This image has been a work-in-progress for over 10 years. I began working on it when the GE Filter package (now the "Artistic" filters included with PS) were first released in the early 90s. Perhaps because the hull is in the shadows, I've never been completely satisfied with the results, so periodically I've made another attempt -- a few years going so far as rescanning the image and starting over from scratch. Filters used include selective application of dry brush and water color to the ship and sails, Paint Alchemy custom brushes to the water, and a fairly simple desat/colorize duotoning. Comment appreciated.
I took this photo in the spring/summer of 1975, so it certainly was the same voyage. As I recall, "Radich" had been visiting Philadelphia. At the time, I was doing an open end-assignment for one of the sailing magazines that involved photographing tall ships wherever I could find them in preparation for the July 1976 issue which would coincide with Op Sail '76 in NY Harbor. Even for those days, it was a plum assignment.
This was even before handheld VHF radios, or at least affordable hand held VHF radios. All I knew for sure was that "Christian Radich" would be sailing north from Philapdelphia on a certain day, so I figured that with luck, I could fly out of Morristown, NJ, and find her somewhere off the South Jersey Shore or in the lower Deleware Bay -- which is pretty much what happened.
She was just rounding Cape May when we saw the classic "cloud of white sails" on the horizon.
An interesting side note was that the editor of another sailing magazine found out I was the photog who intercepted them offshore. He apparently had planned an article, was doing his own photos, and was eager to get an aerial of this specific voyage.
A couple of days later, he started calling, virtually demanding that I sell him some outtakes. Since this was an assignment from another magazine, I told him regretfully, that I couldn't.
I knew him casually and I had done a couple of assignments for him in the past. I explained that if this had been an assignment for his magazine, I would be doing the same thing. He was very persistent. Called me a couple of more times and each time I refused, which he apparently took as a personal affront, as I never received another assignment from his magazine as long as he was editor. Within a few months of his resignation, they called and enlisted me for a trip to Tonga, but as they say, that's another story.
Hi Mary:
Those swirls maybe a combination ships penants and awkward PS work. I think I relied on their color, rather than precise (and time consuming) selection work, to make them stand out in the full-color version. With the duotoning, they lose their prominence.
Hi Elizabeth:
This particular shot was done from a plane. But the idea of using a mountain is not far fetched.
I found one particular bluff overlooking a brilliant turquoise shallows inside a reef on the windward side of the Tobago Cays in the Grenadines. For three winters running, with the cooperation of three different boats and their crews, I was able to get cover shots from the same rock outcropping that looked for all the world like aerials!
This was the late 70s, but since it's one of the few places with good wind and turquoise-colored water in the entire Windward Island chain, I bet that by now a regular foot path has been worn into the mounting leading to that ledge.
I love the water texture in you ship/boat images!! I see an interesting twirl behind each mast in the image was that intentional in order to separate them from the water?
Nice, it brings back some grand memories. I sailed on this SHIP (not a boat guys) in 1975 just for a day, and what a grand day it was too! Dinner with the captain, some of his private stock beer, and beacuse it was VERY hot, I slept on deck. I awoke at 3 am on a moonless night to see the crew (boys 16-18) up in the rigging furling sail in as has been done for hundreds of years!
You know Jim, the blue tone really looks good with this image, I like the way you acheived it. This is a picture that would grace anyones fireplace wall, great stuff my friend - Richard.
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{K:2766} 7/20/2003
