Showing posts with label ocean. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ocean. Show all posts

Sunday, April 7, 2019

The Jersey Shore: Ocean Grove

This post was originally written as part of a series titled, The REAL New Jersey. After the series was cancelled I decided to re-write some of the previously published posts and republish them as time allows. I am beginning with Ocean Grove due to the "unofficial" start of summer this upcoming weekend.
The Great Auditorium

The Jersey Shore: Ocean Grove

Introduction

Ocean Grove is a small community nestled between Asbury Park and Bradley Beach. It was founded in 1869 by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Associations by Methodist clergymen, William B. Osborn and Ellwood H. Stokes. The statue in the first image is of Ellwood Stokes. The name, God's Square Mile has been given to Ocean Grove; each year tents are erected by the auditorium and are lived in, as they were more than 150 years ago. Church services are held in the auditorium, as well as shows and high school graduations.

When I was growing up the gates on Main Avenue were locked on Sundays - no cars were allowed. In the days before the invention of the automobile this prohibition applied to horse-drawn carriages. The ban was lifted by the New Jersey Supreme Court in June 1979 but the beaches are still closed on Sundays between the hours of 8:30 AM and 12:00 PM. Oh, and the town is "dry" - there is no alcohol sold within it's borders.

The town has been part of Neptune Township since 1921 but remained independently ruled until 1981 when their police department and court disbanded. You can read more about Ocean Grove here:

Ocean Grove

For me, there are only two (2) times of day to be in Ocean Grove - daytime and nighttime! Honestly, I can't think of any time when it isn't a good time to be there. I am quite partial to sunrise, though. Ocean Grove and the Fishing Pier were my go-to spot for sunrise. That was before Superstorm Sandy blew thru in October 2012 and destroyed the pier. They rebuilt most of the pier but stopped short of where the fishing shack used to sit. There is a plaque bolted to one of the pilings with Ralph sitting off to the side. Who's Ralph? He's the old fisherman "mascot" of the fishing club - he was a fixture at the end of the pier until he got carried away along with everything else. If you want to read more about Ralph, I have a few links below - he even has a Facebook page!

Ocean Grove is still my favorite sunrise, especially during the fall and winter when no one else is around. I've said it before and I will say it again - nothing beats the magic of a sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean. Now, sunrise isn't the only time Ocean Grove is photogenic; I have seen some wonderful sights during sunset, too. I have watched the setting sun disappear behind the Great Auditorium, creating a beautiful technicolor background to the steeple. If you are there for sunset (or sunrise for that matter) don't limit yourself to only watching where the sun is - sometimes the best show is off to the side or directly opposite. The golden glow can transform the ordinary into something truly spectacular.

The Beach

I did mention that Ocean Grove has a terrific beach, didn't I? It's true, I wouldn't lie to you about that. Whether you are chasing sunrises, striped bass, waves or rays, Ocean Grove is a place to enjoy a relaxing time by the sea. If you are going to be there during the summer months, I would suggest getting there quite early as parking fills up quickly and you may need to walk a considerable distance if you wait too long. Just don't get there too early on a Sunday, remember - the beaches are off limits between 8:30 AM and Noon.... There are restrooms and changing rooms located where the Ocean Grove Beach Office is at the end of Embury Avenue, where the pier is. There are several other entrances to the beach, including ones at Main Avenue and Ocean Pathway.

Bring a cooler (non-alcoholic beverages, please) and spend the day. If you don't want to haul food with you, you can easily walk to one of many restaurants and ice cream parlors within a few blocks of the beach. Until a few weeks ago, at the north end of Ocean Grove you don't even have to leave the beach for food, drink and ice cream. There was a nice group of restaurants called the Dunes Cafe, right on the beach but there was a fire this past April. The fire completed destroyed the building. There are a few different scenarios being discussed, including bringing in food trucks. Why would you go anywhere else?

The Great Auditorium

I briefly mentioned the auditorium at the beginning - it is a magnificent structure both inside and out. I only remember being inside once, for my daughter's high school graduation, but hope to get back again. The auditorium was built in 1894 and originally sat 10,000 people; today 7,000 people can be seated for everything from worship services to Beach Boys concerts to high school graduations. The first thing you will notice is the incredible pipe organ - it has 11,000 pipes and is one of the Top 20 in size in the United States.

