*Mama, 'Taint Long Fo' Day* Photo

Photographer’s Note

Greetings all.

This shot was taken at Benedict again, along the Patuxant river. Life springs to action long before the sun rises along the banks of this river. By the time the caffinated masses pass over the bridge, many individuals are silently making their way along the waterway looking for the passage to another dollar. These individuals include fishermen, Oystermen (in the colder months) and crabbers.
We see a boat of watermen retrieving the trot lines that they set down the day or more prior. A line is placed in the water with various offshoots of bait hanging into the depths. These lines are held up by floats that sit along the top of the water. Every couple of days, the men set out in their low boats and pull the catch aboard.
Crabs are a staple of life in Maryland, one cannot wait for the season to come around so they can sit down with a pitcher of beer and a pile of the steamed crustaceans. Topped high and thick with Old Bay, the smell permeates all the corners of any house where the happening is...happening.
In recent years, with the massive influx of humans into the bay region, the demand has far outweighed the availability. Prices have risen for the once low crab and numbers have dwindled. All is not lost. Much like the striped bass a number of years ago; a well controlled moratorium on the capture of these great creatures will rebound their population. The problem lies with the loss of one of the most distinct jobs in Mayland history; that of the waterman. See, not only is the crab threatened but another staple, the oyster, cannot rebound from the sickness and overfishing that it has to endure. Only smart planning and a sense of self-control will help heal the wounds this beautiful area has suffered.
We see the men that have held this land upon their backs. They want only to provide for their familys and put in a full days work. It is up to the inhabitants to decide that we are not going to lose such a great asset, being that which we have in the bay.
The access way to this great land cannot become the experiment in its demise.

A little definition of the title:
Baby, morning is almost here...I love you.

Chris.

Little crop, convert to B&W...frame, shrink, sharpen. I used a polariser.

robertosalguero, goodwill, rewshearer, hay_kes, peter1892, PJE, syd1946, balatrek, Gerrit, Dragonheart, thaprem, fireflyz, king, AiresSantos, macondo, zeca, sabyasachi1212, parbo, bigboroboy has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

robertosalguero (2763) 2006-10-01 0:03

Beautiful composition in BW Chris. The early morning low light made this picture look very dramatic. I gather from the fog that is getting colder where you live.
Very good note. Lets hope the fish resources will not be depleted ever.

Roberto

rewshearer (682) 2006-10-01 2:01

Beautiful!
A great scene, made better by your masterful composition and metering. This is excellent and inspiring work.
Rew

chc (1468) 2006-10-01 2:39

Beautiful B&W for this scene. I like the unusual (for this type of shots) vertical format chosen.
Christophe

nico51 (274) 2006-10-01 6:06

Hi Christopher,
Très belle photo, le b&w est idéal pour rendre une ambiance particulière à ce moment. Bravo!
Nicolas

tabora (13638) 2006-10-01 7:14

hello Christopher,
Quel beau noir et blanc ,le format portrait convient très bien a la scène, on dirait que le bateau sort du néant.
Amitiés Joseph

Elaine_Blath (6170) 2006-10-01 8:05

Hi Christopher,

oh yes, oh yes...great bw!!!

Take care, Ivana

hay_kes (28562) 2006-10-01 8:15 [Comment]

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peter1892 (3201) 2006-10-01 9:50

Hi Chris - this is really excellent. The atmosphere in the image is wonderful, the fog adds so much to the morning atmosphere. It's an everyday scene but your choice of B&W & overall composition has made it special.

Good idea to use the polarising filter here, I've been doing the same on my B&W shots (rather than a yellow filter) and I really like the way it adds to the contrast in the image.

PJE (19405) 2006-10-01 10:37

Ah Ha Chris nice one here. I really like how the fishermen are positioned in the brightest part of this scene. Like moving towards the light, perhaps a symbol of hope of a good catch. I like the vertical setting too but would like to see a little crop off the top of this shot. But I do see your point of view in wanting to include the shaded cloud on top to provide a balance for the bottom of the frame. A good choice photo for black and white Chris!

arjun_das (1850) 2006-10-01 11:37

hi chris,

a top class b/w photography. nice silhouette effect and the fogs creat a nice misty surroundings. good play with light too. tfs.

best wishes,
arjun

syd1946 (17869) 2006-10-01 13:45

Hello Christopher,
What a beauty to your image!Low light conditions and fogy atmosphere creates a beautiful composition.Excellent work!

Have a nice week!

Thomas

balatrek (7419) 2006-10-01 14:13

Hi Christopher,

You have created a very interesting image, the smooth light and the absence of colors create a mysterious atmosphere, excellent work!

Regards

José

Budapestman (41618) 2006-10-01 14:16

Hi Christopher!
This a very suggestive and spectacular photo! Excellent moment and fantastic observation! Superb POV and fascinating atmosphere! Good choice the B&W! Super!
Thank you, nice days
George

Gerrit (35595) 2006-10-01 17:52

Hi Chris,
wonderful light and atmosphere, Good choise for B&W. The vertical exposition gives the picture a lot of 'space'.

Regards,Gerrit

JuanBaldero (0) 2006-10-01 22:04 [Comment]

Show Comment +

tjanze (5674) 2006-10-02 5:49

Hi Chris!
Wow! fantastic magic foggy light.Peoples in boat looks like ghosts.Birds works great in the air.
I order polarizer today.Never take photos with polarizer.
Did you can take shots with low light and polarizer filter? I read on net,that filter take half of light to camera and you must take photos with bigger time. Regards!

