Southcoast Photo Blog

Bye Bye Tarp- Braga Bridge, Fall River

2011-11-04T10:38:00.003-04:00

The bridge is MOSTLY painted now (touch up work left over). You can't tell from this photo, but it's now a nice shade of Navy Blue (in honor of the U.S. Navy). What you can tell is that there is no more big tarp on the bridge (you can see it in this photo from about 9 months ago). I think it looks great.

It's my party

2011-10-28T15:29:00.002-04:00

Rarely ever do I post pictures of people. Even more rarely do I post photos of myself. This is an exception. This was a quiet afternoon this October when I decided to play around with my tripod and photoshop. It came out pretty good. It's a fun way to play with photography when you're bored.

The Bean- Chicago

2011-10-25T19:03:00.002-04:00

I'm just browsing through the images I haven't uploaded yet and finding tons. I'll mix them in here and there.

This one was taken in front of the famous "bean" (really called "Cloud Gate") in Chicago's Millennium Park. It's a wickedly popular tourist attraction due to the great distorted reflections.

Mill River- Taunton

2011-10-20T09:27:00.003-04:00

The Mill River is a tributary of the Taunton River which flows from lake Sabbatia, through the center of Taunton and down into the Taunton River. It's not very long, but there are a number of historic mills along the short course of this river. This particular shot was taken right next to the Taunton Green (downtown). I'm a big fan of the fall colors starting to show here.

End of the Road- Westport

2011-10-19T12:07:00.003-04:00

This is a segment of East Beach Road in Westport that was washed out during Tropical Storm Irene. Immediately following the storm, it looked like the road had been the epicenter of an earthquake with chunks of blacktop scattered about. They should be able to repair it before next summer, but as of right now, there is no road (this photo was taken yesterday, 10/18/2011).

Chicago River

2011-10-18T09:58:00.004-04:00

I spent a week in Chicago last month which is about as photogenic a city as there is. The architecture nerd in me was in heaven. This is the Trump Tower soaring over the Chicago River at nearly 1,400 feet. Also pictured is the famous Wrigley Building (to the right of the Trump Tower). On the left bank of the River, you can see all of the architectural tour boats. If you're ever in Chicago, they're totally worth doing.

Dreary Day on the Water.

2011-10-17T11:33:00.003-04:00

October can be beautiful, but it can also be gloomy. This was a gloomy day. This is a beautiful old boat that looked great even though it was cold, windy and misting.

Fresh Seafood?- Westport

2011-10-15T10:08:00.006-04:00

This is what the beach looked like in Westport following Hurricane... ok.... Tropical Storm Irene (I know, Irene was over a month ago... I've been offline for a bit). These are sea clams (Actually named Atlantic Surf Clams, but we call them sea clams). They're NOT to be confused with Quahogs. I made that mistake once. I was at the beach with a friend, and we decide we were going to have "Quahogs on the half-shell." Basically, pop them open, put a little hot sauce on them and eat them raw. This is common practice with oysters, cherrystones, littlenecks, and even quahogs. The only problem was that these clams are NOT quahogs. They're much bigger and much tougher. I managed to choke mine down. My friend didn't detach the clam from its shell so he ended up having to chew it. If reading about it is making you ill, just imagine witnessing this in person (or actually being in his shoes). Needless to say, we both discovered A) the difference between quahogs and sea clams and B) why sea clams are not in high demand.

As to the photo, these clams were washed up on the beach after Irene. There were literally thousands of them, all in-tact (not just empty shells). It was a heck of a sight, but after about 2 days of sitting in the sun, the stench was like nothing I've ever experienced. Unbelievable. Anyway, it made for some fun photographic opportunities.

Captain's Home- Assonet

2011-10-14T08:38:00.002-04:00

This is an old captain's home along the Assonet River in Assonet. I wish I had a little more history on the house, but I don't. It's a beautiful old building along the river. Today, the river is used for mostly recreational purposes, but it used to be an active port where products made at small factories along the swift flowing portion of the river were shipped from. It was an important port during the Civil War due to a gun manufacturer in town. Fish and Lobster were also shipped into Assonet along the river.

October Creepy- Fall River

2011-10-13T21:40:00.003-04:00

I'm getting ready for Halloween and the whole Fall thing. It's definitely my favorite time of year.

Today's update is from the Oak Grove burial ground in Fall River, MA. Oak Grove's most famous resident is Lizzie Borden (don't worry, there's plenty of that for future updates), but it's full of other gems too. This mausoleum really stood out to me. The drizzle gave it a real creepy vibe (which I enhanced with post processing).

Fall River is a great Halloween city. Salem, MA gets a lot of the credit (and deservedly so), but Fall River is full of creepy history (from Lizzie Borden to cult murders) and has two of the best haunted houses in New England. Expect plenty more from Fall River this October.

This is my first post after a few months off. Hopefully I'll get back to visiting friends' blogs and updating regularly soon. For now, we'll take it day by day.

On Guard- Westport

2011-07-22T18:41:00.001-04:00

Another foggy beach shot. The lifeguard stand at Bakers. On rough and foggy days, guards stand at the water's edge to give them a better view of the swimmers. Yesterday was both rough and foggy.

Fogged In- Westport

2011-07-21T13:59:00.002-04:00

A foggy day at Bakers Beach in Westport. Bakers is a private beach club along the same stretch of sand as Horseneck Beach and Westport Town Beach (aka Cherry and Webb). It's a small stretch of beach, but you can barely see across to the other side in this photo. Those gray structures are bath houses where members can leave beach equipment so less time is spent packing and unpacking for a day on the water's edge. In the middle there is a snack bar and dining area that serves up some of the best food (and views) you'll find in the area.

North Watuppa Pond- Fall River

2011-07-13T17:41:00.002-04:00

This is a roadway along the Northern end of North Watuppa Pond. North Watuppa is the drinking supply for the entire city of Fall River. It also feels so out of place. This is less than a mile from some of Fall River's most urban neighborhoods. The land surrounding the pond is mostly preserve land (Freetown-Fall River State Forest, S.E. Bioreserve, etc) and is the perfect spot to get away from the hustle and crowds of the city.

Sunset Silhouette

2011-07-11T21:47:00.003-04:00

This is one of the few images of mine with a human subject. To be honest, I tend to avoid human subjects because I find it to be a little awkward sometimes. Thankfully, she is a friend and this opportunity just sort of happened.

A New England Scene.

2011-07-10T16:03:00.002-04:00

In New England, we have to get every last drop of summer because it's too short. This is what I would consider to be a typical New England summer scene. A nice sailboat out there enjoying the waning daylight hours.

Something Different- A Times Square Freeze Frame

2011-07-09T10:32:00.005-04:00

And now for something completely different. This is a shot of Times Square I took a little over a week ago. I have a lot of fun playing with my tripod in urban areas at night. There's just so much you can do.

Late Afternoon- Goat Island

2011-07-08T10:04:00.002-04:00

This is a late afternoon shot from Goat Island in Newport. This was taken on the 4th, shortly before the fireworks.

Smooth as Glass- Assonet

2011-07-07T12:40:00.002-04:00

This is an early morning shot, a similar angle to the previous update. I couldn't get over just how calm the water was. It looks like glass.

I'm not dead!

2011-06-18T23:12:00.003-04:00

I apologize for the lack of updated and the lack of visits to the blogs of those I follow. I've been working hard and when I haven't been working hard, I've been enjoying my free time by relaxing. I've been out taking more photos, so I'll be back within the next week with regular updates. I appreciate the continued visits I've been getting. Thanks!

Midnight Silhouette. This is my little 14 foot outboard at about midnight with light pollution in the background.

Guest Photo by Phil Damiano- Lift Bridge, Bourne

2011-05-24T13:51:00.005-04:00

First, I apologize for the lack of updates. I've recently taken on an additional job and am working on opening up my own business so I'm a little busy of late. Fortunately, I can end a 3 day hiatus with a bang. Today's guest photo is from Phil Damiano (you can contact him by email at Photographyphoenix@gmail.com ).

