Plastic Classic Forum

Lots of good historical maritime photos here. Try searching on yacht, sail, etc.

http://images.google.com/hosted/life

Very, very cool. Thanks for the link.

I just never get tired of looking at older boats.







I love seeing the tall slender rigs on these old boats. They just seem graceful and beautiful to my eye.

Thanks again for the link.

Cheers, Bill

Agreed...also like these of Sir Francis Chichester aboard Gypsy Moth IV:

In his sea berth

Drawing a glass of Guinness

To that end, Norman Fortier - a photographer local to the New Bedford, MA / Buzzards Bay area - captured some stunning marine photographs in his career. I personally connect with a lot of it. While it's before my day, the places are all the same, and the boats are classic. You'll enjoy quite a few Concordia images, as well as some great reflections of life in a coastal town.

Some photos here

http://www.whalingmuseum.org/photo-op/poparts/

And the somewhat recent release of a book, available here

http://www.amazon.com/Wind-Marine-Photo ... 465&sr=8-1

This is Fortier's second book - The first being written in 1968 with the famous CCA era sailor ("Winnie of Bourne" Concordia Yawl) and Yachting Historian John "Jack" Parkinson Jr. . "The Bay and the Sound" is available via the used book shops for short money. In many ways, it was a better book then the latest one.

There is a good account of him in Waldo Howlands The Concordia years, and a write up here from the NBWM:
http://www.whalingmuseum.org/about/fortier.html

Of course the real grandfather of American Yachting photography would have to be the Rosenfeld family (esp. Morris and Stanley). Most of the photo's from 1910-1960's that sailing folks are familiar with are from their studio. There are numerous books - and a quick Google will give you a good half dozen:
http://www.rosenfeldcollection.com/inde ... C5FD4F63C1

Adam wrote:Of course the real grandfather of American Yachting photography would have to be the Rosenfeld family (esp. Morris and Stanley). Most of the photo's from 1910-1960's that sailing folks are familiar with are from their studio. There are numerous books - and a quick Google will give you a good half dozen:
http://www.rosenfeldcollection.com/inde ... C5FD4F63C1

... Likewise, in the UK, another long time family business ... BEKEN of COWES. ... I watched a video of this family and their photography of the sailing boats we have all come to appreciate. I do believe that video can be purchased from the BBC (BritishBroadcastingCorporation) on-line store.
... The pics I liked most were of those huge J Class vessels ... what awesome power in those vessels under masses of sail. I recall seeing some of them stored in a yard near Southampton, England many years ago, as I was traveling past the dock area by train.
... One of my siblings gave me a box of drink Coasters with pics of these visions of beauty. Amazing shots ... all taken with a camera made by the original BEKEN Senior. That camera is also featured in the video.

My appologies for leaving out Beken of Cowes - The thread was leaning to an "American" view in my narrow mind - and you are quite right Beken was every bit the UK's Rosenfelds. In fact they were probably the first to concentrate on recreational "yachting". A number of good books as well.

Here is another very good photographer from that era - W.B. Jackson :
http://www.tfaoi.com/aa/6aa/6aa359.htm

Humina Humina.

They sure did build pretty boats back then. Makes me sad to wonder where they all went. Sigh.

Zach