its aftermath ... being worked on; however, the work is being interrupted by the Hamptons Classic Horse Show which began four days late due to the storm but is now underway and wonderful. So please be patient with this "gap"; I promise I'll be back to regular posts shortly. In the meantime, here's just a few images from the time of Irene.

All Boarded Up

Irene's Fury

Tattered But Not Torn

Sisters at the Shore

After a week of unending rain, the sun is shining and we're headed to the beach. Our picnic lunch is packed, our beach chairs are in the car, and the sail bag is chockablock with towels, books and, of course a camera or two. Wish you could join us.

Sisters at the Shore ©2011 Claudia Ward

An Evening on the Beach

Peter and I, and two very close friends went to the beach last evening to play, picnic, and enjoy the day's end. After weeks of watching our government representatives act like self-centered children who were never taught to "play nice in the sandbox" with the other children and a single day drop in the market of 500 points, we felt a strong need for some simple diversionary entertainment. Peter and I packed up the cool kites we bought in the spring when we were in Kitty Hawk, NC and hoped this would be the perfect evening for their inaugural flights. The wind was respectable when we left the house, so we were optimistic.

At the beach we set up our tables, poured some wine, enjoyed the yummy appetizers our friends brought and savored the cool, clean ocean air. As the concerns of the day faded so did the evening breeze, but not so completely that my ever-optimistic husband didn't try to make at least one of the kites airborne. Fortunately, we packed our sense of humor too, because it was entertaining watching his efforts to make them fly. Now we can look forward to flying our kites some other day.

Our picnic dinner was sliced grilled lamb in pita pockets with homemade tzatziki sauce, sliced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, and feta cheese, which was followed by an assortment of specialty brownies for dessert - mine was blond and had raspberry jam inside. With each of us now enjoying a wonderfully lazy satisfied feeling, the gents settled back into their beach chairs to chat.

Anxious to get my feet wet before dark, I asked my girlfriend to join me for a walk. We ambled along the beach, arm-in-arm, watching the twilight-sky turn pastel pink and blue, a lone surfer sitting on his board hoping for just one more ride before sundown, and the crescent moon become brighter in the sky as nighttime fell.

We had such a good time enjoying each other's company and the incredible natural beauty we have around us - all worries set aside. As the weekend approaches for the worker bees among you, I recommend you do the same - set your worries aside and enjoy where you are and who you're with - you can pick the worries back up again on Monday as you go out the door.

 

Beach Feet

Greetings from Cape Cod!

Peter and I left town for the Cape and Islands right after I was laid off from a Wall Street bank two years ago. Well it's becoming an annual event as here we are again, visiting friends and family, eating lobster by the pound, and getting sand in our toes.

iPhone photo ©2011 Claudia Ward

Here's to all of you worker bees ... We wish for you all sand in your toes, sun on your back, and sea breezes in your hair.

In the Moment

I changed my routine this week and I think for the better. Rather than toil at everything to do with photography from sunrise to sunset, I've set aside an hour or two every day, just for me. Late last week the northwest breezes were brisk and the air was dry, and I tucked myself away on the second floor deck in the lee of the roof to enjoy the warmth of the sun and read a good book. For an hour I basked in a comfortable chair, watching the new spring foliage move rhythmically with the wind out of the corner of my eye. I finished one book and started another as one day became two and then three.

Yesterday I moved this hour of R&R to the beach and what had been a single hour grew to two. The beaches here aren't crowded yet - that will come soon enough - and those who are on the beach are savoring every moment just as I am. I arrived just before 3:00 p.m. and reluctantly departed about 5:00 p.m. still wanting more of my book, the sea-breeze, and my colorful companions.

There was a family of four nearby - Mom was napping, Dad was reading and the two boys were entertaining themselves either digging their way to China or skidding across the shoreline on their boogie boards. A gay couple, obviously new to the sea, took pictures of each other standing in the waves that were lapping the shore. A tall beautiful single woman wearing a bikini, yet wrapped in a shawl ambled, along the beach lost in thought. A middle aged couple gingerly walked into the water holding hands - giggling and providing each other moral support before they plunged into the chilly sea. Three college-age guys played lacrosse near the dunes, and a single woman walked westward along the water's edge under a bright red umbrella, appearing to have not a care in the world.

© 2011 Claudia Ward, Painter's Filter applied in Photoshop Elements

I always thought I was fairly good at relaxing, fully appreciating the time I had off from work and making the most of my surroundings and the moment I was in, but I can honestly say I'm mastering it now. I'm pleasantly surprised by everything I find my senses appreciating at any point in time, whether it's the sweet smell of privet in bloom, the first light of dawn, the sight of cirrus clouds gliding across the sky, the feeling of cool crisp cotton sheets as I slip into bed, the weight of grandmother's silver in my hand, the taste of homemade chicken soup, or the smile on my husband's face each morning when he wakes. I truly find myself unintentionally relishing every moment and it's immensely gratifying.

