Photography is a new language, relatively speaking. Two hundred years or less. Although it is new it has a distinct lexicon and its own subject specific dialects.
When it comes to the photography of boats on the water one name stands above all others: Rosenfeld.
The work of Morris Rosenfeld and his three sons; Stanley, David, and William set a standard that is still admired and imitated today. Being among the first to stand apart in the field - the work of any marine photographer will be compared to their collection.
The Rosenfeld family spent more than 60 years photographing life on the water, most notably the America's Cup races. They used a variety of cameras, but they were also known for the use of dodging and burning in the darkroom to bring greater detail to light and shadow on the water.
It is impossible to compare the work of three days in the Gulf of Maine to four distinct careers spanning six decades of specialty, but it is fair to say that as I looked through my view-finder I was seeing through a lens that had been prepared for me by the Rosenfelds. They created the language I was attempting to borrow.
An accomplished photographer once told me, "First we emulate and then we innovate."
Consider these images my poor imitation.
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© Dean Pagani 2023