Lighthouse Wake

This was one of those moments of serendipity.
Pat and Finnegan and I had taken the On Time ferry over to Chappy
early one October morning. The signs were announcing that the
winter hours for the boat crossing were to begin soon and
with the recent breech into Katama Bay
the tiny island would soon be even more isolated.

Just the way true Chapps like it.
We drove around for a while in search of the best vantage point
to do some sketching and take some reference photos
for paintings of the Edgartown harbor and skyline.

Finnegan and Pat explored the Chappy shoreline while I worked.
It’s a daunting challenge to try and get the entire town into one composition,
which was my original intent. From the Vose boathouse…panning right…
past the Reading Room and the Yacht Club
on to the town dock and the Old Sculpin Gallery
taking in the ferry as it crosses and the Harbor View
then on out past the lighthouse to the farthest visible point on Cape Pogue.

I stood for hours in dozens of spots and captured images.
When you do that and are focusing either through a camera lens
or through your mind’s eye on a specific object or area
it’s easy to lose track of the comings and goings of boats
and birds and fisherman surrounding you.

So that, while I was concentrating on the lighthouse
and how the shadows moved across it’s slanted white walls
I was surprised by a fishing boat which was motoring up behind me
heading out for the morning’s catch.

I shifted focus and let the camera track it
all the way past me and out around the point.

Months later,
when I was working in my snowbound landlocked studio
and reviewing the photos and my sketchbook drawings
I was pleased to see that this rugged and hardworking trawler
had left such a graceful and organic ribbon
in it’s wake.