Friday, October 10, 2014

Jaunts: A Sunrise Over Boston Skyline On the Charles River

My middle daughter, usually studying hard during nursing school in the city, wanted to take a day and treat me to photo-taking in Boston for my birthday. We missed the exact day on a timely basis but just made it up today. The most basic part of our plan was to capture the sunrise over the Boston skyline at first light on the Charles River and then to explore some other opportunities after that.

But preparations are usually in order for an undertaking of this munificence.  I had to awaken in the wee hours of the morning from the suburbs and work my way to the city to pick her up. There was no one stirring at these early hours. But there are nightly spirits on watch in our town at a local statuary vendor.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Statuary Watchmen 01

The halogen lights over the property cast an eerie glow as the figures stand watch.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Statuary Watchmen 02

Classic Italian feminine figures laden with water jugs on their quiet stroll.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Statuary Watchmen 03

And the nightly fire watchman to ensure no calamity over buildings and property.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Statuary Watchmen 04

It took me about an hour to get into the city. A few minutes to text my daughter her wake-up call. She is such a good kid to do this. Students really prefer to sleep late! She trundled her weekend goods to the car. We rode across the city to a quiescent mall for the parking garage. Grabbed a quick breakfast bagel at the early coffee shop. And trekked to the Charles River to see the emerging sunrise back-lit by orange-yellow street lights.

Not all the mariners have stored their boats for the season.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Sunrise Over Boston on the Charles

The colors graduated from soft white to peach to pink to blue to violet across the skyline after the 6:50 scheduled sunrise. The only noises and activity were the recurrent Red Line transit trundling over the Longfellow Bridge every five minutes or so, a jet taking off from Logan Airport and banking southward every two minutes or so pointed westward in a left-to-right fashion, and the soft padding of footsteps of the occasional, early morning joggers. I recall taking the Red Line early into work over two years ago and marveling at the skyline at this time of day. I had a dream then of taking the time to capture it on film or paint.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Pink and Peach Over the Longfellow Bridge

I had my own personal champion and Statue of Liberty over the Charles River to illustrate my freedom this morning. Clutching her coffee in her left arm and proclaiming her photo catch in her right hand.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Statue of Liberty Over the Charles River

I particularly enjoyed the bright orange-red reflections in the water on the right-hand side of this picture where the John Hancock building is lit up with sharply contrasting, reflected sunrise and the distinctive Prudential tower is silhouetted against the waning night. This image facing to the southwest.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 TBD

These images are reminiscent of Impressions of a Sunrise by Monet in 1872. This is the painting that evoked the character of the then-derogatory term "Impressionism".

Internet Fair Use - Impressions Sunrise Monet 1872

Different perspectives and views of the vanishing point for the boat line of a Charles River Marina.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Vanishing Point Charles River Marina

A vanishing point for the fence line on Cambridge-side and north bank of the river.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Vanishing Point Charles River Fence Line

The dinghies await their appointed rounds.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Dinghies Awaiting Use

And the french blue of nestled dinghies.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Dinghies in French Blue

Mission accomplished. A special time with my middle daughter. We have done these photo jaunts before and this adds to the memories and her time in the city. More to the ensuing saga in a later posting.

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