Beachfront sunrise. 7:53 a.m. 2002. Ocean Grove, New Jersey. Click image for full view. This image became a widely distributed postcard.By Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor, Blogfinger.net.
As a photographer, I much prefer sunrises to sunsets. Maybe it’s because photographs of sunrises are rarer than sunsets. After all, most people are still awake when the sun sets, but hardly anyone is up and about when the sun reappears early in the morning. But also, in my opinion, sunrises are more beautiful than sunsets, and speaking philosophically, more uplifting because beginnings are happier than endings.
Yet people love to see images of sunsets. To be honest, I almost never photograph a sunset or accept one for publication on Blogfinger with rare exceptions as when the sunset is contributory to something else in the photograph, such as special lighting for a back-lit portrait.
Some of you will probably sneer at my opinion and consider me to be an effete snob. One of the definitions of effete is “decadent.” I like that, although I have never actually tried it — except when I sneak over to Days for an illicit hot fudge sundae, twice or thrice each summer.
Of course, this image has some special meaning since the portion of the pier that is seen here is no longer present due to hurricane Sandy (2012,) and compare to the recent total rebuild. I think they both went out 500 feet.
The picture reminds me of the song from Annie –“Tomorrow” (“The sun will come out tomorrow; bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there’ll be sun…”). But that’s not the song for this photograph.
Instead, I’m in the mood for John Rutter’s music, and here is his “Blow, blow thou winter wind.” — Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor, Blogfinger.net
Ken: Thank you. I will gladly provide signed prints of this image to contributors if you can get the fishing club to establish a fund earmarked for reconstruction of the future fishing pier. Ralph must be getting seasick sitting out on the end of that rocking wreckage.
I feel nostalgic about the pier—as a member of the Fishing Club I once caught a few Croakers there. I hate to tell you why they have that name. But I am a terrible fisherman.The only reason they let me in the club was because I know CPR.
For me, going out at the end of the pier was a thrill; not for the fish but for the scenery and the photography.
There is a member of the fishing club who swears that she, from the end of the pier, once saw a bunch of naked Hassids in the surf frolicking at the North End. I believe the story, and it may be the funniest thing ever to be seen from the OG pier, going back to the founding Methodists who always frolicked fully clothed.
Tomorrow I will post a photo that was taken from the end of the pier and which subsequently appeared in a magazine.
By the way, postcards with this sunrise image are currently available at Smuggler’s Cove on Main Ave. Ask Rich—he has them under the counter with the Playboys.
–Paul
BRAVO! Paul.
What a great photo of the pier as we would like to see it again. Would you consider offering copies to anyone willing to contribute at least $25 to a fund dedicated to help rebuild the FISHING CLUB portion of the pier?
ken
(I commit my $ 25 to get copy #1 or better yet, the first copy could go to the top donor.)