by Mariana T.
Member since:
May 10, 2006

Pink Sky at Night, Sailor's Delight

March 15, 2008 06:20 PM EDT (Updated: March 15, 2008 06:23 PM EDT)
views: 527 | comments: 60
I've often walked out along this harbor passing vessels painted in colors of the sea with their brass patina slowly turning blue as an old sea captain's eyes.  Oh, those boats  - each of their voyages carefully recorded in log books and yet I observe them from eyes that only imagine their complex journeys. The ship-shape cabins, anchors weighed, ropes tightly coiled and knotted; all the pieces of a boat sailing together on a common course guided by stars and weathered hands. With my camera, I capture their stories in black and white, paint the photos at home and create my own sea-faring tales by the fire. Thank you for coming aboard, Salud.

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Comments: 60

Natalie Neal Whitefield Mar 15, 2008, 6:27pm EDT
I've walked that harbor. This brings back good memories.
Granny Janny H. Mar 15, 2008, 6:34pm EDT
I can smell the marina now and feel the excitement I always feel when we walk through the gates to see the boats. Sharing our fantasy of owning one we shop the docks in search of the best. Waiting for the pocket buzz that signals our turn to taste the seafood at Brophy Brothers, we read the "for sale" ads posted in the window cases by the Harbor Master's office. Looking out over the boats at our table, we live our dream of living in beautiful Santa Barbara.

Thank you for reminding me with your gorgeous prose and image!
Sue * Mar 15, 2008, 6:44pm EDT
You tell a story so very well. The image is so real, I can hear the water birds in the th distance. Lovely.
J R B. Mar 15, 2008, 6:46pm EDT
Soo pretty.
Ellie !. Mar 15, 2008, 7:00pm EDT
it is beautiful. i love how you painted it.
Anne Marie A. Mar 15, 2008, 7:03pm EDT
beautifully painted black and white photo and writing
Tina Coruth Mar 15, 2008, 7:25pm EDT
Beautifully done, Mariana!
Peter Joseph Swanson Mar 15, 2008, 8:01pm EDT
Marvelous !!!
lynn a. Mar 15, 2008, 8:04pm EDT
This is really very moving, Mariana. I love the way you put the color in and your thoughts on the ships' journeys. Very nice.
Colonel Possum Mar 15, 2008, 8:06pm EDT
Mariana!

Your work of prose and painted photo is a reader's delight!

Cheers,

Colonel Possum
Madame Donna C. Mar 15, 2008, 8:33pm EDT
Mariana, this is beautiful. I haunt marinas and long to either travel aboard an elegant ship and to live upon a ship once more before I die. I'd love to figure out how to colorize some of my pictures too. I really like what you did here.
Sarah (I want points) Mar 15, 2008, 8:37pm EDT
That's a really cool picture! Very nice.
elizabeth e. Mar 15, 2008, 8:41pm EDT
Mariana...girl, you are just a wordsmith tonight. I'm with ya' girl, down by harbor at sunset telling yarns about this merry trip we have taken through life.
Leigh M. Mar 15, 2008, 8:47pm EDT
beautiful pic... my father would have loved it. he was a navy sailor
Marianne R. Mar 15, 2008, 8:49pm EDT
Nice writing and photo.
Judy G. Mar 15, 2008, 9:09pm EDT
How beautiful and serene is this scene you've captured. I grew up hearing ... "red sky at night, sailor's delight, red sky at morning, sailors take warning". (Dad was in the Navy) Seeing this image of yours, I cannot argue with the "delight" that is felt at such a view!!! Thanks for sharing this.

Blessings!
Susan N. Mar 15, 2008, 9:44pm EDT
Lovely....thanks
Nathan Schauer Mar 15, 2008, 9:45pm EDT
The addition of the white paint - like a sepia tone - captures the feel of the place. I used to sit on the dock near home and fish for hours. I'd watch the fishing boats come in. The smells the gentle rocking of the boats. Thanks for reminding me of something I used to love.
Katrina Hall Mar 15, 2008, 10:06pm EDT
Beautiful harbor scene, and a lovely article, Mariana! And I spy my boat!
Teresa L. Mar 15, 2008, 10:24pm EDT
Mariana, your writing and image are beautiful. Your touch of color is striking.