Phil shared this excellent shot of a freight train crossing the Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge. It's a vertical lift bridge located in Bourne at where the Cape Cod Canal meets Buzzard's Bay. The bridge was built in 1933 and the central span, between the two elevator towers (the spire in the photo is one of the towers) to create a clearance of 135 feet. It's the second longest vertical lift bridge in the United States, but was the longest in the world at the time of completion.

Working together for a better tomorrow- Fall River

2011-05-20T15:55:00.005-04:00

The abandoned Watuppa Heights Housing Projects in Fall River:

This one may need to be enlarged. The sign reads: "Watuppa Heights Computer Learning Center. Working together for a better tomorrow." A little bit of sad irony.

I started this blog with the aim of showing the beauty of Massachusetts' South Coast region in a positive light. Sure, I may have posted one too many sunset photo or favored one location over another; but I think I've done alright. I love my area, I love to take photos, so it's a good match.

The drive behind my wanting to show this region in a positive light is the general perception of the South Coast. It generally ranges from "It's OK" to "It's awful... especially the cities." Occasionally I bump into someone who feels that the region is a hidden gem, but it's just sandwiched between overly popular areas all within an hour drive(Boston to the the north, Providence and Newport RI to the west, Cape Cod to the east and Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket to the south) so it's overshadowed, which is generally how I feel. That being said, it would be wrong to deny that the region is without flaw. While I think some- particularly lifelong locals who haven't lived anywhere else- are too fixated on the negatives, it's hard to ignore many of them.

Generally speaking, there is too much poverty in the South Coast's inner cities. Educational achievement levels are low, and the local economy is struggling. Both Fall River and New Bedford have a similar set of problems, but New Bedford seems to be on an upswing (growing population, highest grossing fishing port in the nation, gentrifying downtown, growth in medical care and technology fields, decreasing crime rate, etc), Fall River seems to be on a gentle slope downward.

Fall River's population dipped below 90,000 for the first time in a century (it peaked at 120,000 in the 1920s). With a decreasing population and bad economy, demand for housing is fairly low. This Watuppa Heights housing project was built in the 1950s and vacated sometime in 2007. It's an entire neighborhood that is now vacant and set to be demolished like so many other buildings in the city.

While I love this region of the state, and I do believe it gets a worse rap than deserved, it's hard to deny the very real problems that do still exist here.

Rainy Day Blues (and oranges, yellows, whites, etc)- Westport

2011-05-19T15:47:00.002-04:00

I have a few new photos from the past few days; but as I'm listening to the thunder and rain, I can't bear to post something gloomy and gray. This is another scene from Gooseberry Island in Wesport. Here you're looking out towards Horseneck and Bakers Beach, Acoaxet, and Little Compton, RI.

Guest Image by Christopher Rego: Fairhaven Bridge- New Bedford

2011-05-17T00:29:00.007-04:00

This is a photo of the Fairhaven-New Bedford Bridge (Route 6) in New Bedford from Christopher Rego, a South Coast resident.

It's a swing-truss bridge that was built between 1897 and 1899 making it about 112 years old. The bridge still opens daily to allow much of New Bedford's fishing fleet to enter and exit the city's inner harbor. This span crosses from New Bedford's Fish Island (a tiny island just east of Downtown... you can see the tops of two of the city's tallest buildings just over the fencing on the right side of the bridge) to Popes Island as part of the New Bedford to Fairhaven leg of Route 6. As of right now, there are no plans to replace the bridge and it still carries a moderate to heavy load of traffic on a daily basis.

A Walk in the Woods- Berkley

2011-05-16T12:54:00.002-04:00

The green of spring coming in around one of Dighton Rock's walking trails in Berkley

Dusk at Gooseberry Island- Westport

2011-05-15T10:41:00.005-04:00

This was taken from Gooseberry Island in Westport at dusk on Friday. Gooseberry Island is a small, publicly accessible island (by causeway) that's maintained by the department of conservation and recreation. It's a beautiful place to take in a sunset or go for a walk.

Guest Image- Fairhaven Town Hall by David Lima

2011-05-14T14:07:00.004-04:00

This is the first of the new "guest blogger" series. This is a photograph of Fairhaven's Town Hall by South Coast resident, David Lima (you can view more of his photos here).

Fairhaven's grand Town Hall was built in 1892 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. It was among a number of buildings donated to the town by wealthy resident Henry Huttleston Rogers and his wife. Rogers was a businessman who worked closely with John D Rockefeller at Standard Oil and eventually founded the Virginian Railway.

Unsafe Ice Conditions- Berkley

2011-05-13T12:50:00.007-04:00

Annnnd we're back...

Well that was fun, wasn't it? If you don't publish on the blogger platform, you may not have known that it was experiencing "major technical issues" which resulted in the publishing platform not being accessible for most of yesterday and this morning (an eternity in internet time). What's worse is that many of the posts and comments people made after a certain time yesterday were pulled from the site. It's a shame because I'm fairly certain I had over 100 comments on yesterday's blog post (kidding).

This is what I meant to post yesterday.

This is Dighton Rock State Park in Berkley. I'm glad that Massachusetts is looking out for our well-being. I was walking around and looking out at that "ice" thinking to myself, "I'm going walk right out there... who cares if it looks a little thin today? I've lost some of my winter weight, I'll be fine!" Then I saw this sign. Who would have guessed the ice out there was unsafe?! Phew. Close call. I called the state to ask what exactly was unsafe about the ice at Dighton Rock. Apparently it's liquefied ice and with that comes an extremely high risk of falling through the surface while attempting to walk on it. According to her, one guy managed to walk on liquefied ice; but it was a long, long time ago. She offered no further details (my guess was that it was David Blaine... that guy can do anything!).

On a serious note, Dighton Rock is a bit of an oddity in the state park world. Sure, it has some nice scenery, waterfront hiking trails (along the Taunton River) and some nice woodland. However, it's what's in that little white building (the Dighton Rock Museum) that makes it such a unique place. Dighton Rock is a medium size boulder that had been sitting in the mud of the Taunton River for centuries before being placed in the museum. On the rock are ancient petroglyphs (I had to look it up too... it means rock carvings) of an unknown origin. There has been speculation and controversy over the origins of the carvings for the past 300+ years. Inside the museum is a bit of information on each of the most credible theories as well as the rock to see the carvings yourself. While the most probable source is early Native Americans, it's still fun to listen to the others (which range from Norse to Chinese). More info can be found on Dighton Rock's Wikipedia page.

The museum doors were locked when I was there. As an ex state employee (I worked a little at this park), I'd wager it has to do with short staffing. The museum should be open more during the summer months.

Custom House Square- New Bedford

2011-05-11T14:03:00.003-04:00

(click to enlarge... this one's better that way)

I don't know why I like this picture. There's no real "subject" (though you could argue that the fountain is almost there), nor is it framed beautifully (the top of the fountain is cut off). Still, I like this picture. It makes the city feel old (which it is) and the variety of stones (slates, cobbles, granite, brick, brownstone, etc) provide an interesting contrast. It's also a little bit creepy and the monochrome really drives that home.

I'd also like announce a new concept on the South Coast Photo Blog. The aim of this blog has always been to highlight the region in a positive manner. The reception has been better than expected. I've enjoyed showing everyone this region through my eyes. However, part of what makes this region so great is that it's such a diverse community of people. I like seeing the South Coast through other people's eyes as well. As a result, South Coast Photo is going to start using guest bloggers. I'll continue to make up the bulk of the posts, but occasionally, I'm going to feature photos from the South Coast Region that are taken by other people. I posted an ad on craigslist asking if anyone wanted to contribute. I've had a number of great responses and I'll probably start posting some guest entries as early as next week. I think it would make for an excellent segment to compliment the "then and now" theme I already have going. If any of you out there have some images of the South Coast that you'd like to have posted, feel free to email me at jmfox1985@gmail.com. Your photo would be posted along with a description of your choosing (I can create one if you don't want to) and a link back to your blog, gallery, portfolio, facebook page, etc. In addition, I have this site optimized as an online store as well. Should your photo be sold (don't get your hopes up, image sales are few and far between), you'll get every cent.