The auditorium's acoustics rival the magnificence of the building and organ - built long before the days of amplification it was designed to carry the preachers voice to those furthest away. This makes the auditorium an excellent place for taking in some entertainment - some of the headliners have been:

Each spring since 1984 the auditorium hosts the "Annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service". The service pays homage to those law enforcement offices who lost their lives in the line of duty over the past 12 months. Law enforcement agencies from all over the state come to Ocean Grove to remember and honor the fallen.

Architecture

If you take a drive, better yet a walk, thru town you can't help but be struck by the beautiful architecture, much reflecting the late Victorian era. The buildings may be somewhat small, like the Thornley Chapel shown here or grand displays like The Ocean Plaza Hotel. A walk up Ocean Pathway will be met with beautiful homes, hotels and gardens - not to mention a great view of either the Great Auditorium or the Gazebo and ocean. If you are in town during the encampment you will find more than 100 colorful tents, too.

The Boardwalk

I would guess that most, if not all, of you reading this know the song Under The Boardwalk by The Drifters. I have always liked the song and I was surprised to learn that there are some people who don't know what a boardwalk is! I couldn't imagine; the boardwalk is so much a part of life here and I have spent countless hours "walking the boards." The Ocean Grove boardwalk is about 2/3 mile long, connecting with the boardwalk in Asbury Park to the north and Bradley Beach in the south. You can get on the boardwalk in Ocean Grove and walk for miles before running out of boards. Of course, all of the boardwalks are new, courtesy of Sandy. In Ocean Grove, at the end of Ocean Pathway you will find a gazebo on the boardwalk. During the summer outdoor concerts are held here but you are always welcome to sit in the shade and enjoy the sites and sounds. The gazebo is also available for weddings and other celebrations.

Food

If you walk just a few blocks from the beach you can find just about anything you desire - from the basic burger & fries to more eclectic gourmet meals. A walk up Main Avenue offers more variety and wide price range - also ice cream.

Have you noticed ice cream shows up in my writing a bit often? That's because I believe it should be it's own food group and it should be consumed at every meal. Ocean Grove gives you two (2) wonderful options for your ice cream indulgence - Nagels and Day's. It wouldn't be fair to pick a favorite because I have only been to Day's once but I can tell you that you will find a line at both places so.... Nagels also serves a wide variety of food at the restaurant inside.

Hotels, Inns, Bed & Breafasts

There are a surprising number of places to stay for such a small area and each place has it's own charm. I haven't stayed at any of the places in town but did get a brief tour of the Majestic (on Main Avenue) earlier this year. It is a very nice place and the hostess/innkeeper was very helpful and friendly. If you like something with a view of the auditorium and beach, check out the Ocean Plaza Hotel, shown here.

Local Art & Shops

I will finish up with the local art gallery and shops along Main Avenue. The Main Avenue Galleria is owned by Norma Tolliver and features work from local painters and photographers, as well as jewelry, furniture, sculpture, ceramics, etc... If you get a chance, you have to stop in and take a look around. I interviewed one of the photographers from the gallery - Interview with Jersey Shore Photographer Dan Falvo. You can take home a little bit of Ocean Grove to hang on your wall.

Gift shops line both sides of Main Avenue, many offering one-of-a-kind handmade or vintage items and there are plenty of clothing store options to choose from. You can also rent a bicycle from Ocean Grove Hardware - that is a great way to travel around town, just be aware of the boardwalk restrictions for riding.

