Remember the Fun

Lately I’ve been working on a new venture documenting the blue economy and sustainable ocean industry. There is so much going on here in Rhode Island and it’s amazing to see. I had been tracking a few large research vessels that work surveying a wind farm located about twenty miles Southwest of Nantucket. These ships will seek safe harbor during weather events like winter storm Izzy. Enduring heavy wind, rain, and flooding, I managed to get the content I needed, but was sure to create some art before my job was through.

~ Dina Polaris Anchored At The Bridge ~ Jan. 2022

Another research vessel, The Furor Explorer, pictured below on the right was also in Newport Harbor for a little getaway. These ships are exciting to see up close, but catching a glimpse means you’ll have to endure some heavy weather.

~ Dian Polaris (left) and the Furor Explorer (right) on a weekday getaway ~

The close up below was taken from the Northern tip of Fort Adams and landed on the front page of Newport This Week. I’ll be creating more content like this as I continue to document this blue wave here in New England, and I’ll be certain to remember to let the shutter lag for a few.

Newport Bridge

Thanks to the Citizens Pell Bridge Run, every year I have to opportunity to stand atop this extraordinary structure to photograph runners as they climb and descend the longest suspension bridge in New England. The event attracts a variety from competitive runners to view-seekers.

~ Suspended ~ 2017

Event day is an early start. RIDOT drops me off at the top around 6:30 AM, which gives me an hour or so to create art before the race begins. The hope is for a beautiful morning, but It’s not always sunshine and rainbows.

~ Rose Island in Fog ~ 2017

I’ve been lost in pea soup fog, had to grab hold of the railing during 40mph winds with MAC trucks screaming by, and have even taken cover in a tower during a down-pour. Despite the conditions, the feeling of standing up there alone is mesmerizing.

~ East Passage ~ 2021

~ East Passage ~ is a recurring series that began in 2018. The image is taken from the same spot each year that nature permits. The view is from the bridge looking south toward the entrance of the Narragansett Bay. I use intentional camera movement to blur my subject.

~ East Passage ~ 2018

Using ICM (intentional camera movement) creates an effect with lights off in the distance, as seen in the above image. Funny thing is I generally find the lights distracting and try to space my frame to avoid them, but I quite liked the subtly and curves they created in this particular image.

~ Light Test ~ 2019 no joke. just a test shot. You can still buy it though, she's a beauty!

In 2019 I remembered to take a traditional photograph. The sunrise was exceptional that year.

~ East Passage ~ 2019

Feeling the squares in 2019. Squares are a great shape because they can fit a variety of spaces, and they look great big or small, together or alone. Do you have a favorite? Click below to get a quote and mock-up

The Dock

State Pier #5 in Narragansett is a gateway between worlds. You can leave the bustle of town behind as you enter the mighty Atlantic, or just stare at it from the magnificent rocky coastline. One of the things I love about this place photographically is how you can create an array of images from a single spot. All three images in this post were created within feet of each other.

~ Morning Rollers ~ 2021

On a good day, the wave that breaks in front of the dock can be as menacing as it is perfect. Surfers gather from all over for their chance to catch that mesmerising view. Other times, when the waves are small and empty, I like to let my shutter lag while I catch a couple from shore.

~ Rain ~ 2020

~ Rain ~ is one of my all-time favorite images and currently hangs in our dining room, though she is available. One overcast morning, the tide was high as waves crashed into the lot. I timed a surge with a slow-shutter click, giving the splash a rain-like quality.

~ In the Distance ~ 2019

Over the years I’ve created a lot of images from the dock, mostly during early morning walks with our fifteen-year-old border collie, Tori. As public as this spot can be, it never fails to calm my soul. This particular image is currently available for a special price printed at 48” x 48” on recycled dye-sublimated aluminum. Click the button below to view all available aluminum prints.

The River Mouth

The Pettaquamscutt river mouth at the North end of Narragansett Beach is an absolute gem. In the summer you can find it packed with boats and sunbathers, but in the winter it’s pretty much just you and the birds, which given the proximity to the wildlife refuge there are plenty to observe. I love drifting through on my longboard to get a birds eye view.

~ River Mouth ~ Winter 2021

On a particularly cold morning in November I took a stroll down to see how a recent storm had re-shaped this special stretch of sand. The waves were small and most of the sky was gray. But on the horizon, a small crack in the clouds began to refract this beautiful morning light. It got me thinking that even on the darkest days, it only takes is little light to make you shine.