My View of Life on the Dock
Does anyone know who is responsible for trash collection at the Eastern Point lighthouse parking lot? I am daily picking up the trash that is now strewn about the beautiful goldenrod meadows and simply can’t keep up with it. These barrels have been overflowing for the past four days. I don’t believe it is a city collection problem because of the “carry in, carry out” policy, but do not know who to contact.
The ugly shed and the signs in the midst of this gorgeous vista are eyesore enough!
Click the photo to view larger and you will see the little Monarch flakes heading into the cherry tree. The clustering Monarchs were well-camoflouged by the autumn foliage nonetheless, their silhouettes are clearly visible in the setting sun.
Another passel of Monarchs poured onto the Point last Thursday at dusk, carried in by the warm southerly breeze. Overnight the wind shifted, coming in from the northeast, and by day break Friday morning, the Monarchs had flown from the trees, carried to shores further south by the blustery tailwind.
You never know what kind of bootylishisnous you will encounter when at Pirate’s Lane!
These guys tried every which way to engage me while I was (trying) to film a pretty boat for background footage for my Monarch film. After ignoring their shenanigans, when I finally did look up, this is what they wanted me to photograph!
(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty by KC and the Sunshine Band.
Filmed at Pirate’s Lane, Smith’s Cove, Gloucester.
Monarch Butterfly Migration Gloucester Massachusetts 2012
Registration is still open however, my close-up photography workshop, Nature in Focus, is nearly full. The workshop will be will be held at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard, at the Hunnewell Building, on Sunday September 3oth, at 9:00 am. I especially love teaching at the Arnold Arboretum. The facilities are beautiful, the staff wonderfully helpful, and September is a particularly gorgeous month to visit the gardens of the Arboretum. I hope you can join me!
| Nature in Focus: Taking Great Close-ups Kim Smith, Photographer and Filmmaker1 Session: Sunday, September 30, 9:00am–NoonLocation: Hunnewell BuildingLearn tips for taking great close-up photographs from celebrated butterfly and garden photographer Kim Smith. Through slides and hands on demonstrations, Kim will guide you in capturing the beauty of the flora and fauna found in nature. Bring your camera and questions, and a tripod if you have one. You will gain more from the class if first you familiarize yourself with your camera’s manual. (Note: This is not a macro-photography class.) See examples of Kim’s great images.Fee $40 member, $55 nonmemb |
Common Milkweed Seedpod (Asclepias syriaca)
Dear Friends,
Recently I attended a lecture given by an expert in a field to which I am passionately involved. I was really looking forward to this lecture and I have on many occasions actively promoted this lecturer. To get to the point, I was stunned to recognize that the third photo into the slideshow was one of my own photos, and it was presented without acknowledgement. I sat stupefied listening to the rest of the lecture. I hoped that no other photos of mine were part of the presentation. Unfortunately that was not the case. One of the last photos presented was one of my best selling photographs and the audience was audibly moved by the photo. It would have been so simple at that point to say something like, “Thanks to Kim Smith, the photographer, who is here with us this evening.”
The following morning I wrote the lecturer a very polite email stating that I don’t mind sharing my work. I simply requested that he use any one of several photos that I attached for him, with my name discreetly added in the lower right corner. In reply I received a curt and condescending note from the lecturer stating he would delete my photos from his presentation and from his files.
I spent three freezing hours before a long workday in a windy wet field hoping to get that shot that the lecturer was using as part of his presentation. Taking credit, either by claiming it as your own, or by lack of acknowledgement is unethical, at the very least. I really empathize with people who experience more extreme cases of appropriation. Some may find this case to be relatively minor; I found it totally unnerving.
I love to share information and photos about wildflowers and butterflies—as my new friend Hannah says, “You are working for the butterflies.” I blame myself for not watermarking the photos, although I believe very sincerely that most people are honest, have integrity, and give credit when credit is due. For example, when Maggie Harper, the producer from the television show Chronicle, borrowed my Greasy Pole footage, they not only ran my name across the top of the footage, they also provided a link to my blog on the Chronicle website. Maggie had seen the footage on Good Morning Gloucester and contacted Joey, who graciously provided her with my contact information. From the Chronicle link, I received many thousands of hits on my own blog. As another example, when a non-profit national wildflower organization wanted to use several photos for their publication, I gladly said yes, and only requested that I receive a photo credit, which they did provide. I am honored and touched beyond measure that people enjoy my photos and films. My policy is the same as many artists in that I request that if someone wishes to use my work for presentation, that they would please let me know, prior to use.
Enough with all that. Many have written requesting information about this year’s Monarch Butterfly migration. I have been shooting daily hours and hours of video and still photos and will be sharing all. I have figured out how to add a watermark in photo shop, but am hoping to find a more efficient and faster method of adding a signature.
Monarch Butterfly Migration Gloucester Massachusetts 2012
Happy Last Days of Summer!
Many more photos from this year’s migration to come.
In response to Marty’s question ~
American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) ~ Note the two large eyespots on the underside of the hindwing, close to the outer margin.
