Floating Homes Photo

Photographer’s Note

When we lived in the San Francisco Bay area, we lived on a sailboat docked in Alameda as my husband was stationed at a nearby Coast Guard Base. At the time, there was a move to gety rid of those nasty ‘mudders’ that ‘:lived for free,’and ‘polluted’ the Sausalito waterfront. When Larry got out of the Coast Guard, we sailed the boat to San Diego and fought the San Diego Unified Port District from 1969 to 1985 over the issues of anchorages and ‘live-aboards’ on boats. We lost the anchorage issue but were able to maintain the possibility of living on one’s boat. So naturally when we are in Sausalito, we like to stop by and check out the continued survival of the houseboat community.

A quote from the Floating Home website best describes the current status.“A "Floating Home" is a legally-permitted structure, with no means of self-propulsion, which occupies a permanent berth and is subject to property taxes. It complies with all applicable codes and is connected to all utilities and services, including water, sewage, electricity, gas, telephone, and cable television. Floating home marinas are privately owned and charge homeowners monthly berthage fees. Our communities evolved from the free-spirited artists, shipbuilders and writers who lived aboard the arks and the various types of boats which were informally anchored in San Francisco Bay beginning in the 1800's. By contrast, today's floating home communities are structured and highly-regulated. “

The Artists of Issaquah (Dock) had an art show in April, here’s a linkto the an attractive poster advertising the show. In September, Floationg Homes has a tour of houseboats, tickets are $35.

BilboCA, danos, josepmarin, ktanska, feather, jwmunro, gunbud, bakes888 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

BilboCA (734) 2009-08-06 21:39

Hi, Pat,

Thanks for sharing the interesting story of the "floating homes," which I've of course seen (but never paid much attention to...).

Your photo presents an interesting illustration for the narrative.

I like the reflections off of the water and the overall crispness. Visually it is too busy for my taste, especially on the right-hand side of the frame. I imagine that it is tough to isolate a subject in a setting like this.

Kind regards,
- William

danos (33730) 2009-08-06 23:25

Hi Pat,
to be lived someone in one of these floating houses must be a great experience.Lovely shot with the houses to have their boat as their little gardens near them.A good reportage shot.Well done.

Regards,danos

Angshu (34243) 2009-08-07 0:49

Hello Pat
Only yesterday I critiqued Kath's photo from Kanchanburi, Thailand, which showed floating hotels (not homes), but they are so similar to what you show here. While the purposes are very different, its interesting to think how the idea originated in the first place! A nice picture with some excellent reflections
Best Regards
Angshu

josepmarin (34269) 2009-08-07 1:39

Hi Pat,
This one seems a very interesting place to live very calm in one of these floating houses. I like how the light and the colors of your photo show them to us to enjoy its great visual attraction and the beautiful place where they are located.
Beautiful composition, very elegant.
HLJ
Josep

ktanska (16743) 2009-08-07 4:03

Hi Pat,
Interesting to see that such homes are on that coast too. Very cosy, and there seem to be no-one around, probably peaceful too. I like the warm colours here.
But this feels oversharpened. I'm not saying that you sharpened this more than previous shots but those small and edgy man made objects can't take it so well.
Kari

xuaxo (5911) 2009-08-07 4:06

Olá Pat,
Very interesting story about the floating homes. The photo is a good illustration about them. We even see a lot of flower pots.
The photo seems a little bit dark.
SAA.
F.

Dyerco (9396) 2009-08-07 7:44

Hi Pat
We have similar problems here in vancouver but I always find these homes so intriguing. This image appears a bit dark on my monitor but I like it nonetheless.
Phil

lousat (16448) 2009-08-07 7:47

Hi Pat,i like a lot this hrad contrast in your pic.A very nice view whit great colors and magic reflections on the water..and the clouds in background complete the spectacle! My best compliments,have a nice weekend,LUCIANO

feather (50560) 2009-08-07 8:47

Interesting post Pat. We did visit Sausalito once but must have had blinkers on as we didn't notice the floating homes. The light is strong but it has afforded some very attractive reflections that I like. Immediately the raft houses on the River Kwai spring to mind.
Kath

jwmunro (6279) 2009-08-07 16:21

Hello Pat -

You have some very nice light, a bit strong, but offering some nice reflections and shadows. The only thing that catches my attention is the sharpening artifacts along the horizon.

Thank you for sharing.

John

(Is this a blended scene?)

gneufeld (15289) 2009-08-07 18:07

Hi Pat,
I really like the deep rich colors and reflectons in this one. - seems a great place to visit and hang-out. TFS. Gerald

pablominto (41690) 2009-08-09 3:19

Hello Pat,

Great light!
The contrasty appearance and rich colours serve the subject well, I assume this is on the afternoon side of day...
And life on or near the water is a privilege, I guess you can live with some property taxation...!

Greetings,
Pablo -

lestans (15550) 2009-08-09 8:01

Hi Pat!
I remember lots of floating homes also in Amsterdam, and now I saw some in Copenhagen. I think that it is a post-hippy culture, and San Francisco area is typical.
Nice view, many informations and details.
Ciao from a warm warm Lestans

Livia

toto (18783) 2009-08-09 13:09

Bonsoir,
belle photo de ce port avec ses pontons bien décoré et fleuris.
Jolies couleurs, belle luminosité et bonne netteté.

Amitiés Thomas

gunbud (28295) 2009-08-09 17:43

Hi Pat,
Popeye and Olive Oil would be right at home in this lovely floating community.
Love the rich reflections caught on this Venice like avenue from the sky and boats.
Great story about the struggle to maintain this way of life.
Regards, Tom

bakes888 (18353) 2009-08-25 0:41

Hi Pat. Not quite the laid back freedom of the early days but still nice I imagine. Nice catch, good colours and details. I like the reflection especially. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

pajaran (4320) 2009-12-05 1:17

Pozdrav iz maglom pokrivene Cuprije.
Jos jedno lepo saznanje iz vaseg dobrog teksta i zivota. Pravi trenutak snimka ove lepe kompozicije dobrih boja i reflexa u vodi. Mesto za miran zivot i uzivanje.
Prijatan vikend, Paja.