Sunrise, Fog and Surf Fishing
Long exposure @ 2.5 seconds

Links to websites and other information

Sunrise

How to get there

Ocean Grove is a 60-90 minute drive from both the New York City and Philadelphia areas. See right for public transportation options.
  • FROM NORTH JERSEY: Take the Garden State Parkway south to exit 100B and follow Route 33 East to Ocean Grove.
  • FROM SOUTH JERSEY: Take the NJ Turnpike North to exit 7A. Follow Rte 195 East to Rte 35 in Belmar. Take Rte 35 around Shark River & across the inlet. Travel north onto Memorial Drive (follow sign for Bradley Beach), parallel to the railroad tracks for 2 miles to Corlies Avenue. Turn right across the tracks and into Ocean Grove.
  • FROM THE WEST: Take Rte 18 South to the Rte 33 East exit in Neptune. Follow Rte 33 East (Corlies Ave) to the end. Or, take Rte 195 East from the Trenton area to Rte 35 in Belmar & follow directions from South Jersey.
  • FROM THE EAST: Get in a boat, set your GPS for 40°12'36.3"N 74°00'09.3"W and don't stop until you hit the beach. 😉 😃

The "Special Guest"

So! Did you figure out who the "special guest" is in the seascape at the top of this post? If you did, good eye! If you didn't, I will end the suspense. If you take a good look at the main cloud, towards the right of it you can see the shape of Wile E. Coyote! Do you see it now? I wasn't aware of it until after I got home and started processing the images.
All other photos are copyright Joseph S. Valencia All Rights Reserved They may not be used in any way without express written permission of the photographer. If you wish to use any of the photos you may contact the photographer at valencia32photo@gmail.com
at 2 comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , ,
Location: Ocean Grove, Neptune Township, NJ 07756, USA

Sunday, March 31, 2019

The Jersey Shore: Sandy Hook

Sandy Hook Visitor Center
Before Superstorm Sandy

The Jersey Shore: Sandy Hook

Introduction

New Jersey has ten (10) areas under the direction of the National Park Service. While none are "national parks", they are National Scenic Trail, National Heritage Area, National Recreation Area, National Monument, National Historical Park, National Historic Trail and National Reserve. I will be writing about some but will start with Gateway National Recreation Area, aka Sandy Hook.
Sunset on the Bay
image courtesy Katherine Valencia
(my daughter)

Sandy Hook - Gateway National Recreation Area

Sandy Hook is probably the busiest place on the shore and it is also one of my favorites. It is a very diverse place, too; being a peninsula means there are plenty of beaches for sunbathing and the fishing is some of the best of the East Coast. There are also miles of hiking trails, old bunkers and munitions batteries, the Lighthouse and Coast Guard Station. The header image shows the original Visitor Center as seen from the beach. The building was once used as housing for lifeguards before being turned into a Visitor Center. The building is now closed due to damage suffered during Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and the center has been moved to the Light Keeper's Quarters. This image is from March 2012.

I've been going to "the Hook" for as long as I can remember - I had an 8th grade class trip there and remember having a Boy Scout Jamboree back in the 70's. We camped on the beach, I remember rain.... This was also a place where we rode our bikes to a few times. I spent a lot of time surf fishing during the late 80's and early 90's and I can't tell you how many hours hiking along the beaches and trails, almost always with a camera in hand. I don't get up there too often anymore, it is now a 45 minute to an hour drive but I try to get there at least once a year.

The summer months find the park filling up early so if you want to go for a day at the beach, rise with the sun and head out. That's why this is one of my off-season destinations. If sunbathing is your thing, there are several ocean beaches but chose wisely - one of them is the "Nude Beach". There are trails to hike that bring you thru wooded areas and beaches - on both sides of the peninsula. The Hook is one of the few places where you can come early for a sunrise over the ocean and stay late to witness a sunset over the bay. Both are equally beautiful and distinctly different.

Wildlife

If you are a bird watcher, prepare yourself for a long day; the Hook is located along the Atlantic Flyway and is visited by more than 325 species of birds. The red-winged blackbird and great white egret are but two of the many different birds you will find here - some of the more common being glossy ibis, green heron, black-crowned night heron, piping clover and willet. Horseshoe Cove is a great place to find herons, egrets, osprey, geese and ducks; in fact, I spotted the egret shown here because a chevron of Brant (aka Brent Goose) caught my eye and the egret was feeding about 10 yards away. Of course, sea gulls are the dominant bird here and found on both ocean and bay sides. There are large poles with platforms sticking up in a number of locations - those are for osprey to nest. In all of the years I have been going to the Hook, I have only been able to capture an osprey on "film" once - it was shortly after I got the image of the blackbird shown here. Unfortunately, it caught me by surprise and it isn't a very good image.