 

The Outer Banks North Carolina a.k.a. OBX

The Outer Banks of North Carolina, affectionately known as OBX, is a long string of barrier islands off the east coast of North Carolina starting at the northeast corner of the state and covering nearly half of its northern coastline. From Bodie Island in the north to Ocracoke Island in the south, the Outer Banks have over a hundred miles of pristine beaches. In his annual ranking of the best beaches in the U.S., Dr. Beach has included a beach on the Outer Banks in each of the last ten years, most recently Cape Hatteras has been the beach chosen, but for the previous six years it was Ocracoke's Lifeguard Beach - the prettiest beach I have ever seen.

Many who visit the Outer Banks rent houses, take up residence, and relax and restore themselves in one location. Others venture forth and are rewarded with experiencing the history and charm of its varied villages. Recently, Peter and I traveled from one end of the Outer Banks to the other. In Corolla, we saw the wild Mustangs on the beach at sunset. The quaint village of Duck (yes that's the name of a village), with its infamous 25 MPH speed limit was impossible to miss, and has incredible views and sunsets over Currituck sound. The Wright Brothers National Park in Kill Devil Hills should not be missed, but if you're adventurous and want to fly on your own, you can take hang gliding lessons off the largest natural sand dune on the east coast, Jockey's Ridge in Nags Head. Peter and I climbed the dune and photographed those adventurous souls one breezy afternoon. Continuing south, you drive cross the Oregon Inlet to get to Hatteras Island. The easternmost point on the island is Cape Point, the one that gets pounded by all those hurricanes and where we found the famous Cape Hatteras Lighthouse - one of the prettiest in the country.

It's roughly 90 miles from Corolla to Hatteras and to continue south now, you have to take a ferry to Ocracoke Island, the "jewel in the crown" of the Outer Banks. The Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry is free, departs every half hour, and carries cars as well as passengers. As beautiful as the northern islands are, Ocracoke was the one that stole my heart. The sands of the beaches are fine and white, the dunes are wide and traversed by elevated boardwalks, and the waters are gloriously clean. A single "highway" leading to Ocracoke village is bordered by dunes on both sides. On the way in to town, we found Howard's Pub on the right. A novelty, without a doubt created for the tourists, but one with great seafood and a roof deck with views across the dunes to either shore.

The village of Ocracoke is unpretentious and was once home to Edward Teach. "Who is that?" you ask. Well the pirate Blackbeard, of course, and this is where he was killed. The center of Ocracoke is Silver Lake where ferries to Swan Quarter and Cedar Island will get you "on or close" to the mainland once again. (These ferries, which are over two hours in length, require reservations, carry cars, and do charge a fee.) Nearby is the belle of Ocracoke, towering over the village and it's shore, the all-white Ocracoke Lighthouse can be seen near and far, and has been operating since 1823. The rewards are many if you travel the length of the Outer Banks and Peter and I can't wait to return.

  ©2011 Photos and Slide Show by Claudia Ward
Music: Vianne Confronts the Comte, by Rachel Portman from the Soundtrack of "Chocolat" 

 

This one's for you Carl!

 

Dawn at the Outer Banks

Dawn is my favorite time of day. I always find first light thrilling, I don't know why - perhaps it's the optimist in me ... what will a new day bring? But first there's sunrise which is ever so brief and beautiful.

We're overlooking the ocean, sleeping to the sounds of its constant motion, and waking to the drama of the sun rising from the ocean. The coast of the Outer Banks of North Carolina are picturesque, and Peter and I find the changing early morning light magical.

Sunrise

Dawn at the Outer Banks.

Sent from my iPhone

Stormy Florida

Hunkered down in St. Pete Beach, FL as tornados, torrential rains, 50 mile an hour winds, and hail are all around us. Decided to stay off the roads. Sadly, they're reporting that this same cold front will produce significant snow for the northeast. Chin up friends.

Look ... aren't we lucky, we have a room with a view!

HDR photo taken with an iPhone by Claudia Ward

This post was Sent from my iPhone.

Greetings

From sunny, but soon to be stormy, St. Petersburg, FL. This is for all of our friends in the nippy northeast. Warm weather will come.

March

... comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, and this year I just have to believe that this,

 is going to give way to this, 

 ... sooner than we think.

Despite the cold, the snow drops (those tiny bell-like flowers I introduced you to last year) are beginning to blossom and the daffodils have broken ground. There's spring in my step just thinking about it.

 

Winter Sunset at the Beach

Everyone knows that the weather has been wreaking havoc across the country. Wild snow storms, nor'easters and blizzards have struck time and time again this year, blowing all previous records for snow fall and destruction "out of the water". Well in the midst of all of this extreme weather, extreme beauty can still be found ... we hope you agree.

