The Head of the Charles, a photo from Massachusetts, Northeast

Photographer's Note

The Head of the Charles Regatta is the largest 2 day regatta in the world, and is considered the most competitive collegiate rowing competition in existence. Each year, over the second to last weekend in October, universities from all over the northeast send their rowing teams to compete for the ultimate titles. This shot was taken from the Anderson Memorial Bridge, which leads from Boston's Brighton neighborhood straight into the heart of Harvard Square. In the BG, you can see the John W. Weeks Footbridge, a pedestrian crossing, and the dome of Dunster House, a close-up of which I posted the other day.

I have to confess that I know next to nothing about rowing, and cannot identify the teams rowing in this picture, but you can see from the crowd gathered on the opposite bridge how popular an event this is. It is one of the beautiful things about Boston in fall, my favorite time of year for the city.

Larger version available on Flickr.

abmdsudi, SnapRJW, worldcitizen, bayno, Sonata11, bukitgolfb301, timecapturer, Noel_Byrne, Hansaphotos, adores, elenimavrandoni, maria-v1981, Romano46 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

batalay (32868) 2013-01-05 8:51

Hello Andrew,

I like very much the vantage point in this photo, entirely complementing the photo of the 8-man shell the "Fat Cats" that I produced standing just above the second arch. The curving trajectories of the four-man shells with coxswain are plainly visible. In the distant past when I was a rower, the "fours with coxswain" had the coxswain sitting at the stern, facing the stroke. I imagine the configuration here incrementally reduces the drag.

Warm regards,

Bulent

abmdsudi (26311) 2013-01-05 9:27

Hi Andrew
Wonderful autmunal weather full of vibrancy and this just leaps off the screen, I like the specks of vivid reds and a scenic water front, action packed image indeed and nicely frozen, dynamic with good feel of movements and excellent diagonal orientation. Bright superb clarity and excellent contrast. The little red dot in the background further adds the sensation as well. Simple a delightful shot, Congrats
Warm regards

dta (51510) 2013-01-05 9:31

Hello Andrew ,
This picture is extremely well composed , in this square format , from the rowing boat in the FG , towards the bridge and the buildings in theh BG .
Attractive vivid colors , too .
Regards

JFS (32189) 2013-01-05 9:37

Splectacular shot Andrew, so clean, so bright, so well composed! It brings me memories...Thanks!
Cheers,
Juan

siudzi (23959) 2013-01-05 9:54

Hi Andrew,
What a stunning view and scene you have captured here! Really amazing image taken from a perfectly selected POV to provide us with such a great work. Bravo! Excellent pic.

Warm regards,
Gosia

SnapRJW (18792) 2013-01-05 9:54

Hello Andrew - This is a super shot. Your POV is excellent as I get a real feel for the movement of the boats through the water, the curves of the wakes give dynamism to the shot. The bridge and variety of buildings in the distance give the context and all under very good light. This has to be one of your best. Warm regards rosemary

mjw364 (3746) 2013-01-05 10:26

Hello Andrew

Happy New Year, belatedly. Nicely complsed shot - I like the lines into the imageof the boatsand the positioniong of the bridge in the frame. The tower in the distance adding depth and is placed nicely on a third.

Redolent of the Oxford and Cambridge boat race though there are only two teams - not quite the same degree of democracy as the Charles Regatta!

All the best

Michael

worldcitizen (4858) 2013-01-05 10:45

Hello Andrew,

Great shot that captures this event beautifully. I like the warm lighting, and the vertical format. The oars make nice patterns in the water, too. :-) The footbridge and dome make a wonderful background, and there are so many details to enjoy in this photo. I have only been to Boston and Cambridge once, but I liked them very much. I can only imagine that the rowers are quite cold in their sleeveless shirts in late October!

BTW, thanks so much for adding me as a favorite. It's an honor. :-)

bayno (16241) 2013-01-05 11:34

Ciao Andrew,
in the large version realy we can appreciate the quality of the shot, the scene is perfectly composed and balanced, also the event must be very interessing, i know another event very similar, very old and tradictional...
here

Very good colors and light too...
have a good We...
Valter

holmertz (26982) 2013-01-05 11:48

Hello andrew,
I don't know a thing about rowing either, but I do know that these guys add a lot of action and colour to this photo. The view across the river is fine, the bridge is quite elegant, but the boats and the patterns they create along the water make a whole lot of difference. A very fine shot.
Kind regards,
Gert

Sonata11 (28391) 2013-01-05 12:15

Hi Andew,
beautiful pic of this regatta. Wonderfully executed and presented. Great management of sharpness, clarity, exposure, colors. Magnificent flawless photo work. Thanks for sharing. Perfectly well done.
Warm regards and have a great WE,
Barbara

bukitgolfb301 (30111) 2013-01-05 15:24

Hi dear Andrew

The best shot this week from you!
I like sport shots whatever they are, but this one is so fantastic as the perfect balance and getting good light and shutter timing are all the best. Congratulation on your the best job! Thanks a lot and have a beautiful Sunday!