This makes me nostalgic, missing my father-in-law. He kept a boat at Cape May. He taught me to fish for flounder on the Delaware Bay. He also taught me how to sharpen a knife and filet a fish.
I remember that my kids didn't like the smell of the marina. It was so different from anything in the mountains.... but last week as we waited by the Aegean Sea my daughter talked of how she missed the smell of the marina and how much she misses her Pop.

Thank you for stirring the memories.
Curt L. Mar 15, 2008, 10:26pm EDT
Wow! My delight too! Thank you, Mariana! 10!
Phyllis R. Mar 15, 2008, 10:54pm EDT
This is awesome Mariana, - the black and white is so dramatic and just the right amount of color to make this the most beautiful picture I have seen!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kimberly Ripley Mar 15, 2008, 11:08pm EDT
Just beautiful! I love marinas...anything to do with the ocean, really!
Mariana T. Mar 15, 2008, 11:15pm EDT
Wow - thanks so much for all the wonderful comments - I'll have to give each of you a thank you visit! You are all more than kind. Salud.
Teresa L. Mar 16, 2008, 12:03am EDT
The tinted sky made me think of Tennyson's "Crossing the Bar"

Sunset and evening star
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.
Mariana T. Mar 16, 2008, 12:04am EDT
Miz Teresa - that's one of my favorite poems and I've seen a couple of stanzas in epitaphs...on gravestones - thank you so much for printing it out...glad this reminded you of that! I appreciate it! Salud.
Mariana T. Mar 16, 2008, 12:06am EDT
Oh and Teresa I just read your above comment - how touching - well, I have many pictures and I'll try to post more...I'm only a mile and a half from this harbor...I can imagine your father in law was a fine sailor - wonderful man - I know you miss him...thank you for coming by! Salud.
Bhawana 'Gather Proud Mom' Mar 16, 2008, 2:53am EDT
Before going to bed I wish to walk on this romantic harbour.you have such a fairy-eyes and you captured it with most admiring shot. Different layers and tones projects their existence .I don't know what to say that whether you paragraph is beautiful or your image...Both are incredible..

Good night Friend
Kellie S. Mar 16, 2008, 8:56am EDT
Mariana - you are just totally the coolest kid on the block!

Nothing stirs longings in me like a boat on the ocean. I love seeing these through your eyes.
Mariana T. Mar 16, 2008, 12:20pm EDT
Bhawana - what a beautiful and uplifting comment to wake up to and read...this is a photograph I took quite a while back and while on a trip somewhere else painted with Marshall oils - this is a relaxing process and you can spray slick photographs with something that gives them a duller sheen and the oil will obsorb better...or just have larger shots printed on paper with more of a rag content...now, you can do nearly this same process in photoshop and it's a blast but this is all hand done! Thank you.

Kellie - awwww bless your heart for giving me a compliment so early! Salud.
Mariana T. Mar 16, 2008, 2:12pm EDT
Judi - thanks very much - your comments and compliments merge together to give me a smile this morning! Salud.
Marian L Mar 16, 2008, 3:31pm EDT
Beautiful shot and a nice story to go with it.
Vicky Duggins Mar 16, 2008, 3:39pm EDT
A gorgeous picture and lovely words. That biggest boat is the Katrina. Now that is a name of bad memories for thousands. She's probably been the Katrina for a long time, though.
Mariana T. Mar 16, 2008, 3:41pm EDT
Vicky - I lost my mama right after Katrina - the stress was too much so yes, I know all too well about bad memories - but this actually was taken a long time before that storm...Thanks so much - it's always a treat to see you and your lovely green eyes!

Marian - bless your heart - thanks so much! Salud.
Kathryn E. Mar 16, 2008, 4:16pm EDT
Gorgeous and beautiful. I've not been to SB, though to many other CA places, LA, PVE, SD, SF, Monterey, Carmel, SJ, Hollister. That's about it. Pismo.
Fred Hose Mar 16, 2008, 4:37pm EDT
Ah what a moment you gave us. And what a mememort you recalled for me.
I worked my way over to Europe in a cargo boat. It took 6 weeks. A time that I'll never forget. could write a book about it.

