Finding Cape May, New Jersey

click for full image Lindsey H. sent a very nice email (thanks!) complimenting the current horse and carriage photo and asked about how capemayX achieved the effect of looking like a real life toy model.

That's actually a pretty good description. I'm including a larger version of the photo in this post so people can see the image in the full context, and not as a banner. The toy miniature effect is an illusion of sorts — a simple trick of deception the eye plays. It happens via camera angle — notice the shot is angled top down and from a distance. It wouldn't have looked quite the same if it were taken at eye level. Also, the effect is magnified from depth of field focusing at a distance. In other words, from a distance, the carriage and horse and a few other objects are in focus, but the surrounding elements are not in focus. And finally, magic hour (before sunset) light gives the shot that extra pop of interest. I'm looking to do more shots like this around Cape May. This town seems like a natural to capture shots that add to its gingerbread pedigree. The hard part is finding high spots around town to perch from.

Check out the photos in the following slideshow which capture a few moments on a fall, windy day in Cape May. If you move your mouse over the slideshow area you'll see the controls appear in both the top and bottom. You'll need Flash installed on your computer, but just about all computers have flash installed these days (email me if you have any questions about that). And feel free to post any comments.

I love this series of shots. I've never met the boarder before but I heard him talking to a couple that was watching him windsurf. I learned that he's 62, has been boarding for 30 years, teaching in the Cape May area for 35, and he loves the kind of crazy weather we had yesterday. He certainly looked like he was enjoying himself and made the high winds launch and take offs look easy. I only wish I had a better zoom lens, and a windsurfing rig so I could have joined in the fun. The shots really capture the mood of Cape May at this time of year. A quiet, cold, isolated beauty that is there for the taking. You just have to get out and enjoy it.