Michael Leonard hosts photography cruise aboard Balmy Days
On June 29, photographer Michael Leonard was aboard the Balmy Days, along with around 75 amateur and professional photographers.
For the past several Windjammer Days festivals in Boothbay Harbor, Capt. Bill Campbell has offered a photography cruise, at the suggestion of Leonard, for the purpose of taking people out to photograph the Windjammers as they arrive in the harbor.
Campbell said he keeps the number of passengers for the photo cruise at 75, so everybody can see the Windjammers.
Leonard said the cruise has been popular since its inception around five years ago. “Bill agreed to do it, which is really nice. This is his show. I suggested that he just do everything as he normally does, but put the word “photography” into the name of the cruise and I'll take care of the rest.” He said five years ago 15 or 20 people signed up. Now it's up to around 75 each year.
“I'm here to answer questions as they arise,” Leonard said. “I promote it as a photography cruise because Bill maneuvers the boat to get into the very best positions to enable people to get pictures of the Windjammer fleet as they sail into the harbor, with respect to the background and to other boats around, so we get uncluttered scenes.
“It's all part of what I call ‘photo tourism.’”
Leonard said during the cruise he shows people how to use their cameras to get the best shot. And what will they do with their pictures? “They're going to use them in social media, they're going to post them to Facebook, they're going to show their co-workers, family and friends,” he said. “And who hasn't received a postcard with a picture of a place that makes you want to go there?”
And that makes it good for tourism. “Photo tourism is cyclical,” Leonard said. “It's a good thing for the state of Maine, and I'm trying to single-handedly promote photo tourism in the state, starting here in Boothbay Harbor.”
Leonard also holds a sunset photography class at the Lobster Dock. He said he shows people how to get the best shots of a sunset. “They eat there, and coincidentally get the best quality shots of Boothbay Harbor at sunset.”
The weather for the cruise could have been better. It was gray and foggy, with a couple light showers. It could have been worse, though. “We had a few bail out because they were afraid of the weather forecast of thunder and lightning,” Campbell said.
Leonard was happy about the weather. “I'm thrilled,” he said. “From a photography point of view I think fog makes for some of the best lighting — some really nice soft light.
“What I like about the fog is you see the boats emerging through the fog, and you have this nice soft background, and you don't necessarily see land. It can almost look haunting at times.”
One of the passengers, Diane Woodworth, from Bangor, said she'd been out on the Windjammer photography cruise many times, and she still has more to learn. “Every time I'm out with Mike I learn something new, and it's fantastic. He's a great teacher.”
Helen Lataille, from South Portland, is a member of the Portland Camera Club. She said Leonard is a good teacher. “This is my first trip here, but Mike has given all kinds of lectures at our club.”
Joy and Paul Hardaker, from Jacksonville, Florida, were on the cruise. “We went out on the Bay Lady last night and got some photos,” Joy said. “But the sails on the Windjammers weren't up so it was fun to come back and get a few more photos today.”
There's another photo cruise scheduled on the Balmy Days for Labor Day weekend: A Boothbay Region lighthouse cruise, as part of Harbor Fest. “It will be more like a sunrise cruise,” Campbell said. “We're leaving port at 6 a.m.”