Birds aren't the only wildlife you will find - if you are quiet and look real close, you may spot a red fox or two. You will also find Monarch butterfly and horseshoe crab, in addition to the aforementioned osprey. Muskrat can be found along the bay side but the real show-stopper might be the seals; you can find them playing in the surf or, between December and March, laying on the beach soaking up the rays.

Though I've not seen any in my travels, I understand you may come across an occasional snake along the way. The overwhelming majority of snakes in New Jersey are non-venomous and none of the venomous snakes are native to this area.

Flora

Warning: Poison ivy is prevalent - learn to recognize the plant and keep your distance.

The warning aside, poison ivy does play an important role - it's roots help secure the sand in place during storms. Milkweed is abundant and is vital to the well-being of the Monarch butterfly. The flowers, trees and plants found on the peninsula are many - mushrooms, cacti, Maple trees, flowering dogwood, beachgrass, sunflower and bayberry, to name a few. The Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) shown here was found growing out of the wall surrounding Mortar Battery. For more information, check out the Sandy Hook Herbarium run by the Marine Academy of Science and Technology. I would like to thank Ms. Cheryl McDonald for helping me to identify the plant. I would also like to thank Ms. McDonald for letting me know of the Holly Forest at the park. I'm certain that I have been thru there because I have explored the entire park at some point but I had forgotten. The Holly Forest is the largest on the East Coast and has trees that have been there since the British occupied the area - some reaching 70 feet high! The forest is also believed to be the largest virgin holly forest in the country. There used to be a nice pathway thru the forest but my understanding is that it is now closed to the public - there was a problem with people damaging the trees by taking clippings for Christmas decorations. The Park Rangers were conducting walks thru the forest but it would seem that has ended as I cannot find any information.

History

There is no way I can write about Sandy Hook and not talk about it's rich history and it's role in our military history, particularly the American Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and the Civil War. You will find bunkers, ammunition batteries, and the lighthouse.

The Sandy Hook Lighthouse is the oldest operating lighthouse in the United States, built in 1764 it was lit for the first time on 11 June 1764 - at the time it stood 500 feet from the tip of the hook, today is is nearly 1½ miles from the tip. The lighthouse was nearly destroyed in March 1776 by the Monmouth County Militia for fear it was aiding the British. They took most of the items essential for the lighthouse to function and broke the glass lens. The British ultimately took over the hook, repaired the lighthouse and remained there until the end of the war.

A wooden fort was constructed during the War of 1812 and named, Fort Gates. As an additional line of defense, a cannon was installed in the lighthouse. After the war, it was decided that a permanent structure should be built but it didn't start until 1859 when the Army began construction of Fort at Sandy Hook. The fort was never finished and was knocked down in the 1950's. The gun batteries didn't come into being until the end of the 19th Century. This is around the same time Fort Hancock came into being; designed to protect New York Harbor from invasion.

World War II saw a proliferation of aircraft being used for warfare and by the end of the war anti-aircraft guns played a key role in defending the fort, only to be replaced by Nike missiles during the Cold War. The fort was decommissioned at the end of 1974 and became part of the National Park Service.

The U.S. Coast Guard now occupies much of the land on the bay side, close to the tip.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Ms. Cheryl McDonald for identifying the plants shown here.

I would also like to thank my daughter, Katie, for allowing me to use her sunset image. It's hard to believe I have never shot a sunrise or sunset at Sandy Hook, I'm glad she has. You can check out more of her work at her Facebook page - Katie Valencia Photography.

Original Visitor Center
before Superstorm Sandy

Links to websites and other information

  • Download a "Multi-Use Pathway map" (PDF) - here
  • Download a "Trail map" (PDF) - here
  • Map of Sandy Hook (JPEG) - here
  • Fort Hancock Historic Walking Tour (brochure/map) - here
  • Birds of Gateway National Recreation Area (PDF) - here
  • Mammals of Gateway National Recreation Area (PDF) - here
The Twin Lights
As seen from the park entrance