Marty your photo is that of the Painted Lady. Typically in our region we would most often see the American Lady however, this is an irruptive year for the Painted Lady. There has been a population explosion of Painted Ladies reported throughout New England and beyond, which is especially unusual and interesting because this past spring (2012) was also an irruptive year for the closely related Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).
The easiest way to tell the difference: Painted Ladies have four large spots on the underside of their hindwings, close to the outer margins, which you can easily see in your lovely photo. American Ladies have two “eyespots” on each hindwing, and the spots are considerably larger.
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) ~ Note the four large spots on the hindwing.
I am calling the summer of 2012 the “summer of ten thousand butterflies.” Just incredible! I would have answered this is in the comment section, but I don’t know if it is possible to add a photo and will post more in a future post about the two species but am in the middle of making dinner. Did you take this shot with your new camera?
This is definitely not what Lou Reed, John Cale, Angus MacLise, Sterling Morrison, and Michael Leigh had in mind…
The release of the album Transformer was a seminal moment in our cultural history. The first video features David Bowie and Lou Reed with interesting interviews (with the Little Joe and Holly of the song’s fame), film clips, and photographs of the early days. The video ends abruptly, in mid-sentence.
An oft quoted statement attributed to Brian Eno is, “The first Velvet Underground album only sold 10,000 copies, but everyone who bought it formed a band.”
Lou Reed, John Cale, Angus MacLise, and Sterling Morrison were the four original members of the Velvet Underground. Michael Leigh wrote the pulp paperback The Velvet Underground, from which the band took its name. The book The Velvet Underground is about the sexual subculture of the early 1960s.
Just kidding although, try telling that to the squirrel. We are convinced that this little baby squirrel is convinced that I am its mom. When out in the garden it comes running to greet me, which was startling, initially. I wasn’t entirely sure it wasn’t going to bite me. The squirrel and its sibling cry loudly and plaintively, to no avail, from our neighboring tree. I think their squirrel mom has perished.
Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
The photo is not cropped. I was holding the camera less than a foot from the squirrel.
Seaside Goldenrod
While I am finishing editing my Black Swallowtail film, I am also shooting footage for my film about the Monarch butterflies. I am looking for scenes of wildflower meadows and drifts–milkweed, asters, and goldenrod, for example. If you have a favorite place and know of such a scene on Cape Ann (accessible to the public) or are willing to allow me to come film and photograph on your property, please let me know. There is no extensive equipment involved, just me and my camera and tripod. Please feel free to email directly at kimsmithdesigns1@gmail.com. Thank you.
Snapshots from Tales of Bong Tree Island book launch. Congratulations E.J.!
E.J. Lefavour
Ed and E.J.
Marty and Barbara Luster
E.J. and Joey
Tales of Bong Tree Island
Peter Van Ness and Sista Felicia
Due to a cancellation there are a few choice openings available in Sista Felicia’s genuine Sicilian American home cooking class, September 12th at 6:30.
I can hardly wait to learn how to recreate Felicia’s mouth-watering Traditional Sunday Dinner dishes and am simply thrilled to be taking her class this coming Wednesday. I hope to see you there!
Felicia will guide us step-by-step through the process of creating an elegant Traditional Sunday Dinner ~ the dinner that evokes a time and place where family and friends gathered every Sunday to celebrate one another and partake in the bounty of sea and garden.
Come join Felicia and her family in what promises to be a beautiful evening of splendid flavors, taught with unbridled passion from the generous heart of an authentic Italian American home cook, and held in the hearth of her elegant home.
For more information on Wednesday’s availability, as well as the schedule and remaining availability of all of September’s classes, contact Felicia at sistafeliciaskitchen@gmail.com.
To see more photos and a previous post about Sista Felicia’s Kitchen.
Come cook with Felicia–an experience not to be missed!
Our daughter Liv is heading back to NYC tomorrow. It’s been a joy having her home for nearly an entire week and I am surely going to miss her. Liv emailed several iPhone photos from her hike with Rosie yesterday at Ravenswood Park.
Ravenswood Park Gloucester Liv Photo
We all love our mobile phones, although it is in all our interest to pause and and think about where the materials for our modern gadgets comes from and whose lives are directly affected. In Time Magazine’s August 27th Wireless Issue, Michael Christopher Brown photographed his essay A Camera Goes Anywhere: Even to the depth of the mines at the heart of its circuitry with his iPhone. Cameras are strictly forbidden in the mines of the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo where armed groups and governments have used conflict minerals as the latest way to help fund their oppressive regimes. These minerals, which include tourmaline, cassiterite, and coltan are used to make critical components of mobile phones. It is ironic that the entire essay was shot with Brown’s iPhone. Click the link to read the article and to see Brown’s photos.
Sweet couple with their adorable pug wearing an adorable yellow slicker hat
I shot mostly video (coming soon) on our Seven Seas Whale Watch adventure yesterday . Anticipating sea spray I didn’t want to bring my favorite camera on the boat and instead tried out the Pentax WG-1 underwater camera. I’ve had this camera since last Christmas but this was the first time out. I am looking forward to trying the Pentax in water and will bring you the results in a future post.
