I love getting close to the water, whether that’s a pond, river, or the ocean. Getting closer to the water can offer a more interesting – maybe even unique – perspective for composition, but here in Maine there’s one problem… even in the summer it’s pretty darned cold!
I’ve read online about landscape photographers wearing wetsuits or hip-high waders as they get close to – or into – the water to get their shot. I’m not quite ready to go that far, but I do sometimes want to get a little closer to a breaking wave, or place my tripod in the middle of a fast-moving stream without then having to deal with wet feet for the rest of the day.
With this in mind, I recently invested $20 in a pair of wellies from Walmart. In the photograph above, I was able to position myself comfortably in the edge of the surf at Sand Beach as several waves washed in and around where I was standing. I was hoping to capture some movement in the water, so I waited for the waves to pull back out before pressing the shutter. With perfectly dry feet, I spent a glorious morning on what is my favorite beach… much closer to the water than I would normally.
After Sand Beach, I wandered over to the Jordan Pond Stream to see just how high the water was running. We had a ton of rain these past few days, and I figured that the flow in the stream would be pretty high… and it was. Me and my new wellies… this is about as close to the front of the camera you are ever likely to find me 🙂
Stories from home 
I need to do that as well. I imagine it will make it better anywhere it is wet under foot. Glad you thought they were good, I will go and find some myself.
Leanne… thanks. Though my new wellies are pretty simple and I wouldn’t want to be hiking too far in them, I do like the idea of being able to at least get into the shallow water in places.
Great photos, as usual!
Thank you. I appreciate the kind words.
That first shot is just beautiful….
Thanks. Though it was the middle of the day I always enjoy being at this “far end” of Sand Beach. All sorts of goodies are revealed at low tide, and on this particular day the surf was running pretty high.
Good Idea for wellies 🙂 Thank you for sharing your inspiring pictures. Dariya
Thanks Dariya. I actually bought the wellies for one specific photograph that I have been planning. It involves me climbing into a sea cave at low tide, and there is no way I could do it without some sort of waterproof footwear. Stay tuned… but in the meantime I plan on getting my money’s worth out of my stylish rubber boots 🙂
Great image, and the video provides an interesting perspective of where you were. Shutter speeds are always great functions to play around with. Good job.
Thanks. The video adds an extra element for sure.
Nice snaps as usual. I look forward to seeing more of the places you’ll go with the wellies. Next stop the sea cave? Stay dry. Cheers.
David,
I had not heard the term “wellies” since Jean and I were in Ireland 4 or 5 years ago. We had to wear some on one of our photography side trips. Never knew you could find them in Walmart.
Great to hear from you Bill. Somehow it doesn’t surprise me that you would have to wear wellies in Ireland! I learned that you can spend $20 on simple rubber wellies, or you can spend a ton of money on higher end ones. Who knew there even were “high end” wellies!
Thanks. The sea cave is quite something. I have to wait until sunrise lines up with a low tide – can’t get in there unless the tide is low.
I feel the same way about my rain pants!! But WalMart?! 😦 I hate giving my money to the evil empire, but sometimes it can’t be helped. Are you referring to the seacave around Great Head?
Carol… I hear you on the evil empire, but unless I wanted pink with flowers I was going to have to go generic.
That is the cave I am referring to. I visited the other day during the daylight hours so that when I return I would at least be familiar with it and not be freaked out in the dark!
I will look forward to your photographs of this!! Good luck!
Thanks. Everything seems to be lining up for this weekend… we’ll see.
If you’re doing sunrise, don’t look for me (even though it would be amazing). Sunrise is getting to be too bloody early! 🙂
Yeah… another few days and we’ll hit that sunrise before 5am mark… now that’s early!
Yes, but as long as the sun is shining, I don’t care how early it gets light, I can sleep just fine in sunshine.
I’m to afraid to fall in the water with gear and all, so I stay safe on shore.
C’mon… where’s the fun in that 😉
I guess I just play on safe there, but once in a while I go wild (?) and take some risks, which you definetly don’t want to do in the Alps. I’ll keep in mind that is all for that one photo you want to make. 😉
I practically live in rubber boots (mine are sexier of course)!
🙂
Yeah… mine won’t likely ever be described as sexy 🙂
Wellies make you feel invulnerable. But… they also make my socks creep down at the heel.
True… and true 🙂