Make Your Classic Boat Look Like A Million, With A Cell Phone!
Chris Craft Rivera, Natural light, dusk, on the Great Wicomico River VA
Last weekend after all the birthday festivities for the Woodyboatress we ran back to the river from our Boulder Bureau on Saturday for some fun on the water. We did not have time to enjoy one of the countless shows around the US.. Ugh.. But we did have a fantastic time with pals and boating for boating sake time on the Northern Neck of Virginia. While sitting on the deck while my companions enjoyed a frosty or two, I noticed that the light and wind were at the perfect place for a nice photo. That’s what happens when all you drink is iced tea.. You stay in work mode…. and have to pee a lot.. Anyway.. We jumped in the boats and ran out to the river and set the boat a drift. Just let it float..
Here is the full header shot. Natural light, no retouching or color correction..
The golden hour was upon us.. And of course all I had was my trusty iPhone.. That’s right.. These images were all taken with an iPhone.. no retouching of light.. Composition.. The shots are of Fellow Woody Boater Jim Scotts wonderful Danenberg restored Rivera..
Jim Scott, " I don't want to be in an God derm photo" Sorry Jim.. This was right before the shoot.. which makes it sound fancy, the entire shoot took 5 minutes.. He hopped off the boat and we just started shooting
Also below is Jim’s Cavalier. The temporary Woody Boater boat. Like a rental from the body shop…This darn thing grows on ya.. Nice modern 350.. It screams and starts and runs.. A Plywoody…Very fun.. Its all about light and weather, don’t be scared to just get out there.
A very nice fun Chris Craft Cavalier.. "Termite Terror" Shot on Cockrell's Creek, Virginia
Take your boat out in two feet of water and walk around it. Get low, pay attention to the sky and the background.. The little white boat houses set off the white on Termite Terror..
A lower angle, the phone was almost touching the water
The cloud set off Yannon. the ripples in the water and reflections.. Yea yea, I know i sound like a art snob.. I aint.. but god damm, that light is killer.. The Cavalier shot was first thing in the morning, two feet off my dock…
Nicest 18′ Rivera i’ve seen!
I did a photo shoot for a sales brochure a few weeks ago. I took dozens of pictures of the boat from every angle, in the water, out of the water, from a tripod, freestanding, on a ladder, and every camera setting you could imagine.
My brother walks up (with his iPhone) and snaps ONE picture of the boat. Guess which photo they selected?
Looks like you were in the right place at the right time. I hope heaven looks like today’s header photo… and gas is free.
Hell looks just like the header photo, the gas is free and there are a bunch of beautiful young women on the other side of the lake. The only issue is engine oil is on permanent back order.
Jimmy Scott is a Cool Dude!
The only problem I always have when I get in the water and start all the examination is that the first thing I see are all the flaws in what I thought was a previously flawless varnish job. As I age – there are some benefits to somewhat decreasing vision acuity……………..
Wonderful pictures, though and very nice Riveria
I think we are pace to set a new record for the most ways to spell Riviera in a single thread. 🙂
Ha, I spit my coffee out on this one this morning.. So rue.. And you know what.. In Woodyboaterville they all mean the same thing!
It’s a Hybrid Rivera. So a Riva and a Riviera walk in to a bar and….
I would have named the one in the header photo Geraldo. According to the caption it is a Rivera.
I followed Matt’s spelling….should have known better.
As all of you should.. You all are just become fluent in Woodyboaterease
I love wooyboaterease. What I don’t love is when some show off like Alex steps in to do a story and there is not one spelling error. WB needs software to “auto correct” from, errrr, proper English to “Woodyboaterese”.
I know.. It sucks, I go through great pains to keep the standards low.. Very low.. Dont want to have anyone expect anything but medicraty.. Hows that spelling ugh? Any way.. Texx and Alex are screwing it up for all of us.. Soon we will all be passing the grey poupon…
Beautiful pictures, great way to start the day.
Matt — after a couple of years of trying to teach college kids what makes up a great photo, I finally decided that it all comes down to the light. Which you nailed, with one swing of an iphone. Nice, nice, nice…
Yes the pictures are fantastic. I hated the camera in my first iPhone but they finally got it right in the iPhone 4. It is still a phone camera, but if you have good lighting and the photographers has a good eye you can get some great shots with it.
I also like the subject matter. Once I finish the Ski-Jet, I am thinking about going to the Rivy Era for my next project.
Gosh, sorry. Can I make amends by having a misspelled name n gold leaf on my fresh restoration boat? Or maybe a typo in a tattoo, so there’s physical pain involved? Oh, I am unworthy! I am a worm.
God, please tell me you misspelled a name on a boat.. PLEASE.. and have photos..
I did see a tattoo on a little skinny weasel of a guy once which said ‘Born Looser’ which I had to point out was spelt wrong.
Great shots Matt. You’ve still got it mate!
Go the iphone. Those shots are truly amazing.
Sounds like the Northern Neck is still working its magic. I’m glad, as I’m headed there tomorrow at oh-dark thirty for a week.
Nice pics…
Tom
We will be buzzing the wicomico for sure, if i see you I will come on over.. Bay Lady is one very fine boat.. you are very fortunate..
Mmmm – Grey Poupon on Classic Woody Boater Wieners… A traditional 4th of July delicacy in Woodyboaterville.
I’m pretty sure there was Grey Poupon for our Classic Woody Boater Wieners last weekend and we did have great weather and some great rides in Jimmy’s classic boats. Hey Matt did you buy a Mako yet?
No Mako, on to cruisers and Lymans.. Unless a plastic somethin somethin shows up at a discount
You know there is a saying for people who are slow to buy a new boat. Something about having a bowel movement or quit smoking marijuana. I can’t quite remember how it goes.
Yes! Trust me, I would love to be boating.. but all I am finding is Bowel movements..
Conventional wisdom is that spring and early summer are no time to be buying, but with the down economy and high gas prices people are getting out from under their boats now. Several pals at the Pentagon have just gotten nice deals on new used boats. Sadly, no vintage woodies among them.
Tom
Matt,
Come on by. We’ll get Bay Lady tomorrow morning and bring her to Balls Creek for the next ten days or so, maybe stopping in Reedville for lunch.
Tom and Jane
“The Captain and the Admiral”
Yes, a painter did get a boat name wrong once…Wilbur Miller of Tahoe fame who has now gone to the great marina in the sku had a wife named Dorthea. He called her Dort for short. Wilbur had a 1947 Red & White Racer ( well it was actually green and white to match his Buick of the same year, but that’s another story) Wilbur told the painter to put Dort on the transom…You guessed it…The painter was a tad hard of hearing and so he painted “Dork”…Wilbur said, “What the hell, leave it that way.” Last I heard his grandsons still have the boat and it is still named Dork’