My sister-in-law and her boyfriend are visiting from Cincinnati, Ohio. Liv is here too, taking a few days off from the hubbub of NYC. I am having so much fun giving the grand tour of our island that I feel as though I am on staycation while they are here vacationing. Our guests arrived late Tuesday night and we had a classic New England dinner waiting for them, with fresh off-the-boat Captain Joe and Sons steamed lobsters (two for each as they are so affordable), red cabbage and carrot coleslaw, potato salad, Alexandra’s olive bread, and blueberry cake with whip cream.
Yesterday after touring the Gloucester Harbor Walk, we stopped at Virgilios for take-out sandwiches to bring to the Dog Bar Breakwater for lunch. Then off to Good Harbor Beach for a swim before dinner.
We had a wonderfully fun dinner at The Pub at Cape Ann Brewing Company. Fried calamari for me, beer-marinated steak tips for Liv, delicious fish cakes for Tom, and Amy and Arnold both had the yummy haddock tortillas. Everyone enjoyed their beer selection from the unique and varied beer menu. Liv’s choice was especially interesting; a refreshing summer ale, their Saison, brewed with strawberries and rhubarb.
Haddock Tortillas
Calamari with a very light breading and fried to perfection
Liv’s friend Jess is a waitress at the Pub
Today we’re off to visit Willowdale Estate, whale watch, and then a late night birthday dinner for my husband Tom at the fabulous Duckworth’s!
The people, the sights, the natural beauty that surrounds–wouldn’t you agree that we live in just the most beautiful and the most interesting Staycation Destination anywhere?
The Pub at Cape Ann Brew Company
Not to be missed! This evening at 7:00 pm in the Lane Gallery at the Cape Ann Museum Francie and Greg Bover are giving a free concert and presentation celebrating the decades-long project of the building of Francie’s beautiful harpsichord.
To read more about Greg and Francies’ program about The Making of a Harpsichord see GMG posts:
Concert invitation from Greg and Francie Bover
Peter and Vickie’s gimmesound featured Artist of the Week video ~
Passports is one of our favorite restaurants and judging from the always full-house and the fact they have been in business for 17 years, Passports is clearly a favorite community-wide. The atmosphere is utterly relaxing, the food is consistently fresh, delicious, and prepared to the highest standards, and I just adore the always welcoming, friendly, fun, polite, and professional waitstaff.
Liv’s beer brewing German ancestors would be proud of her selection from Passport’s top-notch beer and wine menu. After sampling hers I ordered a Wiesen Edel-Weisse as well and it paired perfectly with Eric’s beautifully seasoned and seafood-rich Adriatic Stew.
Although not Joey C approved, Passports lobster roll is delicious and with the accompanying medley of fresh vegetables, is a meal in and of itself. The lobster roll can also be ordered without vegetables, if preferred.
Liv, Nicole, and Lyla earnestly discussing mascara.
For all GMG readers who are in the restaurnt business, or who were formerly, Liv recommends following the very funny fellow BU alum @MeanWaiter on twitter.
TheFox 25 Zip Trip to Gloucester flowed beautifully and was so well-organized by the Zip Trip Team. The challenges of producing live television are many and, I imagine, ten times more demanding when broadcasting from a different Massachusetts town each week. All went perfectly; seemingly without a hitch. The newscasters were inundated with fans and gifts, the producers countless hurdles, and all the while the cameramen were trying to film in an open setting dodging everyone who was running in and out. Despite these many challenges, the newscasters and production team were gracious, considerate, professional, and patient. Thank you Sarah Unis and the Fox 25 Zip Team for visiting Gloucester!
Click the last photo to see slideshow.
Good Morning Gloucester Team, from left to right: Felicia, Donna, Melissa, Ed, Joey, Amanda, BJ, Pat, with Ron center front.
Making Sista Felicia’s to-die-for-amazingly-delicious-homemade-ricotta doughnuts
VB, Gloucester’s Own Fox 25 Producer Sarah Unis, and her Dad Joe Unis
Gene Lavanchy and fan
Mayor Kirk and Producer Sarah Unis
Donna, Sista Felicia, Joey, and BV ~ where Joey explains to VB the perfect lobster roll.
VB looks skeptical!
Joe was asked to represent Gloucester in the live trivia segment. He did beautifully, or as he would say, “Boom, we nailed it!”
Sista Felicia, Joey, VB, Gene Lavanchy
Shannon Mulaire and Gene Lavanchy
John McElhenny from Matter Communications and Donna
Cindy Fitzgibbon and fans
Mayor Kirk and VB
Gloucester’s CFO Jeffrey Towne and Cindy Fitzgibbon
Future newscasters
BJ Mohan taking a break after the early morning (4am) set-up.
Sarah Unis
Click the last photo to see the slideshow
Good Morning Gloucester 