A New Day- New Bedford

2011-05-10T13:42:00.002-04:00

The sun rising over Buzzard's Bay. The West may get the sunsets (we don't have bad ones), but the East gets the sunrises and they don't disappoint.

Somewhat related fact of the day: The first place in the lower 48 states in the U.S. to see a sunrise each morning is either West Quoddy Head in Lubec, ME, Mars Hill, Maine or Cadillac Mountain, ME depending on the season. It was commonly believed that the summit of Mount Katahdin (Central Maine) was the first place to see the morning sun, but that's not true.

Happy Mother's Day- Westport

2011-05-08T20:00:00.004-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms out there.

Bittersweet Farm in Westport is a popular spot to take Mom for a Mother's Day Brunch. It's a converted farmhouse and the renovation is stunning. Inside are exposed beams, and lots of natural light (due to the giant windows in front). It has a very rustic feel and the food is excellent. If you're looking for something a bit more casual, try the Tavern downstairs.

Convergence- Berkley

2011-05-07T21:41:00.006-04:00

This is one that probably needs to be enlarged for the full effect.

This is a photo from a town that's sort of underrepresented on the blog. Berkley. I know a picture is worth a thousand words, but this one could really use a play by play.

You're looking at the convergence of the Assonet River (coming in from the left) and the Taunton River (coming in from the right). From here, the two become the Taunton River which flows South through Fall River and into Narragensett Bay, past Newport, RI and out into the Atlantic Ocean. That Journey from this point is about 25 miles.

What I like about this photo is that it puts a lot into perspective. You can see 5 (yes, that's not a typ0) different towns from here. The foreground (near the swan) is Berkley. On the left (across the river) side is Assonet (part of Freetown). On the right (across the river) is Dighton. In the Background you can see the towers of an old coal firing power plant in Somerset, Massachusetts. In the right center of the background you can see the high rises and old mills (even part of the Braga Bridge) in Fall River. Not a bad little vantage point.

I'd also like to thank the swan for guest starring and adding a little elegance to the photo.

Updates...

2011-05-06T15:21:00.004-04:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that I haven't abandoned my blog. Two San Francisco trips within about a month of each other have set me back at work and I haven't had time to update my material. I've got thousands of San Francisco photos but the past entries have been too SF centric. I'm working on stockpiling my local images and concentrating on the blog's namesake... the South Coast. I've got 3 different (new) locations in the area scouted for shoots this weekend and I may even have a REAL treat for next week. Bear with me while I get back to the roots of this blog! Thanks.

A hippo "baring" his teeth at the SF zoo.

Side note on the whole "bearing v. baring" thing. I had (many times) written "bare with me." instead of "bear with me." I generally take pride in my (for the most part) passable grammar. It turns out that "bare with me" is essentially an invitation to get naked with me and is incorrect usage of the term (unless, of course, I'm inviting someone to get naked with me). The way I discovered my error was via email from my boss who (playfully) made light of my grammatical shortcoming. It's sort of embarrassing to think back to how many times I've written "bare with me" to strangers, coworkers, friends, family, etc. I hope not too many of them picked up on it!

The lesson? Stay in school, kids; or else you may be asking someone to get nude with you and not even know it.

May Flowers- Assonet

2011-05-03T15:54:00.006-04:00

I realized today that I haven't posted a single floral shot. So many others have already posted spring blooms (excellent photos), but this is my first.

It's a nice splash of color in contrast to the mostly B&W stuff I've uploaded the past few days.

Fishing Boats

2011-05-01T15:43:00.001-04:00

Still feeling artistic today so I went with the Black and White on this one. I love the effect since they are old fishing boats (near Fisherman's Wharf in SF).

Deep Blue

2011-04-30T12:18:00.002-04:00

Occasionally I like to do some color isolation. This vivid blue really stood out to me, so I couldn't resist this one. A brilliant blue on a small skiff.

Then and Now- Union Square

2011-04-29T16:16:00.005-04:00

Union Square in Downtown New Bedford, Then:

And Now:

Not too much has changed aside from the gaping hole in the street wall (center of the picture). There have been a number of plans and proposals to fill that gap, but nothing has come to fruition. I'm hopeful that the nationwide economic recovery combined with New Bedford's Renaissance, we will see something there soon. A 3-4 story structure hugging the sidewalk would fit just fine.

Yosemite.

2011-04-28T14:13:00.006-04:00

Well, after a little over a week on vacation, I'm back...

Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park

Giant Sequoia, Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park.

It's hard to narrow a trip to Yosemite National Park down to two photos (I have over 300); however, these two best summarize our brief stay there. The first shot is looking straight into Yosemite Valley. This popular perspective is known as the "Tunnel View" as it's what you see just after exiting the tunnel through a mountain on Route 41. I'm happy with the way the photo turned out, but it's one of those things that no photo can do justice. The view is breathtaking. That cliff on the left ("El Capitan") is over 3,000 feet of vertical drop. Standing at this lookout after traveling through a dark tunnel makes one feel they've been transported back into the Land Before Time.

The second photo is a Giant Sequoia in one of Yosemite's "big tree" groves. Again (perhaps more so in this case), photos can't do it justice. I rarely include people (intentionally) in my photos, but felt it was necessary in this case to add some perspective. My girlfriend (seated) and a friend of ours (standing) may not be thrilled with me posting this picture, but it does give a reasonable sense of the enormity of thees trees.

I consider myself a "city boy" in most aspects. I like my amenities close by, I like people near by, and I like the pace of living in a built up area. I tend to get cabin fever when I'm out in the woods too long and am not too good at entertaining myself. However, after a weekend in Yosemite, I found myself saying, "Man, I needed more time there." I knew it was beautiful, I've seen the photos. Still, it managed to take my breath away in person (only a few other places have had the same effect and only one-- the Taj Mahal-- was man-made) and leave me begging for more. If you've been, you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't been, do yourself a favor and go. You won't regret it.

On Vacation! California Bound

2011-04-18T21:58:00.005-04:00

I know, I was gone last month too. My girlfriend is going to school in San Francisco, so I don't often get to see her. This time I'm flying out with a couple we've been friends with since early on in college. We've got a brief, but fun filled week packed with a Red Sox game (in Oakland), 2 nights at a cabin in Yosemite National Park, and one night in Big Sur. It should be a good week.

I most likely won't update the blog; but you may notice some aesthetic changes on the top of the South Coast Photo Blog. I've linked to a gallery of some of the best images I've posted to date on the blog. If you find yourself thinking, "Man! I can't sleep tonight, I just can't get enough of Jon's photos!" Fear not. There are plenty of them up there. I've also taken a foray into designing local themed T-Shirts and accessories (some of which are based on photos of mine). Feel free to check them out in the "South Coast Photo Store." No need to buy, I've only sold a few and they're heavily influenced by local nuances, but it's a fun creative outlet (like the blog).

Anyway, I'll be back next Tuesday. Enjoy your week!

This is a Buddha in the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco.

Then and Now- New Bedford Institution For Savings

2011-04-17T12:56:00.005-04:00

Then (1914):

Now (2011):

This is my favorite "Then and Now" to date. It's my favorite, not only because things have changed so much here (and not for the worst), but because of the current use of the building.

This is the New Bedford Institution for Savings building on Union Street in downtown New Bedford. During its heyday, it was one of many grand old banks in the city. With the decline of whaling (and later manufacturing), the large number of banks became less and less necessary. Today, the building is used for a multitude of purposes including office space. However, the most exciting adaptation of this structure is the relatively new Ocean Explorium. It's part aquarium and part marine learning center. It's a fantastic destination for downtown New Bedford.