Photo ©2011 Claudia Ward All Rights Reserved

Beach?

On the run, digging out from our last storm, and getting as many pictures as possible. 

Photo ©2011 Claudia Ward All Rights Reserved

 
There's a beach there somewhere, right?

 

Who's Walking Whom?

Even now I find that little grammatical pixie sitting on my shoulder saying, "Don't do it, even if it does sound better. It's Who's Walking Whom not Who's Walking Who." "Do it right or don't do it at all." Gee, that pixie sounds a lot like my father.

Either way, I did ask the question when I saw these four characters on the beach yesterday. It was breezy but you didn't have to fight the wind to stand. It looks to me like everyone had been penned up inside for way too long.

 

Hurricane Season

 Flys Beach Southampton, NY - Surf Resulting from Igor 2010
Photo by Claudia Ward ©2010 All RIGHTS RESERVED

Hurricane season - did you know that it's really a six month season - yup, that's right - June 1st to Nov 30th, each and every year. And each and every year they name the tropical storms that may become hurricanes. If winds are over 39 miles per hour (mph), they get a name; if winds are under 39 mph, then they're just a really big wind! To make it to Category 1, i.e. entry level for hurricane status, a storm's winds must equal or exceed 74 mph.

Calling "HER-icanes" by the names of woman began in 1953, a practice that was liberated in 1978 with the addition of male names for such tempests. These were affectionately dubbed "HIM-icanes" by "libbers" of the time.

Donna (1960), Gloria (1985), and Bob (1991) all created significant memories. From Gloria, I remember my father driving us around "the loop" in Chatham (Cape Cod) during the eye of the storm to see all that had happened and not recognizing the street I lived on for all the flooding. From Gloria, the worries were boats moored in Sag Harbor; and, from Bob ... a cypress tree nearly took out Peter's car, we lived without electricity for five days, and everything had to be cleaned up and operational for my bed-and-breakfast guests by the next weekend.

This year, we're already up to the letter "N" and it's not even October. We all prepared for Earl, but that really didn't happen, at least on the east end of Long Island. Igor did his best to stir up the surf, as you can see above, and brought us extra high tides. And, Tropical Storm Nicole is clawing her way up the east coast battering the coastline and flooding towns as she goes.

Sagg Main as Tropical Storm Nicole Travels North 10/01/10 

As devastating as these storms can be, they are rarely un-photogenic and these are just a couple of the images we captured as Igor and Nicole traveled north and east of our shores.

Hamptons Post Earl

The Hamptons don't appear to be any worse for wear post Earl, hurricane Earl that is. For all the alarms that were rung and alerts that were sent out, it really passed the east-end of Long Island with only some rain, minor flooding and higher than normal tides. Peter and I were hoping that the waves would be significant for photos and/or surfing shots, but that was not to be, so we photographed food shots indoors instead. Stay tuned.

This is what Sagg Main looked like this morning. Needless to say those beach fences do bear the brunt of every storm, but then again, that's why they're there.

 @2010 Claudia Ward

Dan's Papers 38th Annual Kite Fly At Sagg Main

On a beautiful August Sunday evening, Dan's Papers held the 38th annual "Kite Fly" at Sagg Main Beach, our favorite beach in the Hamptons. Peter and I had already spent four hours at the beach shooting the surfers, enjoying the sea breeze and having a picnic. When the "mayor of Sagg Main" told us they were expecting over 100 kite fliers after 5:00, we raced home, showered, changed camera chips and batteries and returned by 5:15 p.m.

Families that had been at the beach in the afternoon were still parading off the beach and into the parking lot as kite-fliers were streaming from the parking lot to the beach - a changing of the guard if-you-will. By our observation the kite fliers were split in age between the very young (8-10 years old), to the "older" (40-50 year old) - and of course there are always some in between.

Kites are no longer triangles of "paper and string" but are built of various plastics making them resilient and wind-worthy, and the shapes can apparently be anything that a creative imagination and sturdy wallet can conjure. Eagles, tigers, aeroplanes, geometric dynamic phenomena, dragons, sharks, dolphins, butterflies, and even Nemo were all soaring in the skies above Sagg Main Beach in a gorgeous constant onshore breeze - not too light to make it too challenging to keep the kites up, but not too stiff either. It was a perfect evening for flying a kite.

Photos by Claudia Ward & Peter Tooker, ©2010 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Music: "Let's Go Fly a Kite", by David Tomlinson, Dick Van Dyke, and the Londoners, from the soundtrack of Mary Poppins

Even as we were leaving, there was once again a line to get in to the parking lot, exactly as there is on sunny weekend days. Families were bringing picnic dinners, folding tables and barbecue grills, and more and more kiters were bringing their gliders to test the winds. Next year, we'll plan to stay longer.