How to get there

For GPS, use the following address: 128 South Hartshorne Drive, Highlands, NJ 07732
General directions (from the National Park Service website): https://www.nps.gov/gate/planyourvisit/sandyhookdirections.htm
  • From North Jersey and New York: - South on the New Jersey Turnpike - Exit 11 onto the Garden State Parkway (South) - Exit 117 (Keyport/Hazlet) - After toll, bear left and follow Route 36 East - 12 miles to park entrance (after crossing the Highlands Bridge)-Stay right to enter the park.
  • From South Jersey: - North on Garden State Parkway - Exit 105 (Eatontown), bear left for Route 36 East - Continue on Route 36 East, pass Monmouth Mall and across Route 35 through Eatontown and Long Branch (Route 36 is called Joline Avenue here). - Continue on Route 36, which turns left and follows north along ocean. (Route 36 is called Ocean Blvd. here) - North for six miles through the towns of Long Branch, Monmouth Beach and Sea Bright to park.
  • From Philadelphia & Camden, New Jersey: - New Jersey Turnpike north to Exit 7A (Shore Points) onto I-195 - East on I-195, to Garden State Parkway north. - GSP north to Exit 105 (Eatontown). - Then follow "From South Jersey" directions above.
For alternate transportation options - including public transportation - you can check out the website above.
"Sunset on the Bay" is copyright Katherine E. Valencia All Rights Reserved They may not be used in any way without express written permission of the photographer. If you wish to use any of the photos you may contact the photographer at k.e.v.photographynj@gmail.com
All other photos are copyright Joseph S. Valencia All Rights Reserved They may not be used in any way without express written permission of the photographer. If you wish to use any of the photos you may contact the photographer at valencia32photo@gmail.com
at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , ,
Location: Gateway National Recreation Area, 26 Hudson Rd, Highlands, NJ 07732, USA

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

DAMN, IT'S COLD! It's Time To Hit The Beach For A Sunrise!

Sunrise - Spring Lake, New Jersey

Disclaimer: I mention a local hotel and some equipment in the following blog post. This post is not endorsed by them in any way nor am I being paid for writing this or mentioning them. If you purchase something, I receive absolutely nothing.
My wife and I went away for a long weekend with our good friends, Danny & Debbie. We stayed at the Hewitt Wellington Hotel in Spring Lake. I had photographed the hotel one night - I was there to photograph St. Catharine and the park across the street but after the sun went down I was drawn to the hotel reflecting in the lake. You can view that image on my Instagram feed in black & white and in color. I posted a couple of the images on Facebook and a friend commented on how nice the hotel was. When we were looking for a place to stay for the weekend, I suggested we check it out. It is quite nice and I would recommend it to anyone looking to stay in the Spring Lake area. The hotel was booked solid for the weekend - in February! - so I would think it might be wise to book well in advance if you plan to stay when the weather is nice. The hotel is about two (2) blocks from the beach so I planned to catch the sunrise on Sunday, if I was awake. I knew it was going to be cold and the weather forecast was "iffy" so I wasn't going to set an alarm and wake up my wife. As luck would have it, I barely slept all night and at 6:00 decided to get dressed and walk to the beach. The Weather Channel said it was 27°F with 18°F windchill but they weren't at the beach! I swear the windchill was more like 0°F standing at the edge of the ocean.

I no longer own a pair of gloves, I lost mine (driving gloves) a couple years ago while out on a hike and just never bought another pair. The winters in New Jersey have been somewhat mild with occasional "arctic blasts" so I haven't been able to justify spending $70 or more for a good pair of photographer's gloves. This sunrise excursion had me questioning my decision.... Fortunately I have a Canon cable release for my camera (a Canon Rebel EOS T3i) and I was able to keep my hands in my jacket pocket much of the time; even with this, my hands were bright red and barely functional when I was putting my gear away after about an hour. I think I might break down and buy a pair of Vallerret photography gloves next fall and a good balaclava to keep my head and neck warm. If you own Vallerret gloves - how do you like them? Are they really as good as they say they are? If you have other gloves, which ones and would you recommend them? I am also open to recommendations for a balaclava - I've never owned one.

