Kent O. Smith Jr Let’s The Pictures Tell The Story.

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Today, it’s all Kent O. Smith Jr and his vision and wonderful words.  No captions. Just passion, and talent. This is very hard work that Kent makes it look easy. It’s not. Thanks again for sharing your gift to us all. So without further adoooo. Kent, its all yours today!

Another Clayton show is in the books. It’s a wonderful venue at the Antique Boat Museum, if you have never been, it should be on your classic boat bucket list. I personally have been going since the early 90s.
One of the best parts of the show is seeing all the boat friends that go each year. The boats bring us together and bond us in friendships. Sometimes it is melancholy, when a friend you saw last year won’t be there again. One such friend is Chris Johnson.


Chris was a luminary collector, judge, friend and avid boater. We sat and chatted about the boats last year, Chris always had a story about how he acquired one. Sadly, he passed away a couple of months later. I wrote a short piece about him for the ACBS Rudder. He will certainly be missed.


I would like to dedicate my coverage of the show this year to his memory – he loved my photos and we did many photo shoots of his boats over the years. Cruise on Chris!


This year was a special year at the show since there were two original 33’ Baby Gars in the water, both powered by Liberty aircraft engines. I wish a photo could also give you the sound that you experience when they start up! It’s simply breathtaking. The locally built “Running Wild” is also Liberty powered, it was a complete thrill to see and hear all three on the water together.


Boat shows are great, it is neat to see all vintage boats in one place. From a photography standpoint, it is difficult to get great shots with the boats at the docks – and, after all, boats are meant to be out on the water.
A great feature of the Clayton show is that the boats do go out during the days of the show. In today’s post, we go out on the St. Lawrence River and enjoy the best part – classic boating.


I am out on the docks every morning before sunrise. Those exhibitors that get up early have the chance to participate in impromptu morning photo shoots when the light is best. Thanks to all those that came out this year, not only giving me spectacular subjects to shoot, but a platform to do so as well.


I would also like to say a huge thanks to Rebecca Hopfinger, Executive Director of the Antique Boat Museum for such wonderful hospitality each year. And also a big thanks to Matt Smith / WoodyBoater for publishing and promoting my work.


No captions this time – in the word of Ratty from Kenneth Grahame’s book “The Wind in the Willows” – “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”
Happy Woody Boating!
Kent

Thanks so much to Kent O. Smith Jr for capturing the joy of Woody Boating. I am always blown away by how a gifted talent can capture so much with a simple click. Our passion is so much more than mahogany, and parts, the real fuel is passion from coast to coast. STAY TUNED FOR MORE FROM LAKE TAHOE.

18 replies
  1. Matt
    Matt says:

    Not sure, same thing happens to me as well with certain images. I have my guys looking at the plug in. Very sorry. nothing personal

  2. Wilson
    Wilson says:

    I too fondly remember Chris Johnson…I recall the first time I met him at the Mt. Dora show and he was lamanting the long winter in Conneticuit with no boating and said he was suffering from “Dock itch” . First time I’d ever heard the term.

  3. Hope Marshall
    Hope Marshall says:

    Wow, the capture of light and movement is surreal. Kent has documented the joy and excitement of being on the River!

  4. Kent O
    Kent O says:

    Again, I really appreciate all the kind comments. Come to the show next year! If you bring a boat, I’ll shoot it 🙂

  5. Floyd R turbo
    Floyd R turbo says:

    I was looking forward to Kent’s pictures on my big screen monitor and of course our router goes out and thanks to the awesome customer service of AT&T it’s not projected to be back up until Saturday. So I’m relegated to squinting at the iPhone ugh. They look awesome nevertheless Kent

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