Some other differences you may note between the two photos are:

1) The build up around the building. This section of downtown New Bedford is much newer (relatively speaking) than the Whaling District (pictured yesterday). The 1914 photo was taken while downtown New Bedford was still expanding. In that photo you can see wood frame homes and woods. In the background of the "Now" photo, you see a much more urban environment. Behind this is the Zeiterion Theatre and the UMass Dartmouth Star Store Art Gallery/Campus. It's a great photographic example of New Bedford's growth into the chief urban space (though still small) on Massachusetts' South Coast.

2) The additions to this structure. Yes, I used the plural. If you look at the first photo and then the second, you'll notice that the building extends further toward the left frame of the 2011 photo. That addition was completed (presumably) not too long after the first photo was taken as it maintains similar architecture and materials. The second addition is barely noticeable from this angle (clear as day if I had zoomed out more) and much more modern. You can see a little bit of the "newest" adddition to the rear of the building in the center of this photo.

Anyway, a little New Bedford History in two photos.

Visitor's Center- New Bedford

2011-04-16T12:16:00.003-04:00

I decided to go with a little monochrome today. This is William Street in the Whaling District. The structure in the center is an old bank that is now the visitor center for the Whaling District National Historic Park. This photo was taken just before sunrise, yesterday.

Queen of Peace- New Bedford

2011-04-15T13:38:00.003-04:00

Appropriate name for this trawler given the calm, quiet sunrise we had this morning. I've mentioned it before, but New Bedford is the nation's highest grossing fishing port. This is mainly due to the value and prevalence of the Scallop industry, but groundfish, swords, and a wide variety of other seafoods are taken in via New Bedford harbor.

Then and Now- St. Mary's, Fall River

2011-04-14T14:33:00.004-04:00

After viewing these photos side by side, I've realized that my framing on the "Now" photo is just awful. I'll explain.... I have a "historic South Coast" album with all of these historic photos on my iPhone that I carry with me so I can get JUST the right angle when taking my "now" photos. Unfortunately, at the end of the weekend, my iPhone kicked the big one and I didn't have it with me for this shot so I went on memory (it didn't serve me so well). I'm only now getting my iPhone restored to where it was before.

In the tradition (one of my favorites) of blaming someone else for one's mistakes, send complaints to "Steve.Jobs@Apple.com"

Anyway, it's good enough to get the point across. St. Mary's Cathedral is one of Fall River's most noticeable structures. It's the head of the Fall River Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church. It's situated JUST across the street from the also famous Lizzy Borden Bed and Breakfast.

I do not know the date on this particular photo, but my money would be on 1900-1910 judging from the structure in the back-right of the photo.

Deep South- New Bedford

2011-04-11T12:21:00.003-04:00

Fort Taber and the surrounding park at the far Southern tip of the city. You can see the network of trails that run alongside the fort which was built to protect the city from maritime invasions.

Early morning frost and fog

2011-04-08T18:15:00.003-04:00

Fog on the bay early this morning. It turned out to be a beautiful day (capped with a Red Sox win), but it was pretty chilly this morning and that fog was just starting to burn off when I got this shot.

This one's better when enlarged.

Standard Times Photo Contest

2011-04-07T13:11:00.005-04:00

Well, I got a nice honor today. My photo was the Judge's Choice winner in the New Bedford Standard Times Photo Contest. I honestly didn't think it was better than many of the entries. Anyway, I get a year artists membership to Artworks! in New Bedford and my photo will be on display there for a week.

Again, it's a great honor to get the recognition. Especially when I look at the other entries and see the high quality work in there.

This is the entry. I posted it in January, Ned's Point in Mattapoisett

Enough tooting my own horn. Thanks to the Standard Times' judges for selecting my photo and thanks to Artworks!, not only for the membership, but for all they do for the New Bedford community in terms of providing creative outlets for all of its residents in addition to keeping the arts accessible for everyone.

Window to the Past

2011-04-05T17:14:00.002-04:00

This is looking through a crack in New Bedford's Fort Taber's exterior. You can see the old fort's interior is still very much in tact.

Knights' Helmets

2011-04-04T16:24:00.002-04:00

Well, not really. These are actually soup bowls. They were really interesting looking and reminded me of the helmets a Medieval knight might wear. It hink they are supposed to look like nuts or some sort of squash. Very neat looking, anyway.

New Bedford Skyline

2011-04-02T13:10:00.004-04:00

Downtown New Bedford from across the harbor. I've posted a similar picture at dusk, but this is the city's skyline as seen bright and early (7:30am). Not much of a skyline, but it does give you a sense of place. On a ferry ride back from Martha's Vineyard or Cuttyhunk, you'll cross blue seas and pass by uninhabited islands (right near one that's aptly named, "No Man's Land"). This small cluster of buildings in the South Coast's most urban pocket is a sign that one has arrived back in civilization. It's a fairly unremarkable scene, but I enjoy it because of the familiarity and all of the great things that inhabit and surround these buildings.

Merchant Mariner's Pier- New Bedford

2011-03-31T14:28:00.003-04:00

This is the Merchant Mariners Pier at Fort Taber in New Bedford's South End. This is looking the opposite direction of yesterday's update. At the very end of the pier, you can see the Butler Flat's lighthouse (better if enlarged) which marks the entrance to New Bedford harbor. This is a REALLY long pier and it's incredibly peaceful so early in the morning.

Fort Taber Sunrise- New Bedford

2011-03-30T13:36:00.008-04:00

This one's best if you click it to enlarge.

Fort Taber this morning at sunrise. Fort Taber is the southernmost point in New Bedford. It lies at the very tip of the peninsula jutting out into Buzzard's Bay. To the left in this photo you can see some of the Elizabeth Islands in the distance.

Fort Taber (as you see it now) was built in 1863. However, there had been some sort of fort on this site for decades. New Bedford sustained heavy damage from British invasions in 1778. After that, it was clear defenses needed to be installed. Today, the fort serves a much more peaceful purpose. It's a large public park that offers stunning views of Buzzard's Bay and the entrance to New Bedford Harbor. This photo was taken from the Merchant Mariners walk (a long pier jutting out into the harbor). Behind where I was standing is a great view of Fairhaven's Fort Phoenix and a great, active lighthouse (maybe an update for later). More history on the Fort can be found here.

I apologize for the lack of updates lately. I spent last weekend in Vermont, but I had internet access and a few photos on my netbook set for uploading to the blog. However, I changed my mind about loading them (all except the previous update). They were older photos which I had passed on uploading earlier due to having some other photos of superior quality. Although I have never stated that this is a "daily" photo blog, I generally try to update it like it is. I have enough photos to do so for probably a year. However, I don't like putting up photos that I find to be mediocre (like the previous update). For that reason, I'm only going to update when I have, what I feel are, quality images to share. Some of the blogs I follow are perfectly capable of cranking out top-notch images on a daily basis. Not me! I'd rather post nothing than something I'm not proud of. This isn't news if you've been following the blog over the past few months. I haven't really updated daily. Still, I figured an explanation might be nice. I'm trying to beef up the quality which is resulting in less quantity.

No Entry- New Bedford

2011-03-26T18:29:00.003-04:00

This is the entrance to New Bedford Harbor's hurricane barrier. The gates close and seal off the harbor during stormy seas. Most of it is open to the public as walking trails as well.

Riding the money train (not really).

2011-03-25T17:06:00.006-04:00

Although the actual transaction took place a few months back, I just got the results in the mail today. This is the first photo I ever sold. No, I didn't break the bank ($25), but it was incredibly flattering to have my photo selected (from flickr) to be purchased. It was purchased by mcdougall & duval advertising (they use lower case letters, not my typo!) for use in BankFive's annual report for 2010.

Anyway, I thought it was kind of cool to see my work in a publication like this.