Now on to the sunrise! The official sunrise time was 6:45 and I arrived at the beach just before 6:15, plenty of time to find a composition and set up. I had the added advantage of having been to this exact spot on the beach a week or two earlier so I had a composition in mind before I got there. I wanted to use the jetty as a mid-ground and the scattered rocks on the beach as foreground. The tide was coming in and much higher than the last time I was there - the foreground rocks were almost entirely swallowed up by the incoming waves. You can see the clouds in the first image - those were the only clouds in the sky that morning and they never moved. Well.... later that morning the clouds rolled in - plenty of high, wispy clouds with a nice mix of low, puffy clouds. Had they come a few hours earlier the story would have been a whole lot different. I guess if the conditions were always the way you wanted them to be, landscape photography would get pretty boring - huh? 😉

I set up the tripod about as close to the water as I dared and fired off a couple test shots. I wanted to get a fairly long exposure to help smooth out the water and stopping down to f/11 gave me a 10 second exposure for the first image. I would like to have gone with a 25 or 30 second exposure but didn't want to stop down any more than f/11 or f/13 and the thought of fooling around with ND filters in the cold was not appealing to me. If the conditions were better, sure, but not this day. Overall I'm happy with the first image but I may have been able to add a stop or so to the exposure and open up the shadows a little more; maybe even a little "light painting" with my headlamp or flashlight.

As I was waiting for the sun to rise, I turned the camera south and made an image of the beach before turning the camera to the north and doing the same. The second image shown here is the north-pointing image. I stopped down to f/13 to get a 30 second exposure. When I checked this shot on the back of the camera I was quite happy with this image - the lamps on the boardwalk gave me a nice star and the water looked nice; it wasn't until I got home on Monday and started processing it did I notice the Belmar Fishing Pier in the distance. I think it adds a great touch, what do you think?

Lastly, once the sun started peeking over the clouds I grabbed a few more of the jetty but the sun was too harsh and I wasn't thrilled. I was about to put the camera away when I looked down and saw the sun starting to creep into the reflection on the wet sand. I liked the way the water was reflecting the sun and color in the sky so I composed the frame and starting shooting. I wanted to make sure I got it right - not too much water but enough. The exposure for the image I settled on was 1/25th @ f/11. It was taken within 8 or 10 minutes of sunrise. Once I thought I had what I needed I headed up to the boardwalk to put my gear away. There is a pavilion to provide at least some relief from the wind. By this time my hands were bright red and I was barely able to work the clips on my backpack to get it open but there was no way I was carrying the camera on the tripod all the way back to the hotel. I got everything put away, put the pack on my back and headed for the hotel and coffee maker! It took about an hour before I was completely warm....

I hope you enjoyed this post and the images. I would love to hear what you think and also hear about your experiences shooting sunrise. What were the most difficult conditions you have had to fight? This past Sunday weren't the worst I have endured but they are in the Top Ten. Until next time - get out and enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer while we still have a chance!

All photos are copyright Joseph S. Valencia All Rights Reserved They may not be used in any way without express written permission of the photographer. If you wish to use any of the photos you may contact the photographer at valencia32photo@gmail.com
at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , ,
Location: Spring Lake, NJ 07762, USA

Monday, January 21, 2019

It's Cold. It's Windy. It's Time For The Beach!

I went out to lunch with my wife yesterday and we decided to take the long way home, driving along the ocean. When we got to Bradley Beach I could see some spray peeking over the top of the dunes so, of course, I had to stop. I didn't have my DSLR with me but had my phone and thought I would be able to get a good shot for my "365 Project" (see 2019 and my 365 Project.)

The wind was quite wicked, really whipping up the waves and blowing spray - in other words; perfect! I found a group of rocks being pounded by waves and then a small group scattered in the sand. I could tell they were still being hit by water at times but it appeared the tide was receding so I figured I was safe. I was, for the most part, right about that except I almost got wet when a couple larger waves came in at once, pushing the water further up the beach than I had previously seen. Luckily I noticed the oncoming water before it was too late - the result was this black & white image.

I was able to stay on the beach for about 10 minutes and shoot about 15 or so images before it got too cold. I was not dressed properly - this was a last minute decision so I only had a lightweight, insulated jacket and no hood. I haven't been able to find a pair of gloves suitable for photography that were warm and reasonably priced so I don't wear them when I am out - in fact, right now I don't even own a pair of gloves. I guess some day I will have to break down and buy a pair but it's hard to justify because we don't really get that many days when I absolutely need them.

