The Wandering Photographer

Photo Friday: What a Difference a Day Makes, Signal Hill, St. John's Newfoundland

Boy, what a difference a day makes.  After a 2000 mile drive, including five hours on a ferry and a good night’s sleep, we awakened to a fog shrouded St. John’s, Newfoundland.  We decided to go ahead and do some sightseeing anyway.  We made our way up to Signal Hill and its iconic Cabot Tower at the entranced to the harbor.

Nikon D1x, Tamron 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 30mm, ISO 125, 1/250 @ f/9

Here is a view of Cabot Tower hidden by the fog.  We spent some time inside the tower talking to the Parks Canada rangers and learning about the hill and tower.  It was here in 1901 that Guglielmo Marconi received the first ever transatlantic wireless transmission (the Morse code for the letter S sent continuously).  

When we departed from the tower and returned to our car, we found a man holding a television camera marked with the logo of the Canadian Broadcast Company (CBC).  It seems that he noticed Dominique’s bright yellow Pontiac Aztek with the Michigan License plates and wanted to interview us.  He asked if, after driving so far, we were disappointed about the weather.  Of course, we told him that we were having a great time and that we knew that Newfoundland weather was unpredictable and changeable (we’re used to that here in Michigan).

Nikon D1x, Tamron 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 24mm, ISO 200, 1/160 @ f/14

The weather did change and the next day we went back and re-toured the historical site.  We had a chuckle with the ranger when he told us he had seen us the night before on the news.  Unfortunately we hadn’t gotten a chance to see the news that night and missed our TV debut.

Thanks to Debbie of Delicious Baby for organizing Photo Friday and spreading such wonderful images across the Web.

© 2009 Tim Marks all rights reserved

Newfoundland Whale & Puffin Tour

One of the things that many visitors to Newfoundland do is to take some kind of Whale and Puffin watching boat cruise.  In that way we are no different.  You can always see the whales from the beaches and cliffs along the coast, and you can get fairly close to puffins in a few places (Cape Bonivista is one) but a cruise adds the fun of the boat ride to the wildlife viewing.

Nikon D1x, Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR @80mm, ISO 200, 1/640 @ f/9

So we signed up for the Gatheralls Whale/Puffin Cruise out of Bays Bulls, NL.  The cruise goes out to the Witless Bay Ecological Preserve for a, fairly, close up view of the puffins and many sightings of humpback whales while en route.

Nikon D1x, Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR @400mm, ISO 200, 1/1000 @ f/5.6

There are three species of puffins.  The birds shown here are Atlantic Puffins and can be found in abundance near Maine, Newfoundland & Labrador and Iceland (they are actually considered a delicacy in Iceland). 

Nikon D1x, Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR @400mm, ISO 200, 1/640 @ f/5.6

As they flew around our boat I couldn’t help but thinking they looked like Black & white footballs (the American kind) with wings.  I have no idea how those small, rapidly moving, wings can hold up those fat little bodies.

Nikon D1x, Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR @165mm, ISO 200, 1/640 @ f/9

One the way out to the puffin’s island we encountered numerous Humpback Whales and I was able to get a few pretty good images.  You get a glimpse of the whale’s back as it begins to surface.

Nikon D1x, Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR @135mm, ISO 200, 1/350 @ f/9

As it begins to dive up comes the tale and the “classic whale image” is yours for the making.  We did get the opportunity to see one of the most spectacular whale watching experiences, a full breech.  The whale leaps into the air and falls back to the water with a massive belly flop.  Unfortunately while the experience was exhilarating, it was far too distant for any good pictures.  Maybe next time!

You can see some of my other Canada posts here.

© 2009 Tim Marks all rights reserved

Fort Point Lighthouse at Trinity Bay Newfoundland

Today starts a week of three blog posts about photographing Newfoundland, Canada.  In 2004 we drove from Michigan to Newfoundland for our vacation, a journey of about 2000 miles.  This eastern most Canadian province is an island of wonderful landscapes, quaint villages and some of the friendliest people we have met.

Some of the best photo ops on Newfoundland are its myriad lighthouses that mark the entrance of most the harbors and points on the island.  One of those lights can be found at Admiral’s Point at the entrance to Trinity Bay.

The current Fort Point Light (also known as the Admiral’s Point Light or Trinity Light) was built in 2003 and is an active aid to navigation.  The first light at the location was built in 1871 and updated in the 1920s.

Several old cannons can be seen on the grounds honoring the light station’s history as a site defending the entrance to the bay.

Being so new, only a year old when these pictures were shot, this is one of the province’s prettier lights.  The rocky hill upon which it stands makes for dramatic photos.  This one was well worth the drive over from the town of Trinity.

Come back on Wednesday for some images I made while on a Whale/Puffin viewing tour.

©2009 Tim Marks all rights reserved

Photo Friday: Cape Bonavista Lighthouse - Newfoundland, Canada

Newfoundland, Canada is a photographer’s paradise, and lighthouses are one of the major photographic attractions.  One of the most famous lights is the Cape Bonavista Lighthouse.  Nestled on the coast at a point near where explorer John Cabot first sighted land in 1497, the light and the rugged cliffs are a picturesque setting worthy of a visit.

Nikon D1x,  Tamron 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 62mm,  ISO 125,  1/60 @ f/14

The lighthouse was put into operation in 1843, and the light was functional until 1964 when it was replaced by an electric light on a steel tower nearby.  You can see the tower in the picture above.  The lighthouse is now a provincial historical site and museum that is open to the public.

A visit to Newfoundland should be on everyone’s agenda, and a visit to Cape Bonavista, the lighthouse and the town, is a must when on the island.

If you like this shot please join me Wednesday when I blog about photographing the beautiful and historic Point Betsie Lighthouse on Lake Michigan near Frankfort, MI.

Thanks to Debbie of Delicious Baby for organizing Photo Friday and spreading such wonderful images across the Web.

© Tim Marks 2009

Wandering, Photographing & Traveling

What is this blog going to be all about?   Well we'll see. 

I envision this as a Photo Blog, a place to show off some of my pictures, to talk about some of my experiences getting them, and maybe a chance to express some thoughts about life in general.

My name is Tim, and I am a former Automotive Engineer who finds himself facing a new beginning.  I have decided to return to school at the ripe age of, well let's say 50 something, and finish the Masters in History that I started a decade ago.  This also gives me a chance to kick up my photography a notch and spend some time seriously trying to improve.  Hopefully readers/viewers of this blog will see that progression. 

I don't claim to be an expert but I am getting better every day and hope to share some of those experiences with you all.  I expect, at first, that this will be more photos and less talk.  As things move I hope to express those experiences more.

Well here is my first picture.

Nikon D1x,  Tamron 24-135mm f3.5-5.6 @ 90mm,  ISO 200,  1/100 @ f/9

In 2004 we took a trip to the wonderful island province of Newfoundland, Canada.  I found this scene on the dock in a small village on Trinity Bay.  I was attracted by the fact that lobster traps are a defining symbol in Newfoundland and the wonderful colors of the mesh and ropes.  Newfoundland is a place of very friendly people, picturesque lighthouses, great landscapes and Moose.  I hope to have several posts sharing some of the many images I made there.

You can learn more about visiting Newfoundland here.

Chat with you all soon!

© 2009 Tim Marks