The 100 Day Project #34

Weathered

Vinalhaven Island, ME, 2025

The 100 Day Project, Day 34

I’ve photographed these vintage wood bobbers every single time I have visited our friend Kip’s family home on Vinalhaven Island in Maine. They are more than just fishing gear to me; they’re like little portkeys, transporting me back in time to the rugged, salt-aired history of the island.

The home is only accessible by boat, or a long winding single-track footpath through the woods. I like to imaging these net floats were used by the generations of people who have stayed at the home to fish for their family dinners.

I’ve photographed these buoys on every trip, but it wasn’t until last summer that all the elements finally aligned. A rain storm moved through one afternoon, wetting the screen door and adding the layer of water I needed for the image to come together.

In my mind, this photo comes with a soundtrack: the rhythmic creak and slam of that door as friends and family drift in and out of the house, eventually gathering in the kitchen to start on dinner.

Working with my medium format Yaschica, it was in the making of this specific photograph that I joined the “Reading Glasses Club.” I had to borrow my dear friend Kristin’s glasses to be sure my focus was correct. I’m enjoying getting older. It really is a gift.

I’ve printed this image on a variety of papers and fell in love with the way it prints on Hahnemühle FineArt Photo Rag paper. The print is truly more spectacular than the digital image.

About the 100 Day Project: A global creative challenge where thousands of artists share a piece of their practice every single day for 100 days. I'm joining creatives around the world, and I'm excited to bring you along. Each day I'll be sharing one of my photos — some recent, some old, and some from my current project — along with the story behind it: where I was, who I was with, and why I love it.