I'm keeping this post short, just wanted to share a few of my images from the beach. Hopefully I have encouraged you to get out and shoot, cold, wind, rain, snow; doesn't matter, there is never a bad day to be outside shooting. Each type of weather system brings challenges - facing and conquering those challenges is what makes us better photographers.

All photos are copyright Joseph S. Valencia All Rights Reserved They may not be used in any way without express written permission of the photographer. If you wish to use any of the photos you may contact the photographer at valencia32photo@gmail.com
at No comments:
Labels: , , , , ,

Friday, July 14, 2017

There is a rapture in the lonely shore

This is somewhat of a follow-up to an earlier post titled "There Is Pleasure In The Pathless Woods" and just one of many inspired by a poem or quote that I have come across over the years. The full quote is:

There is pleasure in the pathless woods, there is rapture in the lonely shore, there is society where none intrudes, by the deep sea, and music in its roar; I love not Man the less, but Nature more. - Lord Byron
The lead image is the beach at Ocean Grove, looking North towards Asbury Park. This is the beach I most often visit when I want to shoot the beach and ocean. It is close to my home but it is also one of my favorite places, period! I started going to Ocean Grove long before I moved to where I am now. This was actually taken with my cellphone camera shortly after I arrived at the beach. I have a habit of taking a few shots with my phone when I am out shooting and then posting them on social media - Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. It is a great way to get some images out and it is also a great way to communicate to others who may be in the area - just in case they want to join me. If you look closely at the sky, you will see that I wasn't really alone - a beloved television character from my childhood was there. Can you see it?

I think my favorite time to be at the shore is dawn and sunrise. Watching the sun come up over the Atlantic Ocean is such a wonderful experience and I never get tired of it. This second image was shot at Ocean Grove on a magnificent morning. I knew the sun was going to be rising almost exactly due East of the Fishing Pier; I had been waiting for this day for quite a while. The sunrise that October day was 7:08 AM so I was on the boardwalk ready to go at 5:45 AM. Why so early? I always get to my shooting destination at least an hour early so that I can plan my shots, set up and make sure I don't miss anything.

The third image was taken on the first day of Spring 2012 at Horseshoe Cove on Sandy Hook. You may have seen this image before - I have used it to illustrate a couple previous blog posts but don't think I ever wrote about the image itself. I make it a habit to get out and shoot on the First Day of Spring (I try the other "First Day"s but don't seem to make all of them) and 2012 was no exception. I have also noticed over the past few years that the weather is not necessarily "Spring-like" when I am out and this day was no exception. There was a very dense fog covering the entire area but the closer you got to the ocean the worse it got. You can see in this image that visibility was extremely limited. Horseshoe Cove is one of the places I always go to whenever I get out to Sandy Hook; to me, it is a special place. Don't ask me why, don't know but it is. I like this shot because it is both calming and eerie at the same time. The scene is tranquil but you just don't know what is looming just out of sight.

I have one final image I would like to share. This was one that I took on my way to the office one morning. I leave much earlier than necessary, just in case I have to take a "detour" and that is what happened this morning. When I walked out of the house I noticed some clouds tinged with faint red and immediately headed to the beach. This was taken with my smartphone and edited using Lightroom for Mobile (see "Improve Your (mobile) Photography: Using Lightroom for Mobile")

I have many more images of the beach and ocean - all times of day and in all types of weather - but I think this is a good time to conclude this post. I hope you enjoyed the images presented here, along with the stories. I also hope the quote inspires you to get out into nature and explore it many splendors yourself. I know I will be out soon - Spring is here and I also need images to illustrate "There is a pleasure in the pathless woods"....

Oh, by the way! The character in the sky is Wile E. Coyote. Did you see him?

All photos are copyright Joseph S. Valencia All Rights Reserved They may not be used in any way without express written permission of the photographer. If you wish to use any of the photos you may contact the photographer at valencia32photo@gmail.com
at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Featured Post

Macro (and Close-Up) Photography - A Whole New World

Macro (and Close-Up) Photography - A Whole New World All photos are copyright Joseph S. Valencia, All Rights Rese...