Paolo (40694) 2006-10-02 10:01

Hi Christopher, amaizing view, with a strange dark mood and a great composition with the sea, the fishermen and the birds.
thanks, ciao

Dragonheart (8393) 2006-10-02 23:07

Hello Chris,
Excellent work! very beautiful shot, the atmosphere is so peaceful and calm. Wonderful composition, the bird, the mist, the boat. Brilliant. Excellent framing and choice of BW.
Well done
Thanks for sharing
My best wishes
Vivek

vapours (7913) 2006-10-03 0:01

So much atmosphere here Chris, the increased contrast and large amount of sky that you've chosen to show really makes the sky and those clouds look like something to fear. The boat looks small and powerless compared to the rest of the landscape. Well done.

Photo65Net (43084) 2006-10-03 15:01

Hi,
Very nice shot.
I really like the composition and light control you did.
Great atmosphere.
JB.

t0mmm1 (5434) 2006-10-03 16:22

Hi Chris,
wonderful picture. I like the misty morning silhouettes here and the feeling is just fine also with the B/W.
Have a nice day,
Tomi

vinicio (22358) 2006-10-04 2:03

Interesting image Christopher, beautiful landscape and great atmosphere, some doubt about the B&W conversion but hovewer I like your idea and this image, compliments.
Ciao
VInicio

goodwill (4029) 2006-10-04 4:28

Oh Chris,
A very good morning to you...and the moment I opened myine favourites....i coulnot resist to stay away for a single second from this shot. I have not read the notes yet,Chris, but the shot is so expressive, beautiful, with the aura of smoke n mist covering the boatmen...is sems I am watching a Holly wood movie.
The shot is sensitive, its mysterious, and my imagination says..soon a diasonour will apear and the botmen would either flee away or jump into the water.
I write these words because...the shot is so self explicit and I shall only read the notes after expressing myself.
This shot has three segments.Each one complete in its own. the middle section being dfevoted to the birds, and the upper segment of the vast space adds to the beauty of the composition.
A hollywood shot!!!
Rajeev

thaprem (2472) 2006-10-04 9:57

Chris,
A very ar=ttractive one from you finished well to feed a serious offbeat message!...
I think your aim is met here with the shot attracting & then enlightening the viewer.
Thanks,
Prem.

fireflyz (2079) 2006-10-04 15:12

Hi Chris,
such a dramatic photo! you captured this beautiful scene very well! along with excellent note. I agree, we can't take mother earth for granted for too long or we'll pay a very heavy price. only if we could modify our behavior.
I lived in Maryland area for 8 years and your note really made me miss the all-you-can-eat crabs at a restaurant ($19 - mid 80s) in Rockville :)
TFS..

king (2598) 2006-10-05 15:51

Hi Chris
Congratulations with this picture. Your choice for B&W is good. Results in a shot with much sphere. The light from the right side is very special. The position of the boat is optimal.
Good way of capturing.
Great job.
Huub.

AiresSantos (41920) 2006-10-06 1:00

Magnificent B&W shot, Christopher !
Excellent POV and definition. I also like the fog effect and details.
Very well seen and done,
Have a nice day, Aires

macondo (13073) 2006-10-06 10:11

Marvellous, very subtle shot, with that bird, tiny as it is in the composition, assuming tremendous importance I think, in creating the mood of the image. The mist and water are wonderfully captured in the very gentle emerging light. Ideal b/w subject. Well done.
Regards,
Andrew

Click3 (1871) 2006-10-09 18:38

Hola Chris...do not know how I had missed this one: How very dramatic ! B&W is exceptionally well handled - all the grades from black to white.
Captivating, mysterious !
Muy Buena Amigo,
Saludos, Robert

zeca (20026) 2006-10-10 0:53

Hello Christopher!
What a nice picture!!! Beautiful lights and very nice vertical framing! The fog is a great detail! Like an amateur fisherman, I can´t pass this one! TFS!
Regards,
Zeca

Angshu (33585) 2006-10-12 3:42

Hello Chris
This is a lesson for me of masterful handling of composition and metering. The B&W works beautifully here..quite top class. The scene is so mystical with the boatmen as if emerging from the clutch of the mist with the patterns in the water in FG..and yes I love your notes, they are as moody as your photographs. Inspiring work
Regards
Angshu

sabyasachi1212 (19546) 2006-10-12 7:04

Hi Chris,
One of your recent best without doubt. Do not how I had missed this one earlier. Simply great work. Love the B&W mood.
Best Wishes
Sabyasachi

parbo (10968) 2006-10-13 7:48

Hello Christopher,

How I missed your this frame? Your detailed note is valuable at least your photo. I like foggy water surface and silhouettes that adds great value to your frame. Little cloudy sky and birds are also wonderful. Congratulations.

Best Regards,

Parbo

cam (8880) 2006-10-16 22:58

Hi Christopher
Wonderful mood you have captured here.
WE can feel the sun just to the right,outside the frame,leaving it out ensure a quiet atmosphere.
Looking at the men in their boat,we have a feeling that they are taking leasurely their time,must be an impression we get from the low light in the morning.
I like it
Well done
charles

rigoletto (26172) 2007-02-23 15:34

Hello Christopher,
Very layered and deep photo. Awesome lighting and atmosphere. I like the choice of B&W, and frame. Figures on the boat add a lot.
Regards,
Deniz

bigboroboy (1009) 2007-04-03 19:48

There are many strong shots in your gallery, especially those street candids you are obviously fond of taking. For me this is the strongest shot though. I think it's strength is is simplicity and strong composition. B&W was an excellent choice too. I think it might be worth cloning out that pole in the background as it seems a little anachronistic to me. But this is a very minor complaint with a very good image.

PHIL