Joy of Light Photoblog
m/v Point Reyes
Posted by Stephen Phillips (San Francisco, United States) on 27 February 2009 in Landscape & Rural and Portfolio.
The motor vessel Point Reyes aground on a sand bar at Inverness, California
This boat has been stuck here for many years and the subject of countless photographs. I was driving by this location during a recent model shoot (yes, with Lacey - she is off to my left here, exploring the creek). The weather was raining and the light magical. I couldn't resist...
© copyright 2009 by Stephen Phillips Photography / San Francisco / www.joyoflight.com
please respect these rights - do not copy or use these images without permission
Your comments are invited. You will also find me at ...
Paco Díaz from Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Very good shot of this old boat that defy the time standing on the sand... I like the light and colors of the shot.
Thanks, Stephen, for the link: I'm enjoying very much all the portfolios. There are a multitude of great photos. Splendid.
27 Feb 2009 6:20am
@Paco Díaz: Thank you very much, Francisco. ...and I'm glad you enjoyed...
Scott Schilling from San Martin, United States
Stephen. This is a beautiful photo. Wow. The green hills to the right and the cloudy skies are perfect. The colors really do pop in this light! I worry about you hanging around all day with forest nymphs and mermaids!
27 Feb 2009 6:26am
@Scott Schilling: Thanks, Scott. As to the n's & m's - it is a difficult job yet someone has to do it.
Didier from somewhere, France
Very beautiful photograph beautiful compositon and colors
27 Feb 2009 6:33am
Cricket-Tammy from Huntsville, United States
Oh....the Lacey story continues. She is a beautiful lady. She has got to be freezing running around in the nude this time of the year. I know the temperature changes a great deal where you live.
This is a fantastic image. I am not only drawn to the boat but the lush greenery way off at a distance.
27 Feb 2009 6:58am
@Cricket-Tammy: Thanks for the concern, Tammy. It was actually a very mild and rainy day - with the temperature around 60 degrees. We ran into fierce winds and fog at the top of Mount Tamalpais but as soon as we started down towards the sea - it was foggy but mild. This image was taken about 16 miles (25 km) north of the mountain - and as you can see - there was no fog at all. We had a wonderful time chasing images and rain.
Hema Iyer from Bangalore, India
This is a great shot. Light is just perfect....magical as you have said
27 Feb 2009 7:03am
yz from Budapest, Hungary
so perfectly composed!
the water leads the eye to the ship, the ship is balanced by the empty grass, beautiful
27 Feb 2009 7:35am
k@ from Paris, France
Love the tones and love the curve ! Emotion out of this pic*
27 Feb 2009 10:17am
Anthony Lambert from Bielefeld, Germany
I always find it a little amusing when British town and city names keep popping up in the USA and this Northeren Scottish highland city is no Exception !! This is a great shot with lovely composition and has put a smile on my face for today.
27 Feb 2009 12:00pm
@Anthony Lambert: Hey, Anthony - it is always good to hear that an image has managed to produce a smile. Often times when you see an old world name here in The States - you have to think the family must be really homesick. But, Inverness in Marin County (only an hour above the Golden Gate) - lives up to the feel and charm of the north British Isles. The beauty here is unmatched in so many ways. The tiny village sits along the south shore of Tomales Bay. This wide, shallow body of water actually soaks up enough solar power to become swimable - and four very attractive beaches sit nearby. A marked contrast to the cold ocean waters a few miles away.
Marcie from United States
Love the soft colors..and rainy day light. Interesting old vessel. T'would be fun to see some images with this and Lacey together - :-)
27 Feb 2009 1:09pm
@Marcie: Thanks Marcie. And always happy to accommodate. Set your way-back machine for late in the afternoon of 24 September 2008:
http://www.pbase.com/image/109642062
...perhaps not exactly what you had in mind. The community market and a couple other businesses are nearby - so privacy is rare. Still, with us - you never know...
bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada
The light is excellent as is this composition. I can see the attraction here, excellent.
27 Feb 2009 1:18pm
Viewfinder from Bradenton, FL, United States
Well you followed the right instincts; you caught a really nice shot Stephen.
27 Feb 2009 1:32pm
sherri from Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Your capture is excellent, but I feel sad the boat has been left there to decay.