The original photo, New Bedford Whaling Museum:

The photo in the report (the other two are NOT mine):

The cover of the report:

Then and Now, North Main Street- Fall River

2011-03-24T18:19:00.006-04:00

I haven't done this theme in a while and with the snow all gone, I figure "why not?"

This is North Main St. looking South in downtown Fall River. This was a fun one because of all the very notable differences.

1) The tall building with the clock tower on the spire is the old City Hall. It was knocked down for the construction of I-195 and replaced with this brutalist monstrosity.

2) Trees. If the trees were in full bloom, you wouldn't be able to see the Academy Building down the street. It seems the trees weren't there at the time of the older photo. I like the tree lined streets.

3) Awnings. There are VERY few awnings left (a nice one is situated just behind where I took this photo from). I like them. With the trees, they'd create a real sense of place for the pedestrians on the sidewalk.

The key similarity int he two photos is the Academy Building in the rear-center of each picture. Still one of the grandest buildings in the city.

Before (Circa 1900, I would assume):

After (March 24, 2011):

Now I'm off to go start a "bring back the awnings" initiative in Fall River.

Powerful Silhouette- Somerset

2011-03-23T14:10:00.004-04:00

This is the Brayton Point Power Plant in Somerset, MA (directly across the river from Fall River). It's the largest coal fired power plant in New England. Not pictured are the two 500 foot cooling towers that will be used to allow warm water (that was used to cool equipment in the plant) to cool before being reintroduced into Mt. Hope Bay. It's been proven that the warm water that the plant is currently putting back into the environment has had a seriously detrimental effect on the bay's ecosystem.

I generally do my best to show the area in an attractive light, but this is one facet of life in the Fall River area that cannot be ignored.

Not Snow Fast!

2011-03-21T15:29:00.002-04:00

Bad puns aside, I was ready for spring as of yesterday. I went so far as to sit on the deck, soak up some rays and sip a locally brewed beer (Stone Cat Hefeweizen- Ipswich) in anticipation of better days to come. I was caught a bit off guard by white stuff falling from the sky (has to be chilled volcanic ash left over from Iceland last year. Can't be snow!). Maybe I should watch the weather a little more.

Anyway, it's still March. We could get 2 feet or more at some point over the next month and it wouldn't be abnormal. At this point of the year, however, the warm days are a cruel tease. I was so excited about taking bright, early spring photos. Instead, I give you some sprouting flowers with slushy snow. Enjoy (because the flowers aren't)!

Oh well, tomorrow's going to be in the 60s. Gotta love New England.

San Francisco- Final Update.

2011-03-20T12:36:00.006-04:00

Last batch of pictures from San Francisco. Back to local stuff tomorrow.

These are from one of the last nights I went out exploring the city. I had seen most of this by day, but never by night. My girlfriend lives in San Francisco, so by now, we've seen most of the sites. I just haven't photographed all of them. This particular evening I brought my camera, tripod and a bottle of wine (shhhh!) and we made the trek up Telegraph Hill to get some skyline and Coit Tower shots.

This is a shot of the Financial District including San Francisco's signature skyscraper, the Transamerica Pyramid. You can see part of the Bay Bridge to the left. To the right of the Transamerica Pyramid, there's a light streak going across the sky. This is a 20 second exposure, so it's not a star. It may be a plane, but the angle is wierd. Maybe a shooting star? It's nice to think about:

This is the Coit Tower atop Telegraph Hill with a gorgeous moon. This photo was taken from Levi's Plaza for those curious as to where it was shot from. The views from Coit Tower are stunning. It's a must-see for visitors to San Francisco:

Selling my soul to... Fotomoto?

2011-03-19T23:32:00.005-04:00

You may notice the "buy" "buy card" and "share" links under a few of my photos. I've created an account over at Fotomoto to sell quality prints of the photos you see on my blog. I did this for two reasons. First, I've been asked by a few people for prints of certain photos. It's not easy to get single prints from a printer and send them off to whoever wants them. The Fotomoto account allows you to click "buy"under any photo you like and select the size and type of print you want.

Second, and perhaps more importantly, I don't mind getting a little extra money on the side. I'm 25 and I work my butt off. I love photography as a hobby, and don't need a monetary reward to do it. If I don't sell a single print, It won't change a thing. However, it wouldn't be awful to get a few dollars on the side when an opportunity arises.

Oh, and for those curious to how Fotomoto works, here it goes... When you click "buy" you will get a small window that pops up allowing you to choose the size and style photograph you want. You'll also see a list of prices (I have them set to the lowest setting you can get...) and corresponding size options. The window even has a cool graphic showing you the scale of the image you selected in relation to a standard living room setup (you can see this without buying a photo). Don't worry about losing quality on larger images. I have it set so that you can only order photos in sizes that will not lose any image quality. You won't end up with a giant grainy print.

For those of you who read/follow the blog, feel free to keep doing what you've always done and visit and leave your feedback. Aside from the buttons under the images, the blog will remain the same as it ever was. I'm not reformatting or turning it into a store. If no one buys a photo, my feelings won't be hurt. I enjoy uploading photos of the area and my travels for fun. Please continue to enjoy the blog as you always have. It's not going to change.

This information will be in the "Print Purchasing Info." page on the top of the blog.

Thanks!

-Jon

Monterey Bay Aquarium

2011-03-19T13:27:00.006-04:00

One of our side trips was down to Monterey Bay Aquarium. What an awesome place. We stayed in a cheap motel (on purpose) and spent time in both Monterey and Carmel. Carmel, while beautiful, just wasn't as fun as we thought it would be. Again, it's an absolutely gorgeous place. However, I feel like mid 20-somethings are not their target demographic. Maybe after few more years (and a lot more money)....

Anyway, here are a few photos from the aquarium:

Jellyfish:

I forgot what type of fish this is. I THINK it was a small halibut. However, it could be any sort of flatfish:

Not a plant! This is a "Leafy Sea Dragon." A type of seahorse:

Sardines. Probably the signature fish of Monterey. The Aquarium itself is in "Cannery Row;" an area of the city famous for its history of being a major sardine supplier. Cannery Row is now home to renovated shops, restaurants, and luxury hotels.

One more update tomorrow and then back to local stuff.

San Francisco Part 2- Japanese Tea Garden

2011-03-18T14:06:00.005-04:00

Part two of my San Francisco updates. I think I'm going to cap it at four. This is the South Coast Photo Blog after all and with spring just around the corner, I've already found more local inspiration.

Anyway, this is the Japanese Tea Garden located in Golden Gate Park adjacent to the De Young Museum and Academy of Sciences (both worth visits). Personally, I think the Tea Garden is one of my favorite spots to visit in the city. Just gorgeous and perfectly maintained. It's a $7 admission charge unless you go before 10am on Monday or Wednesday when it's free. It's worth the $7.

I took a little artistic license with this one, but love the way it turned out. The reason I didn't leave it in full color is the position of the sun and haze. It created an ugly, stark white backdrop that didn't work well with the tower. I really like the way this looks:

This is a gorgeous spot in the garden. I'm sure the plant experts out there can tell me what this tree is (the one with the petals). You can really see how well maintained this place is. You can also see what I meant by the "hazy white sky" in the first photo. It looked good in this shot:

Just a gate on one of the walkways. I like the way it looks:

Anytime the name, Japan, pops up, it's hard not to think of the ongoing struggles over there. I couldn't make a post about the Japanese Tea Garden without acknowledging the crisis. Obviously, my thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the tragedy. The Japanese are an inspirational people and if anyone can make it through this, they can.

San Francisco Part 1- Pier 14

2011-03-17T18:46:00.004-04:00

These are a few of the shots I took at Pier 14 in San Francisco. It's open to the public and offers stunning shots of the city, Bay Bridge and harbor.

This is looking toward the Financial District:

Cool shot of three major SF landmarks. Transamerica Tower's top, Ferry Building, and Coit Tower/Telegraph Hill:

Taking a Break on the West Coast- San Francisco

2011-03-01T23:06:00.004-05:00

I'm leaving soon to head out to San Francisco for the next two weeks. This will be my last photo update until I get back (with tons of photos).

