This week’s challenge is by John Steiner (Journeys with Johnbo): Places Shaped by Water. John has some terrific pictures for this challenge and I urge you to check them out. The title of John’s challenge is self-explanatory, places near or with water (ocean, lake, inlet, river, pond, etc) that create the distinctive character of the place. I have many images that qualify, though many are favorites that I’ve shared before.
The feature image, above, is the West Branch of the Westport River, in Westport, Massachusetts, which is steps away from Rhode Island. This image is also on the front page of this site. A Black and White version is featured in my new book, Light and Shadow.
This Black and White image is also in the new book, and was shot in Westport Point harbor. Westport – especially Westport Point – was in the early days of Atlantic whaling a residential site for distinguished sea captains and other luminaries. Many old and fashionable homes of the sea captains remain along the streets of Westport Point. Often, ships would be repaired or built and outfitted upriver and then would stop at Westport Point to pick up the captain before heading out to sea. Today, the village and harbor retains much of the flavor of the old port along with contemporary fishing and pleasure boating.
Moving inland from the Atlantic coast, we come to New Hampshire. This is Harrisville, NH, a wonderfully preserved 19th Century industrial mill town. In keeping with John’s “Places Shaped by Water,” the historic mill towns of New England all grew up on significant rivers, the water powering the mills. Goose Brook, which dropped 100 feet in only a quarter. mile, was the source of power in Harrisville. Harrisville was founded by the Harris family in 1810. The mill was built in 1820, and the town thrived throughout the rest of the 19th Century. Today, Harrisville is the last remaining textile mill town in New England which retains its 19th Century structures and appearance mostly intact. In the photo, the main mill building is on the left. (This photographed is also in the new book, Light and Shadow.)
Finally, this image was taken while visiting the Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge near Newport, Rhode Island. Sachuest Point is a vital stopping point and wintering area for migratory and sea birds. The photo shows the open Atlantic Ocean, next stop Bermuda, 1200 kilometers to the southeast. A spit of land surrounded on three sides by water, It’s truly a “Place Shaped by Water” as it is the proximity to the Atlantic Ocean that makes it such an important and critical location.
And finally, the Abiquiu River in New Mexico. The Abiquiu is another name for the Chamo River which rises in the mountains of Northern New Mexico and flows broadly east before it empties into the Rio Grande. Most notable is the area around Abiquiu, NM, which has a rich cultural heritage. At first, the Abiquiu area was the home of the Tsama Pueblans who lived in the area for hundreds of years before the Spanish moved in about 1600. In modern times, Abiquiu was the home of Georgia O’Keefe. “Abiquiu” means “chokecherry point” in the Tsama language. Today the river remains one of Northern New Mexico’s most important waterways. (This photo shot in Winter.)
That’s my offering for this week’s challenge.Thanks to Johnbo for such a compelling challenge.
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