Motif #1, a photo from マサチューセッツ, 北東部

Photographer's Note

According to Wikipedia, "Motif Number 1, located on Bradley Wharf in the harbor town of Rockport, Massachusetts, is a fishing shack well known to students of art and art history as the most often-painted building in America."

It was built in the 1840s and was indeed painted often, as Rockport was then (and still is) a town populated by lots of artists. It is on the coast of Massachusetts, north of Boston, and is a popular destination for day trips from the Boston area during the summer. Rockport has a sheltered harbor enhanced by a manmade breakwater, and many pleasure boats are normally found there during the summer.

The building was destroyed during the legendary Blizzard of 1978, but an exact replica was rebuilt by the town later that year. There was no problem figuring out what the building used to look like!

snunney, abmdsudi has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

snunney (130967) 2013-05-18 5:57

Hello Roger,
A well constructed composition making good use of the vertical format. The eyes moves naturally up the frame via the various different elements toward the red building, which makes an excellent focal point. A pleasantly lit image with very good colours and sharpness.

dale54 (17768) 2013-05-18 6:43

roger hello,very nice and peacefull new england scene and feel,great POV and scene! dale

ACL1978 (7511) 2013-05-18 7:48

Huh. I had no idea this was a casualty of '78... did you know that while we were up there, or did you learn it later? Either way, the red of Motif #1 breaks up the surrounding blue really well here. Nice shot - I know we both have a bunch like it - and I'm glad the gull found his way into the frame.

Andrew

No_One (4) 2013-05-18 7:53

Hi Roger,
Great scene, anchored perfectly by the seagull in the foreground, and a great range of items throughout the scene. Its funny that you say that the building is one of the most painted in America, as it actually reminded me of the Grant Wood painting American Gothic, but of course without the surly pitchfork bearing man and his daughter :)

Very nicely seen and captured with excellent colours, light and depth.
All the best
Noel

holmertz (102700) 2013-05-18 8:05

Hello Roger,
You have composed this very well, stuffing the view with interesting features all the way from the quay, rocks and bird in the foreground, across the water to the "motif #1". There is a diagonal starting in the nearest quay and bird, and indeed another diagonal indicated by the white buoys to the right. The light and the colors were very nice on this sunny day.
Kind regards,
Gert

jcpix (14030) 2013-05-19 18:57

Hi Roger,

Smart composition, I love how this progresses from front to back...or should I say bottom to top? :) The elements are lined up just right, your position couldn't have been better for this shot! The foreground rocks lead to the gull, which leads to the small platform, which leads to the boats and then finishes up at the fishing shack...all on a nice diagonal line that creates a wonderful effect. Great light and solid colors, this is a fine image, and I'm sure a nice representation of this coastal region. Thanks for the view. Have a great week ahead.

All the best,

Jason

SnapRJW (31631) 2013-05-20 4:30

Hello Roger - The vertical composition works well here with the line of vessels describing a good diagonal across the frame. An attractive scene and a very good note. Warm regards Rosemary

abmdsudi (95869) 2013-05-24 9:34

Hi Roger
A scenic looking small fishing wharf not lacking of interest around and no wonder you get attracted to this spot. That eye grabber shack in the backdrop offers the strong focal point with some splashy vivid color helps to catch attention while the boats and birdlife nicely anchor the eyes. There's a great contrast to clean blue sky in excllent clarity and I love the depth too. I think you have done a fine work with this format registering this little beauty, easy on the eyes and so pleasant to view, Well done, Congrats
Best regards

rigoletto (34279) 2013-06-06 4:28

Hi Roger,
Together with Andrew's photos, i had a good orientation about this charming place of fishermen. Your photo also delivers the peaceful marine village atmosphere, giving a larger view in depth. I just added a WS to enliven your photo with some more light and contrast, did nothing to the colors. I hope you like it.
Deniz

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