This is a shot of the Golden Gate Bridge from my trip out there last July. It was absolutely breathtaking in the foggy mist.

New Bedford in a Single Photo

2011-02-28T19:42:00.004-05:00

If you've never been to New Bedford, this image may help give you a good idea of what it's all about.

The architecture and cobblestones are probably the first things that jump out. New Bedford is an old city. An old city with a rich (in more ways than one) history. The building with the columns in the background is a U.S. Customs house. It was designed by the same architect (using the same stone) as the Washington Monument. It's the oldest still in operation. The building in the foreground is an old bank (one of many).

The "Whaling Museum" sign tells of the city's seafaring tradition. Whale oil made New Bedford the wealthiest city in the world for a time (which is why all of those old banks are everywhere). The arrow on the sign seems to be pointing to the light post next to it. Those old lights used to be operated by the whale oil that was brought into the port. That whale oil was also shipped all over the world in barrels much like the one below the Whaling Museum sign to illuminate cities in far off places. New Bedford was, "the city that lit the world."

Times have changed (whaling is cruel, there aren't too many people who would push to have it back) and New Bedford is adapting. However, the long seafaring tradition continues. New Bedford is the highest grossing fishing port in the United States thanks, in large part, to the Scallop industry. New Bedford scallops are shipped all over the world. If you're having one of those plump, sea scallops for dinner in Boston or in Paris, there's a good chance it came from a boat in the harbor just a quarter mile to the left of this frame. Freestone's is one of many restaurants that serves up fresh fruits of the sea.

A little bragging and a little history lesson all rolled into one.

No Parking- New Bedford

2011-02-27T18:18:00.002-05:00

Just a window in downtown New Bedford. I liked how it breaks up all the brick and stone.

That's the New Bedford Whaling Museum in the background.

Weathering the storm- Assonet

2011-02-25T14:56:00.004-05:00

High winds and driving rain are wreaking havoc on the South Coast (all of New England, really). I, for one, am just thankful it's not snow. Still, we have flood risks and probably some downed power lines and trees.

This shows the really high water. The boat stand (the two wooden posts) is usually well out of the water. A lot of debris and ice in here too.

I'm hoping everything up in Scituate is holding tight. They had an incident earlier this year with high water breaching a breaker along the shore. If you're interested in Scituate, this is a good blog to check out: Scituate Daily Photo.

On another note, I'd like to apologize for the spotty updating. I've been slammed with work as I'm heading out west (San Francisco) for a few weeks soon (I'll have a bunch of updates from out there).

Freestones City Grill- New Bedford

2011-02-23T19:57:00.003-05:00

With all of the restaurants that have opened up shop in downtown New Bedford, it's nice to see a place that's been a New Bedford staple for a long time. Great food and excellent drinks with friendly service is what keeps people coming back to Freestones City Grill.

This old bank building has been beautifully preserved both inside and out.

New Bedford- A Distinctive Destination

2011-02-22T15:34:00.005-05:00

This is the Visitor Center in New Bedford's Whaling District.

New Bedford was named one of twelve "Distinctive Destinations" for 2011 by Preservation Nation. A nice honor for a beautiful city that is all too often overlooked.

Monochrome Monday- Rose Alley, New Bedford

2011-02-21T17:11:00.004-05:00

Rose Alley in New Bedford's Whaling District. Not much has changed here in a long time.

Spring! (almost)- Fall River

2011-02-18T17:28:00.002-05:00

Finally! Some of this...

...is melting away. It was in the 60s today and felt just like spring. Absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately, those temps are going to drop again. I don't think we've seen the last of this.

This is North Main Street looking toward the Academy Building (far center) in Fall River.

U.S.S. Massachusetts- Fall River

2011-02-17T19:15:00.003-05:00

This is probably the token shot of Fall River. The Battleship set against the Braga Bridge. However, it was a beautiful day and a great sunset. I couldn't resist.

Waiting on Spring- Freetown

2011-02-16T17:37:00.003-05:00

The temperatures are set to rise a little bit over the next few days (near 60 on Friday!). When I was growing up, this was the time when I would count down the weeks until the first baseball practice of the year. That first practice, the ground was muddy because of the thawing turf and melting snow. At the same time, it was cold. I remember playing catch with jackets on and the sting from the aluminum bat when I made contact with a ball. Still, baseball meant it was OK to be active outside again. I get that feeling all over again when the forecast is for warmer weather and the headlines are full of Spring Training updates.

This is the "Mini Fenway" at Freetown's Memorial Park sports complex. It's a little league field that's modeled (to scale) after Fenway Park. The scoreboard has the score from the final game of the Red Sox- Rockies World Series game in 2007. It also has the standing for the local teams. It was built just after I finished playing little league ball, but it was still fun to play home run derby and "hit one ovah the Monstah!"

Back from hiatus- Bakers Beach

2011-02-15T16:36:00.002-05:00

I'm back. I had to take a week off to get caught up on work/ real life (big test); but also to update my library. It was getting a little stale. I'm going to start off with this:

Bakers Beach (Westport) at sunset.

Shipping up to.... Fort Myers?

2011-02-08T20:14:00.004-05:00

This photo needs no introduction. Fenway Park, during a game last summer.

Today was "Truck Day." For those of you who are unfamiliar, it's the day when all of the Red Sox gear (bats, gloves, Terry Francona' chewing tobacco, etc) gets loaded into an 18-wheeler emblazoned with an image of the Green Monster on the side and heads on down to Fort Myers to kick off spring training.

Truck Day draws mixed emotions. Many think it's just ridiculous to make any sort of stink over a truck pulling out of Fenway Park. To take it further, the Red Sox have emblazoned "Jetblue" ads on the side of the truck ("the official airline of the Boston Red Sox"). As much as I like Jetblue, I think that's a bit absurd.

However, I love Truck Day. I'm a Red Sox fan above all else. Above the Bruins. Above the Celtics. And above the Patriots. I can't wait to see the team play (already have tickets to 5 games). This is the first sign of life for the 2011 Sox. It's a good feeling as a baseball fan to know opening day is on the horizon.

As a New Englander (and even those who aren't baseball fans can appreciate this) Truck Day has even more meaning. It's a sign of spring nearing. This year especially, it's a welcome feeling. Baseball means spring and summer and all that comes with those seasons. Green, fresh cut grass, the smell of meats and veggies on the grill, long days, crisp evenings enjoying the outdoors. That's why I chose this photo today. The sights, scents and feel of Fenway is much more than just baseball. It's spring. It's summer. and hopefully it's October. It gives me a little bit more to be hopeful for as I stare at the dirty snow and ice outside the window. Red Sox baseball is on the way.

Top of the tower, Fall River

2011-02-07T15:31:00.005-05:00

Finally, the last update from the First Congregational Church in Fall River. This is from the top of main tower.

This is looking West across the Northern section of Downtown Fall River towards Battleship Cove, Brayton Point (the ugly power plant and cooling towers) and the Taunton River/ Narragansett Bay (the "narrows" where the bridge is serves as the mouth of the river into the bay. Also known as Mt. Hope Bay).

On a clear day, you can easily see the skyline of Providence, Rhode Island from here as well as planes taking off and landing at T.F. Green airport. You can also see the beautifully restored slate rooftop on this structure. Roofing the building was no small task. It cost over $1 Million dollars to restore it in a historically accurate fashion. The stones were cut and secured (manually) the same way they were nearly 100 years ago when the church was constructed.

This is looking South across downtown. I really like just how many church spires you can see. I'm standing in one, I can see St. Mary's, St. Anne's, Central Congregational (home to the former Abbey Grill) and a number of others. You can see Narragansett Bay to the right of the photo.