I must see Santa Barbara. Mariana, you are the city's best marketing agent *laughter*
Mariana T. Mar 16, 2008, 5:16pm EDT
Thank you Kathryn well, you've seen some beautiful areas for sure!
Peggy - thanks very much
Oh Fred - so when are You coming to San Diego??? What's the title of your book and how do I buy a copy? Salud.
M & M. Mar 16, 2008, 9:48pm EDT
That is a beautiful photo you captured. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Mariana T. Mar 16, 2008, 11:33pm EDT
Margieanne - what an interesting name - thank you so much! Salud.
April H. Mar 17, 2008, 10:38am EDT
Nice writing! My husband and I just love walking around the marina here!
Michael Harvey Mar 18, 2008, 11:01am EDT
Wow, you are good.
necee t. Mar 18, 2008, 2:25pm EDT
oh Mariana... this is a wonderful photo ... i love the colors... you are very
talented .... Blessings to you always... thank you for your friendship
and comments...

Girly Comments & Graphics
Krista P. Mar 18, 2008, 7:18pm EDT
Absolutely lovely..looks like a picture postcard from better days. You're a wizard, dear girl!
Beryl Singleton Bissell Mar 18, 2008, 8:43pm EDT
Ah, take me on more of these journey's Mariana! Loved the description of those coiled ropes, the image of stars and weathered hands.
Monika V. Mar 19, 2008, 11:42am EDT
How beautiful this picture is!
Wilma M. Mar 20, 2008, 1:07am EDT
Beautiful picture and story. I love to walk around in marinas, look at all the boats and imagine I'm out somewhere sailing in one of them.
Mariana T. Mar 21, 2009, 1:28am EDT
This is an old one that I thought I'd spotlight as it's been over a year now since I posted it! Salud
William Dotani Mar 21, 2009, 4:06am EDT
The small green and yellow craft are a nice offset to the pinkish beautiful sky.
Stacey *Mamasaid* D. Mar 21, 2009, 12:05pm EDT
Your words and visuals are breathtaking and beautiful. I love pink skies and marinas and now feel inspired to capture them on film. Sometimes I bicycle over the marina just to stare at the boats and wind up a million miles away in my imagination. Usually I do it around sunset just to see the pink sky all around me. Loved this!
Mariana T. Mar 21, 2009, 12:12pm EDT
Thank you so much Stacey - this was hand-painted with Marshall's Oils - it was a black and white shot done with one of my Pentax cameras - years ago. I love to do that - you use a toothpick with cotton wrapped around it...lots of fun.

Thanks William - I'm inspired to go back next week when the weather turns decent gain! Salud
Laurun M. Mar 22, 2009, 6:38pm EDT
Would you look at the name on that boat! Katrina. What a beautiful job of the sky in contrast with the B & W. You've inspired me to try a similar effect in photoshop with pictures I took just yesterday. I'll try to post it when done. Great to see you.
Mariana T. Mar 23, 2009, 12:06am EDT
Laurun, this shot was taken about ten years ago, way before our devastating Katrina - thank you! I've never tried this in photoshop - I look forward to seeing how your pictures turn out!

Arleen, have you read Two Years Before the Mast - by Dana? Thanks - yes, I say that everytime I see a lovely sun! Thank you. Salud
Carol B Mar 23, 2009, 7:21pm EDT
Very beautiful, Mariana.
Svetlana Goryacheva Mar 25, 2009, 2:56pm EDT
Superbly done! :-)

Hugs and blessings - S.
necee t. Mar 29, 2009, 1:05am EDT
awesome... i love your new icon too... Salud...


Christian Glitter by www.christianglitter.com
elizabeth e. Mar 29, 2009, 9:38am EDT
I wonder what "Katrina's" story is? Love how you painted this one.
Brian .. Mar 31, 2009, 10:20am EDT
Well done!

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