Maine Lobster Gear

When I first arrived in Maine in the fall of 2006, Colby played up the Maine aesthetic with an "all-you-can-eat" lobster and Gifford's ice cream cookout. I have never been a big fan of lobster itself and I found the whole spectacle grossly excessive environmentally speaking. Despite my lack of enthusiasm for Lobster, I am interested in the process and phenomena surrounding the "Maine Lobster," and its role in defining an identity for the state of Maine. When most people think of lobster gear they think of a bib, a nut cracker and melted butter, not hundreds of neon yellow cages, blaze orange rope and black and green buoys. I spotted this gear last weekend on the side of the road near Brunswick Maine, was moved by its vibrant colors and its often over looked importance.

The bright colors of this lobster gear contrast sharply with the gray water and white waves where they earn their keep.

Maine lobster men weather the elements year round to fish for lobster and this gear has to handle the punishments.

I love the blues and the reds, all we need is some white .

The finished project of Maine, a 1.5 pound lobster.

Here are some more links,
Lobster Gear (Picasa),

An Abandoned Boat on the Maine Coast

I spotted this boat lying in a field next to a deserted house in Harpswell Maine.

The house looked like it had been deserted awhile. Note the two abandoned Saabs.

I love how the leaves gathered in the eddies.

I wonder how old this dingy is? I am sure countless kids learned to sail in this dingy in the numerous protected bays along the Maine Coast.

This gaping hole once housed the boat's centerboard.

The cracks in yellow and white paint expose the boat's past colors.

If only this boat could tell its story.

Here are some more links,
A Boat in a Field in Harpswell Maine (Picasa),
Maine Coast (Winter) (Picasa).

Spring in Harpswell Maine

The snow is melting on the Maine shoreline. No longer do ice blocks litter the beaches like driftwood. Early Saturday morning, I walked around taking photos of Harpswell, a small, stereotypical Maine community centered around lobster fishing and tourism.

This shed has seen numerous Nor'easters, cold -22° winter storms, and hot Maine summers. The paint shows it.

Fog lying on Pole Island. If Rogues Gallery were a Maine fisherman, this is where he would live.

The modern Maine College preppy look; Vineyard Vines Tote, Jcrew sweatshirt and Madewell Jeans.

Maine Lobster boats.

Here are some more links,
Spring in Harpswell Maine (Picasa),
Maine Coast (in the Winter) (Picasa).

Meikai Switchable Panorama Camera Walk Through Waterville

This afternoon, after laying in a field musing about last fall's leaves, I walked across the street to the Goodwill to have a look around. While sifting through old waffle makers and LL Bean fleeces, I found this Meikai Switch Panarama camera sitting next to a sprinkler timer. The geniuses at Meikai spelled panorama "Panarama," so you know it's good. The Meikai's ability to switch between Panorama and Standard mode caught my eye, so I took a 99¢ leap of faith. I loaded the Meikai up with Fujifilm 400 film and walked around Waterville with my Canon 5d Mark II on back up.

The exposure reader works like two legged stool.

The Meikai is 100% plastic, even the lens.

The Meikai is manual winding like a disposable camera.

Meikai in Panaroma mode, note the plastic cropping that partially covers the film.

Meikai in Standard Mode, all of the light hits the 35mm film.

Meikai in Standard Mode. Mainards often put insulation over the windows to cut down on heating costs.

Meikai in Panarama mode. I have no idea whats going on with the red rectangle.

Canon 5D Mark II.

Meikai. While taking these photos I often looked at the back of the Meikai after every shot expecting to see a 3 inch LCD displaying the recent exposure.

Canon.

Meikai.

Canon.

Meikai into an abandoned Dollar Tree.

Canon. I really like these two.

Meikai.

Canon. That's my dojo in the background, second floor above the front door.

After half an hour and 24 exposures, I walked to the neighborhood CVS to develop the film. It took Laurie 10 minutes to pull the film from Meikai. I had low expectations for the 99¢ and the $3 setup and awaited the developing like seven year old at five thirty on Christmas morning. Grab some 400 speed film and go to a Goodwill near you. I am sure you will smile like I did.

Here are some more links,
Waterville Through With the Meikai (Picasa),
Meikai vs Canon 5d Mark II (Picasa),
Meikai Switchable Panorama Camera (Picasa).