Steam boat - Minne ha ha Photo

Photographer’s Note

Photo taken on Lake Gorge, N.Y., about half way between Montréal and New York City, this is the rear of the Minne Ha Ha steam boat.

Converted to B&W and crop a bit on the right and the top, I had missed the flag partially, so I decided to crop just under it. I have joined a "color" rear view of the ship in the workshop.

History
The steam calliope on her top deck plays merrily, powered by steam from the MINNE-HA-HA's own boiler. Built in 1969 on Lake George, the MINNE-HA-HA is an authentic steamboat whose engine room is glass-enclosed so passengers can actually see the engine working. The whistle blows. The bright red paddle wheel dips into the crystal clear waters of Lake George

In May of 2005, the Minne-Ha-Ha will enter her thirty-sixth consecutive year in service. Her popularity, in particular with families and young children, has not diminished over the years. Her one-hour cruises, fully narrated and close along the lake’s shoreline, are certainly the most pleasant and interesting manner of understanding and enjoying summer activities on "The Queen of American Lakes."

The first commercially successful steamboat service in America was inaugurated by Robert Fulton, whose steam-powered paddle boat, the Clermont, sailed up the Hudson River from New York City to Albany, arriving at the state capitol on August 19, 1807, after 32 hours running time.

The first Lake George steamboat, christened the James Caldwell, was launched in 1817 and was a peculiar creature by modern standards. She was constructed on the canal-boat lines that characterized the boats of the time. It is recorded that she was equipped with two long boilers and a unique brick smokestack. Her engines were third-hand, being those that had powered the original Vermont, sunk in 1815, and having been salvaged and used in another Champlain steamer the following year. With propulsion equipment of such dubious quality, the James Caldwell could make the trip through the lake in about a day, or as quickly as a man could row the distance.

Nikon D70s
2005/09/03 11:34:25.1
JPEG (8 bits) Normale
Taille de l'image : Grande (3008 x 2000)
Objectif : 28-200mm F/3.5-5.6 G
Focale : 200mm
Mode d'exposition : Auto programmé
Mode de mesure : Multizones
1/500 sec - F/5.6
Correction d'exposition : 0 IL
Sensibilité : ISO 200
Optim. image : Normale
Balance des blancs : Auto
Mode de AF : AF-S
Mode flash : Non joint

weswang, ChrisJ, papagolf21, jhm, bertolucci, jjbach, digi-mom, jrj, Jeppe, kajenn, jmdaoudal has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

greg64g (11193) 2005-09-11 1:45

Salut Pierre,

Merveilleux bateau j'aime bien cette vue en N&B et j'avoue que j'adore la photo en WS, la vue arriere est tres belle aussi.
amicalement
greg

ChrisJ (70019) 2005-09-11 3:34

Hi Ziggy

I like the b&w sepia conversion. A superb tonal range, but I'd increase contrast slightly. Good work!

papagolf21 (56159) 2005-09-11 4:34

Bonjour Pierre,
Très intéressante note d'accompagnement. Quant aux photographies, elles ont toutes les deux un grand intérêt, j'aurais peut-être une préférence pour celle en atelier qui est superbe avec ces volutes de fumée qui se dessine sur les bois en arrière-plan.
Quoi qu'il en soit, c'est une réussite.
Amitiés.
Philippe

jhm (82201) 2005-09-11 12:28

Hi Pierre,
Thanks for the interesting note about the old steam boat, but I find the WS better, lovely of colours and the smoke is wonderful, this here is more detail picture.
Very well done!
John

weswang (18223) 2005-09-11 12:47

Hi Pierre, This is a well composed picture with nice details and sharpness. You have well captured the dynamic of the steamboat wovement and the steam and water at the rear of the boat. A well taken picture.

bertolucci (11976) 2005-09-11 17:08

Bon soir Pierre, This is very elegant and well framed capture. I like the way the well rendered steam and spray complements the lines of this steamer. The BW conversion looks good with the full set of grey tones.
Thanx for the exciting colour WS and the very interesting note too!
Regards from Rotterdam,
Bert

dsidwell (9745) 2005-09-11 21:05

The black and white works so well here, Pierre! The focus really gets put right on the paddle wheels and the exciting action there. Nice work and lovely tones!

jjbach (9101) 2005-09-12 7:59

Hi Pierre,
Very dynamic shot with great motion. The point of view is wonderful. Excellent composition, very well captured.

Regards John

Kenny10pin (19301) 2005-09-12 10:28

great shot of the water spurting up, I like the b/w chosen here, well done

jrj (34779) 2005-09-12 14:04

Nice detail of the steamer - tight cropping working well even without a flag. Good choice to present in bw.

Fixfocus (9377) 2005-09-13 7:45

Salut Pierre,
A nice detail shot of the steam boat.Good B/W shot with a wide tonal range and excellent sharpness but I think I like the colored, complete view of the boat in the Ws even more.
Greetings,
hermann

bazal (7898) 2005-09-14 4:10

Bonjour, Pierre.
Le n&b va particulièrement bien à ce cliché, et j'aime bien le choix du pdv et de la composition. Le temps de pause est bien trouvé et nous donne une bonne idée du mouvement de la roue à aubes. Merci du partage !

Jeppe (18623) 2005-09-17 18:28

I like the action in this fine image - if it wasen't for the tourists this could have a 100 years old photo (ok may sepia would have been better - but I like the B&W still) thanks Pierre for sharing.

optic (0) 2005-09-18 8:05

Bon matin Pierre,
Très bonne idée le noir et blanc pour cette image qui lui donne un air ancien, le cadrage est intéressant et les tons de gris bien équilibrés. La photo jointe en couleur est particulièrement belle.

Bon week-end,
Christian

kajenn (2325) 2005-09-18 20:21

Oh dear, oh dear, I'd preferred the WS-photo, Pierre, which I find amazing in every way: the composition, the colors, the white smoke against the totally wood-covered backdrop, the action and the flag. In comparison this shot - well showing the action - comes out a bit 'feeble'. If I was you, I'd delete the WS and upload it later as an original. Great note, although I don't understand the -Ha-Ha part. Well done!

jmdaoudal (82) 2005-10-06 17:45

Cet arriere de bateau qui nous ramène 150 ans en arrière est vraiment interessant.
Bien choisi comme détail, une propultion fumante et battante.
J'aime bien aussi le choix du NB.
Compliments
Jean Michel