27 Feb 2009 3:40pm
@sherri: Hi there, Sherri. I've run into this situation several times over the years. It always comes down to the money. If the equipment and time would cost more than the worth of the boat - this is the result. At least here - the engine, tanks, fuel lines, and everything else that could pollute have been removed.
hugo poon from hong kong, Hong Kong
This is quite a scene... how could one resist! Very beautiful composition and wonderful tonality. Enjoy this so much!!!
27 Feb 2009 3:46pm
Philip from Joburg, South Africa
Great capture !! the colours tones are excellent the boat look beaten up badly !!
27 Feb 2009 3:54pm
@Philip: It was a well built vessel. It has withstood many fierce storms over the years and is still pretty much in one piece. The next time I'm up there I plan to research a bit of the boat's history - including the question of when it went aground.
Jeff from Pembroke Dock, Wales., United Kingdom
Great picture mate,would love to know the history of this old Lady.
27 Feb 2009 4:53pm
@Jeff: I just now responded to Philip - that I plan to research this question the next time I'm up in that area. The town of Point Reyes - just across the Bay from here - has an excellent newspaper and would probably be a good resource for this inquiry.
Calusarus from St Sorlin en Valloire, France
This dead boat is a beautiful find… Thank you to share this treasure with us…
27 Feb 2009 6:14pm
Steven from Chicagoland, United States
I first thought you found the USS Minnow. ;-) Nice composition here that provides a lot of depth with beautiful greens in the background.
27 Feb 2009 6:29pm
@Steven: Reports are circulating that it was The Professor's watch and Mary Anne came into the wheelhouse and that's how the boat wound up in this condition.
Steve Rice from Olympia, United States
It looks as though the sandbar has grown up around the vessel over the years. Nice shot.
27 Feb 2009 7:24pm
@Steve Rice: From what I've learned while speaking with the locals - the sand bar arrived first - which is why the boat is now a permanent fixture here.
Suzanne from Huntington Bch, California, United States
Doesn't matter how many photographers have come before you. This is your image and it's marvelous. I can also promise you that if I come across this boat, I'm going to photograph it also.
27 Feb 2009 8:28pm
@Suzanne: Please be sure to let me know. I am always looking for an excuse to head for Tomales Bay and it would be a treat to meet you, Suzanne. Thanks for the kind words.
alex centrella from California, United States
wow, what a piece of history..great shot ! i wonder who the boat belonged to, could be a great research project..
27 Feb 2009 8:31pm
Susan from Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
Once again, you make me long for the wilds of California......photo is almost sad, the poor old boat, all alone, for so long..... what stories that boat could tell, huh?
great shot...i can see why the light drew you in.....
27 Feb 2009 8:51pm
Twelvebit from Victoria, United States
I love stuff like this. Did you go aboard?
27 Feb 2009 9:00pm
@Twelvebit: Not yet. I was wearing running shoes - it was raining - the creek was wide - and it was pretty muddy. I'll let you know if I make it on-board.
Walter from Watkinsville, United States
Is there anything better than an old boat just beckoning to be photographed?
28 Feb 2009 3:59am
@Walter: Thanks for the visit, Walter. I must inquire of the question you pose here; is this rhetorical? ...anything?
dogilicious from Millerstown, PA, United States
How could you resist? Great shot.
28 Feb 2009 8:27pm
Walter from Watkinsville, United States
Completely rhetorical question. I love old boats. I remember one of the first posts I commented on was of some old grounded tankers. BTW - how do you add your logo to your photos? I just picked something up from Scott Kelby's book about adding a signature or logo via PS that is so easy via the paint brush and looks fantastic. Included signature yesterday and logo tomorrow.
28 Feb 2009 9:39pm
@Walter: Walter - thanks so much. I, too have great memories and many experiences around shooting boats. My biggest influence in photography when I was growing up was a professional named Hamilton Poole. He allowed me to tag along as he'd explore the docks of Baltimore, Maryland. He typically shot with a 4x5 Graphlex - and was happy to have me along to lug his heavy wood tripod.
Congratulations on the Yosemite poster and signature. It probably won't surprise you to know that the Scott Kelby method you describe is how I apply my logo as well. Thanks for the thought.
@Matthew: Thanks, Mathew. What are you planning to do with your new found blue antique top?
sherri from Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
I tried to talk Matthew into another comment, but he wouldn't listen to me:-)
1 Mar 2009 3:10am
@sherri: Ummm: 11 years old. Not listening to mom. If I remember the operating manual correctly from way back then - this was rule number one.
inverness
point-reyes
tomales-bay
california
coastal
sand-bar
aground
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inlet