Takero from Tokyo

npecanhuk (53919) 2013-01-05 15:34

Hello Andrew!
Wow! I love this one too!
Great composition, light and colors!
Wonderful picture!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

jhm (122490) 2013-01-06 0:37

Hello Andrew,

You took this image out of a perfect angle.
This create depth and perspective, also the bridge is a nice creation on this picture
Lovely panorama view about this area.
Excellent captured and good composed. TFS.

Have a nice Sunday,
John

timecapturer (30394) 2013-01-06 5:55

Hi Andrew
like this shot! The DOF and real sense of movement are just perfect. The image has a great atmosphere about it and captures the occasion superbly. Executed and presented beautifully. Well done!

Regards - Brian.

mesutilgim (68036) 2013-01-08 14:53

Hello Andrew,
Very nice capture from Cambrige with perfect chosen format and good layout.
Noth only the photographic qualifications but also your interesting notes makes it a perfect TE entry.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

Noel_Byrne (7450) 2013-01-09 5:13

hi Andrew,
Love your composition here, the boats at the various levels look great and add excellent depth to the shot. The movement in teh water looks excellent too, and a great skyline in the background. Really nice shot, cheers
Noel

Hansaphotos (5449) 2013-01-10 13:05

Hallo Andrew

A nice view over the river towards the bridge. Here we do also get to see the dome from another angle. I do not envy the job of the skip at the boat sitting in what seems like claustrophobic environment. A great capture of this event.

Best regards, Erling

adores (28248) 2013-01-10 14:56

Hi Andrew!
I like this! The format was very well chosen to include all this activity in the river! The canoes are very well placed and I like the background, with the crowded bridge and the beautiful church tower in background. Great light and colours also!

thebest (3370) 2013-01-10 18:44

Hi Andrew,

Another nice view of the rowing - I am confused by the man '' coxswain '' laying in the boat who put him there???? ha... ha... ha... I thought there had to be a boat of 8 rowers & the coxswain was at the back facing the rowers....????

Kindest regards,
Dawn.

Waylim (22357) 2013-01-15 17:31

Hi Andrew,

With all the rowing photos series that you post lately, this one is my fav, it show the over essence of the are and the atmosphere of the event, with great depth and row boats in successive layer and various distance, our eye follow darted form one to the next into the distance and the bridge full of spectators and complete with the beuatiful archtectures bathing in warm light. The image exude energy of the race and activities. Everything is in good detials and sharpenss. Good work.

Thanks and have good night.

Way

COSTANTINO (42746) 2013-01-28 10:19

Hello
fantastic shot with a lot of impressive
details very wellcomposed,the red tower
in the background in a great dynamic
contrast with the blue sky,
interesting and largest 2 days regatta
in the world,bravo,great idea,great work
original version
regards
Costantino

elenimavrandoni (5803) 2013-01-29 14:58

Hello Andrew, great vertical and very panoramic point of view!Beautiful colors and excellent management of light in this great composition!
best regards,
Eleni

maria-v1981 (10403) 2013-01-31 2:48

Hello Andrew,
I must admit that this is a very beautiful sight with the town in the background. The colours are brilliant. The light management is wonderful. Excellent shot.
Have a nice evening,
Greetings,
Maria

Romano46 (4996) 2013-02-04 15:49

Ciao Andrew
molto bella questa tua foto nella quale la scena è dominata dalle imbarcazioni che disegnano figure nell'acqua rubando la scena al ponte, alla vegetazione e alle costruzioni dietro ad esso.
Ottima la nitidezza, la luminosità, il contrasto e la saturazione dei colori.
Bello anche l'effetto che nella composizione danno le barcheposte in posizione diagonale.
Giusto aver dato maggior colore all'acqua rispetto al cielo.
Buone le note che accompagnano lo scatto
Ciao e buona serata
Romano

jmdias (45830) 2013-02-07 23:33

andrew

very interesting view. I liked the light and the colors and sharpness too. position of elements are perfect mixing acction, architecture and human life.

hugs

jorge

Kamilutka (3207) 2013-02-10 8:22

Hello Andrew,
I like this photo very much for its amazing and original composition as well as an interesting subject. The light and the colors are superb and although the main interest of the photo is regatta, I enjoy this great cityscape in the background very much.
Thanks for sharing
Kamila

fabianoleite (9016) 2013-02-15 14:13

The canoes there make nice drawings on the surface of the water, and the bridhge and buildings are a great background. Nice work, congratulations!