* Peaks to Portland Swim

I awoke last Saturday morning excited to shoot Emily and John's wedding at the Inn on Peaks Island, drew my curtains open and this was the scene I witnessed.  A blue bird sky, black bodies topped with pink caps scurrying about, and a low chitter chatter of voices.  I had not realized that today was the day of the annual Peaks to Portland Swim.  I only snapped a few shots from my deck, eager to continue getting "in the zone" for photographing the wedding (like many photogs, I have my compulsive system and checklist per se for prepping mentally and physically for the big day!).  So more than capturing the apparent action, I tried to show the patterns of color and movement that my eye tended to see more of from my perch.  Congratulations to all the swimmers who partake in such a fun event!  Quite a feat!

A scene setter shot... what I saw when I opened my curtains!  I laughed out loud.  I knew these little sounds had made their way into my morning dreams.

The moving pink little caps kept grabbing my eye.

The strong sun created defined shadows of the spectators and lit up the fleet of primary colored kayaks ("handlers" and cheerleaders for each swimmer).

 

Casco Bay was speckled with colors as far as the eye could see.  I loved how the layers were created in the scene with swimmers at the starting line, the prior heat swimming, the furthest out heat beginning to disperse creating more space between each swimmer, the arc of faithful kayaks, nuggets of House Island's day marker and Fort Gorges flanking the scene, and the finish line of Portland's East End off in the distance.

 

My eye saw the more distinct layers and lines as I zoomed in with my lens for a tighter crop.  I liked the one lone kayak, bright red with a pink flag, in the middle (must have been an official, because another frame I have shows the person looking at the starting line with binoculars).  I could feel the anticipation by this final heat wading up to the start line.  Anxious nerves, excitement, adrenaline, all the training for this moment.

 

I think I see the patterns more or maybe just differently in black and white.  I see more of the water movement and how it becomes more of a part, a texture in the scene, connecting the other objects and shapes that are the kayaks and swimmers in their various states.

 

For a closing shot, I thought this was fitting.  This swimmer jumped in the water off the float quite late.   I think I even heard some spectators shout this point of his lateness to him in a playful manner (almost certain it was a male swimmer).  I love that he still jumped into the race, yet makes me wonder where he was when his heat started.  He was definitely eager to catch up to the pack.  I especially enjoyed his two escorts... he is the only swimmer who can say he had both a kayak and an inflatable lobster by his side, cheering him on to the finish line!