This is the bell in the church tower. It's no ordinary bell, but rather a piece of local history. If you look closely (click to enlarge), you will see "Revere Boston" on the top. This particular bell was made in 1836 by Paul Revere's company in Boston (Revere's son is believed to have cast it). The bell itself is in fine working condition. There are plans in place to polish it up a bit and display it out front.

First Congregational Church of Fall River- Interior

2011-02-06T12:15:00.005-05:00

Yesterday I posted some photos from the exterior of the church. Today I'm going to post some of the interior that highlight a few of the unique characteristics of the structure.

Most of the funding for the current First Congregational Church was put forward by wealthy resident Miss Sarah Brayton shortly before her death. She also played a role in the design of the church. The stained glass around the Sanctuary was one of her contributions.

The gorgeous pipe organ was built in 1911 by Ernest M. Skinner and Co. out of Boston.

You'll also notice that there are no columns used to support the ceiling. The walls are incredibly thick and bear the brunt of the weight. It really opens up the congregational seating area.

A close up shot of the label on the original organ.

Tomorrow: The tower.

Then and Now: First Congregational Church- Fall River

2011-02-05T12:01:00.007-05:00

I was lucky enough to get a very thorough tour of the First Congregational Church on Rock Street in Fall River. It's certainly one of Fall River's most beautiful structures and likely one of its most cared for. Over the next few days I'm going to post photos from that tour.

Naturally, I'm going to start with the exterior.

Then:

This photo is undated, but I'm assuming it must be close to when the FCC was completed in 1913. The adjacent Kuss Middle School building is absent from this picture which places this photo somewhere between 1913 and when the Kuss building was built (pre 1940). The previous FCC structure was located on North Main St (visible in the previous "Then and Now" entry).

Now:
This is taken from roughly the same angle as the "Then" photo on Rock Street.

Here you can see the intricate stone and woodwork on the front door of the church. The church was designed to resemble a church in the English countryside and I think it succeeds very well.

This photo is from the parking lot in front of the old Durfee High School (current Probate Court).

I'd like to thank Nelson Rego for the tour and extensive history on the church. Fascinating stuff. You can read more about it here.

Over the next few days I'll post some updates from the interior (and the top of the tower). The FCC has undergone million dollar renovations over the past few years and every care was taken to ensure not only functionality, but historical accuracy. Their efforts really show. I'll get into that more on the next update.

Another from Ned's Point- Mattapoisett

2011-02-04T15:57:00.005-05:00

I don't have anything new, unfortunately. I took some great shots last night that were ruined because of dust on the sensor. Thankfully my camera has a self-cleaning sensor so it's all set now, but I was annoyed with the circumstances yesterday evening.

The good news is that I'm catching up in terms of the Mattapoisett photos!

Mattapoisett Harbor

2011-02-03T13:55:00.002-05:00

From the other night. It's a gorgeous harbor, even without the lighthouse (or polar bears) in the frame.

An Un-endangered Species- Mattapoisett

2011-02-02T11:46:00.005-05:00

These two were hanging out over at Shipyard Park in Mattapoisett the other night.

While both real polar bears and the snow variety (seen here) are at risk due to different sorts of melting, these "snowlar" bears (copyright 2011 South Coast Photo Blog) have PLENTY of snow for survival, it seems.

I am impressed with the craftsmanship and effort it must have taken to put these guys together. I was here a few days after the previous storm, so they might have been in even better shape had I seen them right after construction.

Ned's Point, Mattapoisett

2011-02-01T13:03:00.005-05:00

This is Ned's Point lighthouse in Mattapoisett. One of my favorite lighthouses in the South Coast and as you can see, it looks perfect at sunset.

South Coast Photo Blog has been around for just over a year now. I have some favorite spots that I've already revisited, some spots that I plan on visiting, and I'm sure places in the South Coast that I've never been to before. I've even posted photos of places just beyond and well beyond the South Coast region.

I've posted on Quebec City twice

I've posted on San Francisco at least twice

I've posted on New York City once

I've posted Montreal once

I've posted Boston at least once

I've posted Plymouth twice

I've posted Arizona once

Number of times I've posted a picture of Mattapoisett (a community that falls under the South Coast umbrella)? Zero.

I should have posted something from Mattapoisett a long time ago; but to be honest, I just forgot about it. It's such an attractive community, but it's a bit out of the way for me. Still, I'm glad I got there when I did last night. Great sunset.

Snowy Day on Water Street- Assonet

2011-01-31T14:29:00.003-05:00

A nice old colonial home on Water Street near Assonet's historic village center. I need to play with this one in photoshop and get those power lines out of there.

Fall River Public Library

2011-01-28T13:44:00.003-05:00

Part of the library was in the frame of yesterday's post, but this is the whole front facade and entrance. It's a beautiful building with quite a collection inside.

On a personal note, this photo makes me think of Communist Russia. The reason is probably the words, "The People's University," the gray tones, the snow and the way this particular photo really makes the building look sort of imposing. Of course, it's actually a nice place to see and a far cry from the USSR.

I'll be out of town this weekend, so there will likely be no update tomorrow.

Then and Now- Fall River Public Library (Snow Edition!)

2011-01-27T12:17:00.005-05:00

This is the second of my "Then and Now" series. This is North Main Street (looking North) in Fall River including the Fall River Public Library.

Then:

Now:

I love the old streetcar (I wish we still had some in service), but what really strikes me about this before and after is just how different the streetscape really is in this section of town. For example, that building with the spire and columns (a Church?) in the rear- center of the photo is no longer there. The Masonic Lodge (a building I actually like) is in its place. To the right of the old photo, it appears that there is a solid street wall. Today, there is a bank with a parking lot in that location.

Obviously the street isn't this overcome with snow on a normal occasion.

I'm not sure the date of the historic photo, but it appears it predates the automobile. If I had to take a random guess? I'd say 1890-1905 or in that ballpark. I found this old photo among an abundance of others on the Keeley Library Website. It really is an incredible resource. You may find yourself browsing quite a bit.

*Edit*

Thanks to "Set The Record Straight" (appropriate name) for a little background history on the church in the background of this photo (columns in the front). It was the "Stone Church," Part of the First Congregational Church in Fall River. When the church moved to Rock Street in 1913 (A gorgeous structure right across from the old Durfee High School/ current Probate Court), the building on North Main was donated to the city and used a school house. It was, apparently, lost in a fire. More history can be found on the FCC's website here.

Snow. Again. Woo. Freakin' Hoo.

2011-01-26T22:34:00.002-05:00

Here we go...

Getting up bright and early to shovel and go take pictures. Might as well make the best of it, right?

Then and Now- St. Anne's Fall River

2011-01-25T17:55:00.004-05:00

I have come across a wide variety of historic photos and post cards from the South Coast region in the past few days. Over the next few weeks (months) I'd like to mix in a bit of a "then and now" segment where I'll post a current photo from a similar view/location to an older one. Today is an undated (I believe circa 1910) photo of St. Anne's Church taken from Kennedy Park (a Fredrick Law Olmstead design) on the edge of Downtown Fall River. I love this church. The spires are one of the first sights to grab your attention when you're coming into Fall River on the Braga Bridge. Up close, it's no less stunning.

This particular postcard is for sale on Cardcow.com. I don't know exactly what they do besides sell old postcards, but the images are cool.

St. Anne's Then:

St. Anne's Now:

Summer rewind- Gazela, New Bedford

2011-01-24T16:39:00.003-05:00

I can't do it. I just can't motivate myself to go sit out in this cold and try to take photos tonight. I'm using a photo from the summer that I never posted. This is the Gazela, a Portuguese tall ship that visited New Bedford during the feast of the Blessed Sacrament (one of my favorite summer events) in early August.

I am taking tomorrow off. Hopefully I'll have something current.

Fort Taber- New Bedford

2011-01-22T16:14:00.005-05:00

It's a monochrome weekend. I'm sticking with the theme. This is a B&W I shot down at Fort Taber at the very southern tip of New Bedford. I love the lighthouse on the old fort.

