What Is It About This Photo?

When Time Stands Still

Yesterday I got several requests for this photo. What the heck? I have shot this same shot 1000 times. And yet yesterdays sparked the most feedback. The only thing I can surmise is that the two wood boats in the background complete the story. A timeless story.

Father and son art. I could do an entire week on the passion, love and craftsmanship of these.

The rounded stern one is an amazing boat that was the last rounded stern dead rise built by George Butlers father,  as is the other which is the last built Butler Built boat George Butler built. Father and son designs and built all at the same place. And that combined with the Chris Craft I suppose paint a timeless scene. Such is life here in Reedville and around the Northern Neck of Virginia. It’s a timeless place that enjoys being suspended in a place of goodness.

Same shot for a header. Cleaned up.

Old BW

A wider look. Each photo you see has had around 4-10 versions rejected. The the right one is cropped, cleaned up, exposure adjusted and worked

Another wider view

With an instagram filter. Which is my favorite cropped as a square. Softened and made more into an impressionistic painting

Two years ago same time of year

This is from a scratched iphone lens. It happens

We get amazing sunsets here. This is the view towards Dock 2 known as Kelseys dock

And a look to the right of the boathouse. We have a wonderful creek of old wood dead rises, Sweet pea and Chris Crafts. I am very at home here. All these boats are working boats and go out daily

Even Termite Terror has perched here from time to time

I am posting other versions of the photo and other times. Enjoy. I have shooting them. All with an iphone 11 pro BTW.

15 replies
  1. MO Whaler
    MO Whaler says:

    Nice little tongue twister there with “the last built Butler Built boat George Butler built” along with the eye pleasing photo – – Thank You for both AND all the other pieces of your life you generously share – –

  2. Jeffrey Martinson
    Jeffrey Martinson says:

    Your pics and text are both what make this site so special. Sometimes there’s only enough time for a quick glance, so the pics get the lion’s share of our attention, I’m sure. Thankfully they’re all so rich they fill us up – all credit to the care and time you take to craft them.

  3. Kelly Wittenauer
    Kelly Wittenauer says:

    Love the header photo, with the boats in color and the rest in B&W. Very cool story behind the boats. Even better to hear there are so many historic work boats still in use there!

  4. Miles Kapper
    Miles Kapper says:

    It is probably a gift in the difficulty to find the words to express the feelings captured. Years ago we went to the ACBS show on Bass Lake. It is a joint effort between the So and Northern California chapters. We brought our daughters’ best friend and her mom with us and on a ride in the boat the mom turned to me and said, “This is so timeless, I feel like I’m in the TV show “Twin Peaks”. She was right on. It’s a moment I have never forgotten.

  5. Steve Anderson from Michigan
    Steve Anderson from Michigan says:

    It’s funny, but you are right about yesterday’s header doing something magical. I looked at it a long time yesterday before reading the article. Beautiful location, beautiful boats, beautifully captured. Kudos!

  6. Mike U
    Mike U says:

    Are you sure the requests were for that picture and not one posted by Troy? Hey, would it ever be possible to have a ‘Troy Header Day?

  7. Mark M.
    Mark M. says:

    That picture would make an outstanding 1,000 piece puzzle. Something to keep us Midwesterners busy during the coming Winter months.
    Of course the same could be said of some of the tool photos from the last couple of days.
    Thanks so much for sharing.

  8. Steve L
    Steve L says:

    Thanks for sharing the photos Matt. You are so very fortunate to live where you do. I really enjoy the stories of your local area. There’s so much history, stunning beauty, and great boating that you capture in photos! I love the local stories you share. All just outside, in your back yard.

  9. Garry
    Garry says:

    Yes! I love your photos and this one is really good. But have you thought that the weeds in the foreground might be making it what it is?
    And I would like a copy for my laptop background

  10. Matt
    Matt says:

    Wow, Gary thanks for noticing the weeds. I combed each one and had a Weed fluffer on the job to keep them stright.

  11. ROBERT LYMAN
    ROBERT LYMAN says:

    Beautiful photos! Besides the nice composition and of course the subject matter, it’s the sill water! (also a lack of plastic).
    Thank you!

  12. David Hughes
    David Hughes says:

    Don’t know about the rest of you but I keep expecting the Creature from the Black Lagoon to rise out of the water and clamber over the tunnels of the two vessels in the background!

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