Photographs by Frank

10 March 2020

Today’s Meander

Filed under: architecture,Landscapes,March — Frank @ 11:00 PM

This week is town meeting week. Elections for town offices were held today and the town meeting is Thursday evening.

“Meeting” is one of the three “M words” associated with March in northern New England. The other two are “mud” and “maple”. Mud season has been unexciting this year. Judging from the great plumes of steam emanating from local sugar shacks, the sap is running well.

After I voted this morning, I meandered, with cameras in tow, through Hillsborough and Deering with short traverses through “corners” of Hennicker and Francestown. I stopped at a favorite farm on Bear Hill Road in Hillsborough and discovered a new (to me) church in East Deering.

By the time I got to East Deering the interesting skies had turned smooth gray and it had begun to drizzle. I’ll be returning to East Deering when the conditions (light and skies) are better.

Farm Pond, Hillsborough, NH

Barns, Hillsborough, NH

Shed Window

Church, East Deering, NH

Church (detail), East Deering, NH

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9 March 2020

Recent Photos

Filed under: Landscapes — Frank @ 9:00 PM

Last Saturday morning I headed to Brattleboro for the monthly meeting of a group of “photo friends”. We show each other new prints and discuss some photographic topic each time we get together. After lunch and a visit to both the used bookstore and the art supply store, I meandered home hoping to make some photographs. It took me three hours to make what is a one hour drive if I head directly home. The light was ugly and the skies cloudless. I stopped only once, in Lempster, NH as the sun was beginning to set and made the first photo in this series.

This morning, the light was much better. There were thin, high clouds and thus nice soft, yet directional light. After a visit to the grocery store, I made a loop through Hillsborough Center and East Washington where I made the remainder of the photographs in this series. I arrived home (with the making of a sald) just in time for lunch.

Meetinghouse (Lempster, NH)

Meetinghouse (Hillsborough Center, NH)

Old Field Gate

Pond, East Washington, NH

Farm Shed

Barn Interior

Grange Hall (East Washington, NH)

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29 February 2020

Hill Tops

Filed under: Landscapes — Frank @ 10:06 PM

This afternoon was cold and blustery. There were a couple of brief snow showers but the clouds were broken and moving fast.

After moving some firewood (a daily chore) and filling the bird feeders (a roughly weekly chore), I headed out for a short drive. My initial goal was the orchard on Norway Hill in Hancock. I am toying with the idea of an “orchard project”. We’ll see.

From Norway Hill, I headed to my favorite hill top… Meeting House Hill in Antrim.

Norway Hill #1

Norway Hill #2

Meetinghouse Hill #1

Meetinghouse Hill #2

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26 February 2020

Potter Place

Filed under: Landscapes,Winter — Frank @ 10:00 PM

Potter Place is the site of an old railroad depot and village in the town of Andover, New Hampshire. The depot building and a general store across the road are used as a museum by the Andover Historical Society.

This afternoon, I spent an hour or so poking around Potter Place.

It is interesting enough that I have put it on my mental list of places to return to at some point in the future. Sometime when when the weather is better and the buildings are open for exploration,

Potter Place Depot #1

Potter Place Depot #3

Still Life with Luggage #1

Birds On A Wire

Still Life with Luggage #2

Semaphore Signal

Drink Coca-Cola

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12 February 2020

Canterbury Shaker Village Redux

Filed under: architecture,Landscapes — Frank @ 11:04 PM

Today, I made a return visit to Canterbury Shaker Village. After my first visit I felt that there were more photographs to be made. I still think that this is true even after a second visit. We’ll see.

The large majority of the photographs I make with the camera obscura are intended to be black and white. In my mind monochrome is just part of the “feel” of these images.

However, every once in a while, an image just begs to be left as a color photograph. This was the case today. The yellow of the Ministry Shop in contrast with the blue sky was just too much to lose!

Anyway, here are a few of the photos I made today. The last one was made in Canterbury Center; a few miles from the Shaker Village.

