The Decisive Moment
In photography, the “decisive moment” is a key concept. Part of it is being in the right place at the right time, and another part of it is recognizing that you’re in the right place at the right time.
Take a look at some of my own images from the last few weeks – decisive moments, for sure.
Turkey Patrol on Main Street, Falmouth
The turkeys continue to be in charge of Main Street, even though the “alpha” turkey has reportedly been removed from the flock.
Wings Neck Lighthouse
Recognize this lighthouse? It’s the same one in this newsletter header above. Sunsets there are really nice!
Old Silver Beach – First Snowfall, Jan. 5, 2016
Sunrise, sunset… Not the sunrises so much, but the sunsets do get me out the door, looking for the moment. Here I was, taking pictures of the reflection of the sunset over the water and on the first fresh snowfall of the year. Those pictures were pretty good, but when I turned to leave and saw my reflection on the wall, I knew that was the image I wanted.
Although we’re officially in the season of “hunker”, every other day seems to be gloriously sunny and warm. Whether you’re reading by the fire or walking in the fresh air, enjoy – and find some of your own “decisive moments”!
Iconic Wings Neck Lighthouse
Another beautiful sunset at the iconic Wings Neck Light. I was showing my listing at 475 Wings Neck Road, and I had a feeling the moment was right.
The best thing? After I took a few pictures, I got to visit with my friends, Eileen and Newman Flanagan, who live next door to the lighthouse and see these sunsets every night.
Top Placement in an Upper Cape Camera Club Competition
I was really thrilled to find out that I recently won FIRST PLACE in both categories I entered in an Upper Cape Camera Club competition!!
You saw it here first. The image above, a picture I took of the Wings Neck Lighthouse during the year I lived just three houses away from it, was honored with a first place. The category was “Cape Cod Icon”. I took the picture with film, and have done very little tweaking to it – a small crop, and a slight intensification of the sky. Other than that, this is what that sunset really looked like. It still takes my breath away.
I also like the window in the lighthouse. At home, this is one of three images that are hung as a triptych, each getting closer, so the last one is a close-up of just the window. It’s quite abstract and “painterly”: you see the window, as well as through the window to the interior of the lighthouse and out the window on the other side to the sunset – and the reflection behind. It’s one of my all-time favorite shots, and why it became my signature photo on my Falmouth Fine Properties newsletter.
This is a shot of the iconic restaurant in Provincetown. The competition category was “Essence of Cape Cod”. I thought that both a lobster pot AND the restaurant captured the category, and I’ve always liked this image. The close cropping and the neon make it dramatic, I think. Most viewers are familiar with the sign, but we “see” it anew when looking at the photo.
For a few years, the image was hanging on a wall in my house, but I sold it recently. And then was a bit regretful. So when this category came up in the camera club competition, it was motivation for me to print it again. You can imagine my surprise and pleasure when it won first place. This time it’s staying home with me!