A Day at the Beach

There's nothing like a day at the beach in my estimation. With the exception of a child with sand in its eyes, I've never seen an unhappy person at the beach. Worries and concerns, rifts and misunderstandings all seem to be left in the parking lot - to be retrieved only upon departure. What I do see and hear at the beach is pure joy - on the faces of children released from almost all discipline, in the touch of a wife on her husband's shoulder, in the laughter of families once again enthralled in each others' company, and in the ear to ear grin of a surfer after a good ride.

So this one's for all of you, who like me, love the beach, but especially for those of you who are tethered to a desk and can't get away until the end of the work week. Give me two minutes and I promise you a smile. 

Photos © 2010 Claudia Ward ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Music: Boeuf Bourguignon, Alexandre Desplat from the Soundtrack of Julie & Julia

Tell me, which one do you want to be?

Up, Down, and Sideways

Ever been at "sixes and sevens"?

So much to do ......... 

It seems ...

some of all of "it" gets done, but all of none of it gets done! 

The day has been up, down, and sideways, so this is what it felt like ... 

Up ....

Down...?

and, "sideways" ...

 Hope you had a great day! 

"Friend Photos"

A friend from the bank I used to work for has always been a wonderful photographer, especially of his family. He'd love to spend more time at it, but alas he's still in the ranks of the employed and can only do it "on the fly". He shared the attached photos with me recently and agreed that I could post them. I think each of them demonstrates his natural eye as well as his wonderful sense of humor. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. Thanks TWinsch! 

North Caroline Beach by Tom Winsch, 2010, All Rights Reserved 

North Carolina Crab by Tom Winsch, 2010, All Rights Reserved

Mama Fox in the Backyard by Tom Winsch, 2010, All Rights Reserved  

The Longest Day

It's official, summer begins today. According to the internet, summer solstice occurred in the Northern hemisphere at 7:28 a.m. EDT. The word solstice means the sun stands still, which is what appears to happen when the sun has reached its most northern point in our skies. The sun rose this morning at 5:21 a.m. and will set at 8:27 p.m. here on the east end of Long Island and that means we'll have nearly 15 hours of daylight and only 9 hours of darkness.

How will you spend all those sunny hours? Many of you will be hunkered down in front of a computer screen in little boxes called cubicles, others may be lucky enough to spend some time outdoors - for it's gloriously beautiful in the northeast today! I, for one, will be in a court house. For those of you jumping to conclusions, please don't. The cold hard reality is that Suffolk County has summoned me to serve as a Grand Juror and they say this will last for at least 4 weeks. I'm packing my curiosity and computer, so I hope to continue to make regular posts. In the meantime, I expect I could speak for nearly all of us when I say, we wish we were here ....

  Coast Guard Beach, in the National Seashore Park in Eastham, MA on Cape Cod

Coast Guard Beach was picked #7 on the list of "America's Best Beaches", a list compiled by "Dr. Beach", a.k.a. Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, every year for the last 20 years. Check out the complete list, when you're not working, by clicking here.

Slide Show-Storming the Beaches

The Northeast just can't seem to catch a break. It started raining on Friday and here we are on Monday morning and it has yet to stop. But the rains have been only part of this storm sequence; the winds have been gusting at gale force since Saturday afternoon. Gusts of 54 mph were reported in Wainscott, the hamlet just east of Bridgehampton. All of this naturally wreaks havoc on our beaches, which were battered with nor'easters last fall, and snow storms and squalls all winter.

The beaches on the east end are our treasures and every town works diligently to protect them as best they can. Snow fences are common on all of our beaches and are strung along the dunes with the hopes that they'll fight off the ocean's relentless waves and high tides, and act as a retaining wall for our precious sand dunes. They truly are our front line soldiers. They take tremendous beatings as you can see but hold their ground until the bitter end.

At one beach, the town even fortified the dunes with used Christmas trees, burying them under tons of sand and building the dunes out beyond their core. As you can see in the slide show these efforts were all for naught with this week-end's storms. These fortified dunes were clawed apart by the waves and winds, sending the sand out to sea and littering the beach with the dunes' protectors.

Slideshow photos by Claudia Ward and Peter Tooker 2010 All Rights Reserved

The news is reporting trees and power lines down, and outages across the northeast and I'm afraid it's probably affected many of you who visit this blog. Peter and I hope you all have weathered the storm and come through on the other side, not too much worse for wear.

Note: Remember to click on the number 360 and change it to 480 for the best quality "view". Also enlarge the pictures by either clicking on the box that looks like arrows going in four directions, next to the numbers mentioned above, or by double clicking on the slide.

Have you got any storm stories you want to share? Leave a comment and let us know how you fared.