St. Patrick's Cemetery- Fall River

2011-01-21T14:40:00.005-05:00

I know I've posted a few monochrome photos over the past few days; but when it comes to snow and cemeteries, it's hard to resist the urge. There's something so dramatic about the fresh snow on sculpted stone.

This one's best when viewed in full size (click).

This is a monument for two brothers who passed around World War I (1914 and 1918). I think it's beautiful. It's not as old as many of the monuments in nearby Oak Grove Cemetery (which is famous for being Lizzy Borden's resting place), but it's still very nicely done. I decided to keep the red in this one to add to the overall effect of the image.

Winter Beauty- Quebec City

2011-01-20T17:31:00.004-05:00

After a little over a week with brown, dirty snow and relentlessly cold weather, the January Doldrums have hit HARD. I know a lot of people are thinking "When is spring going to get here?!" and at times, I'm among them. However, I like to remind myself how pretty winter can be. With more snow in the forecast for tonight, it's a tall task. I was looking through some old albums on the hard drive and I found it... the perfect cure for the winter lover's January Doldrums.

One of my favorite places on earth in the winter is Quebec City. I've been a few times (it's really not far from here) and I can't get enough. It's an absolutely stunning city that looks even prettier in the winter. This photo is from Last January looking toward the Chateau Frontenac and the mighty St. Lawrence River. It's the most European city in North America and winter dresses it nicely.

I decided this would be a fun picture to try to get that miniature "tilt-shift" effect on. I still prefer the original (above) but the tilt-shift effect looks pretty cool in this one too.

Winter Window- New Bedford

2011-01-19T20:17:00.002-05:00

This is a somewhat hidden window in New Bedford's downtown area. I went with the monochrome as I felt it really "popped" more that way.

GLOW- Fall River

2011-01-18T16:16:00.012-05:00

I am a HUGE supporter of local businesses and what they bring to a community. Today, I'm going to highlight GLOW Salon and Spa in Fall River. I was asked to take some photos of the interior for their website last week and these are a few. The place is absolutely beautiful:

My friend, Dave, has two sisters who have worked incredibly hard to put together a thriving local business in Fall River's beautiful Highland's neighborhood. They've been at it for over four years and keep growing stronger.

GLOW is a full service salon and spa run by Courtney and Alissa Marchand. It's located on French Street (right across from Charlton Memorial Hospital) in a beautiful Highland's District building. They offer unisex hair styling, coloring, extensions, special occasion styling and much more. The spa offers facials, waxing, seaweed body wraps, manicures, pedicures, massage therapy (including couples), and more. They have a number of spa packages available. Walk-ins are welcome.

I don't like to use space on my personal blog to advertise, but it's easy to make an exception for Alissa and Courtney at GLOW because they are incredible at what they do (and these pictures were taken by me). Their shop is spotless and absolutely beautiful. These two sisters take great care to make sure the experience is peaceful and enjoyable from start to finish. If you're looking for a new salon or spa (and even if you're not) in the South Coast, give GLOW a shot. You won't regret it.

I was flattered when I was asked (with Dave) to take photos of their business for a website they are building. I'm sure it was competitive pricing (approx. $0.00) and not my talent that lead them to ask for my help, but it was flattering and fun none the less. I don't think these pictures really do the place justice as it is very nicely decorated and laid out.

Check out GLOW:

323 French Street, Fall River, MA

508-679-0098

Website coming soon.

Oh, and on the right hand side of the page, you may notice that I posted a new link near the top. I've created a google map with points marking the exact location of every place in the South Coast (and just beyond) I've posted an update from. If you're curious about where some of the photos are in relation to the region, check it out. I'll update every time I shoot a new location.

For whom the bell tolls...

2011-01-16T19:39:00.003-05:00

... It tolls for my New England Patriots. Tough loss, and I'm not in a good mood.

This is another shot from the snow storm the other day. It's a bell that was built in Assonet, MA. It looked nice all covered in snow.

A Break From The Weather

2011-01-15T17:25:00.002-05:00

It's frigid today, so I really couldn't stand to look at more snow. I'm taking a break the blizzard pictures because the novelty is wearing off. This is a photo from a week ago at Plymouth Harbor. It was cold then, but it doesn't really look that bad.

School's Out

2011-01-14T13:05:00.004-05:00

This is the Mason Corner School House in Assonet. It's part of the Freetown Historical Society. It's not an active schoolhouse; but if it was, I'd imagine that the children wouldn't be attending school on this day (Wednesday).

New Year, New Layout

2011-01-13T16:16:00.004-05:00

Since the blog has been around for over a year now, and we recently just celebrated a New Year, I figured maybe it's time for a little change. I decided to change the layout of the blog. I didn't dislike the old style, but I felt like I could use something a bit newer. Sort of evolving with the blog, you know? Anyway, this probably isn't a final product. I'm not 100% thrilled with the background or the title image. Any feedback (positive or negative) would be appreciated.

As for today's image, it's just a shot of an antique tractor in the snow. I like how the rust and the green contrast with the white of the snow.

Wilson Sawmill- Assonet

2011-01-12T18:14:00.003-05:00

This is a replica the Wilson Sawmill in Assonet. The mill used to be along the swift flowing Assonet River (near the three arch bridge, I believe). It looks great with a coat of snow.

This is one of a number of buildings at the Freetown Historical Society on Slab Bridge Road.

Winterscape in Padanaram

2011-01-11T13:41:00.003-05:00

Padanaram is a little village in Dartmouth just Southwest of the New Bedford city limits. In the summer, it's a vibrant village replete with fisherman, tourists and residents alike. Things are a little quieter in the winter. These skiffs are all locked up and the dock in the background is empty. It's still a pretty scene.

Unrelated... I was having a bit of an uninspired period as far as my photos go. However, now that we have a little snow in the forecast, I have a million ideas running through my head. So count me in the small category that's excited we're going to get bombarded with 17+ inches tonight/tomorrow. Also look for a change of pace with the updates.

Also, the Southcoast Photo Blog is one year old as of this past weekend. I think this whole thing has come a long way since last January. From format (dozens of photos in one entry) to quality of images (from subpar to slightly less subpar) and number of visitors (thousands and it's a featured blog in a local paper), it's been quite a year. I've enjoyed it. I hope most of you have as well. Thanks for visiting.

Sailing the friendly skies

2011-01-09T20:28:00.004-05:00

I saw this on my photo tour of Plymouth the other day and thought it looked kind of cool. Nice sky. Kind of looks like the Gorton's Fisherman. Also, I'm not sure whats going on with his boat. Why the sail and the big 'ol outboard on a little skiff like this. Interesting rig. Not sure I understand sky sailing.

Rural Dartmouth

2011-01-08T20:37:00.002-05:00

This shot was taken from the Slocum River Reserve parking lot. I love this section of Dartmouth with its rolling hills, stone walls and beautiful old farmhouses. When I picture New England countryside, this is it.

Fishing Trip, Anyone? Plymouth

2011-01-07T15:41:00.003-05:00

Another one from Plymouth yesterday. These stands are where one can book a fishing trip, whale watch or some other excursion on their visit to Plymouth. Of course, in January, there's not much of a crowd due to the weather. I was talking to a lobsterman on the wharf yesterday and he said it's actually warmer out on the water due to the water temperature (about 45) being warmer than the air (30s). He said he gets coldest when arriving back in the harbor. Me? I enjoy the fire and the man-made heat.

Lobster Boat- Plymouth Harbor

2011-01-06T15:10:00.003-05:00

I rarely ever shoot or convert my photos to black and white. I know it can be incredibly elegant, but I feel like many people (especially newbies like myself) tend to convert a photo to black and white because it hides flaws better.

This photo is an exception. It looked really good in standard color (IMHO, anyway) but I wanted that flag to really pop. I like the result of this one, but feel free to jump in with criticisms if you want. It does look better enlarged.

This was in Plymouth Harbor (I know, out of my jurisdiction again) on the South Shore earlier today.