Monochrome Ferry
Once again I touch down into the archives of my spring 2012 series on the Friday Harbor Labs. I will be returning for a weekend visit, next week. So this seems like a good time to look at the Washington State Ferry “Chelan”. The MV Chelan serves the route from Sidney BC to Anacortes WA, which winds through the San Juan Islands. Sidney to Friday Harbor is about 90 minutes, not including passing across the border which can add quite a bit of time. Or not, depending on apparently random circumstances.
These pictures are from the covered area on the upper deck. It is not closed, and as it was a wet and chilly day, there was almost no one around. Which made for better pictures from my point of view. These ferries are quite spare and plain, no frills compared to the BC Ferries that serve Vancouver Island. I like the spartan feel as a reminder of ferry rides when I was a kid. Both BC Ferries and Washington State Ferries were very plain in the 60’s, and this ferry, even though built in 1981, feels just like the ones of my youth. Besides which, it is adequately comfortable and gets you where your going just a well as a boat decked out with entertainment centres and gift shops, carpet and other costly additions that don’t seem to pay for themselves, judging by the fares and size of operating debt.
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Canon 5Dii, Nikkor-N 24/2.8 lens, ISO 100, top and middle: ISO 400, 1/4,000th and 1/500th; bottom: ISO 640, 1/250th.
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burnt embers 
Yep, I love the first one, too, hands-down! Great series here, Ehpem, you’ve done a fabulous job of capturing a little of the essence of west coast living here, and the b&w processing really adds to that!
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Thanks Toad! I was pleased just now on this same ferry at how well these images depict that scene. They are very typical.
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Nice b&w series with Number 1 being the favorite in every way. Composition, tonal values with dramatic and descriptive impact, and the subdued light that is brought out just right, all of these make for the photo’s success.
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Thank Joseph, I just got off that ferry an hour ago, and I sat watching the view in that top image change – it was a nearly identical day with grey skies and light rain and drops on the windows. I was tempted to try another shot with that framing, but in the end the only thing I could think of would be to ask a man carrying a banjo (there was one) to stand out there. But his was a fine instrument, and he did not know me so I did not ask, but just looked instead.
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I love the framing of the first image – a study in balance of forms and focal point – just great!
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Thanks Lynn! I think the man makes a big difference to the picture (even if Melinda’s cad hypothesis is correct).
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I actually like the second one, it has a great industrial-type feel.
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Industrial is a good name for these no-nonsense vessels.
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I concur that scenes with almost no one around DO make for better pictures. These are very nice; I especially like the water drops on the window in the first shot.
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It was raining, not heavily, but more than enough to drive everyone else indoors. Even so that guy stood out there for at least half an hour. I wondered if he was leaving a lover for an extended period. Or arriving home, anxious to meet one. But maybe he just liked the feel of rain on his face.
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I think he was leaving a lover, and the rain concealed his tears.
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He could have been coming home to a lover whom he had cheated on during a weekend tryst, and the cold shivering concealed his fearful tremors.
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Or: he’s a real cad, and both statements are true.
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That must be it!
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Yeah, he’s a jerk. Probably from Texas, too.
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Hey! Just because you hail from Texas doesn’t mean you can claim a monopoly on jerks. Even big and better models of same can be found in other jurisdictions.
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You made some nice shots in what looks like difficult lighting and still retained quite a bit of detail. Well done.
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Thanks Ken. It wasn’t great light, but it did emphasise the wooden seats. Everything else was grey and dark green (the ferry is painted dark green and white with grey floors).
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The framing in that top one is fantastic.
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Thank you Ashley. That is my favourite. The others I am thinking might be worth revisiting in colour as the seats were a beautiful light wood colour.
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