Dwelling House, Canterbury Shaker Village

Sone Wall, Canterbury Shaker Village

Garden Barn & Shed, Canterbury Shaker Village

Meeting House (right) and Ministry Shop (left), Canterbury Shaker Village

Church, Canterbury Center

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5 February 2020

Enfield Shaker Village

Filed under: architecture — Frank @ 11:00 PM

Today, I headed up to the Enfield Shaker Village. It is very different from its partner in Canterbury. Not nearly as bucolic and photogenic.

Many of the buildings are used for commercial purposes and the site is not at all secluded. The two main buildings, a church (which is not a Shaker structure) and the “Great Stone Dwelling” (the main residential building) are imposing stone edifices.

The many roof top ornaments in the neighborhood caught my eye on this mostly sunny day; any clouds around were high and thin.

Enfield Shaker Village - Mary Keane Chapel

Enfield Shaker Village - The Great Stone Dwelling

Go And Teach All Nations

Chapel Detail

Untitled #1

Stone Dwelling Cupola

Untitled #2

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Two from South Elmwood Road

Filed under: Landscapes — Frank @ 9:00 PM

Yesterday, on my way to Peterborough, I swung by Elmwood. I suspected that the light might be good for a photograph of my favorite hand pump. I was not disappointed.

Although I have made photographs of this pump on at least two other occasions over the past couple of months, none of the photographs were exactly what I had in mind. Yesterday the light and the clouds came together and I was able to make the photograph I had in my head.

The Pump

Apple Trees & Crotched Mountain

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4 February 2020

Chichester & Canterbury

Filed under: architecture,Landscapes,Winter — Frank @ 12:05 PM

A few weeks ago, I passed through Chichester. At the time, I was not able to stop but I added it to my the list of places to explore photographically. Yesterday, I returned specifically to make some photographs.

I had a quick sandwich for lunch at the Chichester Country Store and successfully resisted the cider donuts which they are apparently famous for. After lunch, I headed towards Canterbury.

In the many years I have lived in New Hampshire, I have never visited either of the Shaker Villages in NH (Canterbury and Enfield). That changed yesterday.

The buildings are closed for the winter but I walked the grounds making photographs with my camera obscura. The place was deserted except for a young fellow, Dan, who had set up his easel and was making a small oil painting. We chatted briefly, but the light was beginning to fade and he needed to finish his painting so I did not dally. Dan said that this lovely spot is his go to place when he needs peace and quiet. I can see why!

I’ve put Canterbury on my list of places to return to and I think that I will try to get to Enfield in the near future.

Chichester Barn #1

Chichester Church

Chichester Barn #2

Chichester Barn #3

Chichester Barn #4

Chichester Barn #5

Canterbury Shaker Village Firehouse

Canterbury Shaker Village Cow Barn Foundation

Canterbury Shaker Village Ministry Shop

Canterbury Shaker Village Dwelling House and Tree

Canterbury Shaker Village Orchard Shed

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23 January 2020

Harrisville Again

Filed under: architecture,Landscapes,Monadnock Region — Frank @ 10:00 PM

After my last visit to Harrisville, I had the nagging suspicion that I had missed something… that there were more photos to be had. Thus, this afternoon, I headed back… just to see what else I could find.

When I arrived, I parked next to a red Subaru with adornments one could only find in Harrisville (see the last two photos)!

I made a few more photographs, but I think that I got most of the interesting photos that could be made with the camera obscura the first time.

Mill Building #6 (Harrisville, NH)

The Vestry

Mill Buildings #7 (Harrisville, NH)

Outlines of the Past (Harrisville, NH)

Mill Buildings #8 (Harrisville, NH)

Mill Building #9 (Harrisville, NH)

Stairway to Heaven?

Only in Harrisville! #1

Only in Harrisville! #2

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17 January 2020

Harrisville

Filed under: Landscapes,Monadnock Region — Frank @ 10:00 PM

Tuesday morning I had an appointment in Keene. After the appointment I did a bit of shopping and met my friend Al, a commercial photographer with a studio in Keene, for lunch.

On my way home, I stopped in Harrisville and pointed my camera obscura at the mill buildings.