Portsmouth New Hampshire turns 400 years old this year. Although it has changed dramatically since it 1623, Portsmouth maintains its historic roots. From Strawberry Bank to the iconic Memorial Bridge. This little city nestled along the Piscataqua River is a true icon to all of New England. At night, she continues to light up with life after most of us have settled in to rest.

One of the phenomenons along the New England coast that draws a photographer to it is the changing of the tide. During high tide, beaches and coastal rivers can cover vast expanses with water far beyond what one could imagine. At low tide the water retreats leaving the rivers nothing more than a trickle with extensive sand flats. These rushing waters create large marshy areas and sand dunes that complete the coastal ecosystem. Sprinkle in a few human elements and it’s a photographers dream. This dory rests in a marsh awaiting the next tidal change so it can float once again. Until then, it will be left stranded waiting for the water to return.

Since 1791 this lighthouse has been guiding ships into port. 231 years later she is still doing her job and is as iconic as ever.

On May 18, 1980 Mount Saint Helens woke up and etched her name in history as the deadliest/most destructive volcanic eruption in US history. The eruption was so powerful that it caused the mountain’s north face to fall in to the valley leveling everything in its path. Trees for miles around the blast zone were blown down which can still be seen today, 41 years after the event. The volcano rests for now as the landscape surrounding her continues to transform waiting for her next appearance.

I visited Star Island off the coast of Portsmouth NH and saw these row boats tied up to the dock. The calm waters and the early morning sun created a calm and peaceful scene. I waited until the boats aligned to a pleasing composition and captured this image. I converted the image to black and white to add another level of simplicity.

If you haven’t walked through Portsmouth after dark I would recommend trying it sometime. A walk along the waterfront led me to Prescott Park where the trees were all lit up. I love the angles these tree limbs make with the dark night sky as a back drop, I knew I needed to capture this scene. With a click of the shutter and a transition to black and white, I captured my vision of the shot.

Every year the Pacific Northwest is struck by large storms that bring strong winds, inches of rain to the rainforest, and feet of snow to the mountains. The beaches along the coast are the first to experience the wrath that Mother Nature is about to throw at them. Over thousands of years, these storms have eroded the land mass and left behind large sea stacks that litter the coastline. Beautiful and strong, they hold the tests of time patiently awaiting the next storm, which could be their last. As climate change continues and these storms become more powerful, it may not be long before the stacks are gone.