Fishing boats and sailboats sit moored in a sunlit harbor, with nets and metal rigging on a pale turquoise boat in the foreground and masts reflected in calm water.

Where Masts Rest

MG-0241

2020-09-07

About this piece

Warm, low-angle light falls across a crowded harbor, illuminating weathered hulls, bundled nets, and the metal framework of a fishing boat. The foreground’s dense working equipment contrasts with open water, where reflections loosen the upright lines of the masts.

The story

I framed the harbor around the fishing boat nearest me, letting its nets and rust-colored rigging fill one side of the image. Beyond it, the masts drew fine lines against the pale sky. What held my attention was the water: every solid shape returned there as something less certain, softened by small ripples. I wanted to keep both versions of the harbor together—the weight of its working boats and the lightness of their reflections.

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