Posted by Kent Johnson on March 20, 2009 at 11:56 PM
I'm thinking of making my first visit to Cape Cod in May. I checked the Natonal Park web site but they just have general comments about the weather and nature of the area. Is this a good month for photography or would April or June be better? Any ideas about good locations for sunrise or sunsets? Crowded places to avoid? I like trying to shoot birds, wildlife and landscapes. Thanks
Kent Johnson
Pocono Mtns
I've been to Cape Cod & love it. I'm sorry I can't help with the time of year... I was there in August, I believe. While waiting to hear from others, you could go on some of the popular photography sites including PPN, do a search on "Cape Cod" and see what photos come up. I would try SmugMug too. By right-clicking on a photo & choosing "properties", you may be able to see when the photo was taken. Just an idea. As far as crowded places-- well, one of the big issues is getting on & off the cape. The bridge backs up badly certain times of day & of course on the day when rentals end... presumably Sat. But in spring, perhaps that's not an issue at all. So many of the beaches & lighthouses & windmills are photogenic, and then there are seals & sea birds, etc. We particularly liked a campground in North Truro, which had a path to the lighthouse there. Again, I can't help w/ seasons though, so I'll sign off & let someone more knowledgeable help out.
Back again--- I just found a SmugMug gallery that has quite a few decent photos that appear to have been shot in April, '08. It does give you an idea of what's around at that time. Looks like a good time to go on a whale watch, among other things! Here's the link: http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/4812881_jUedK#286100787_aMomM (sorry, I don't know how to make it a real link). There were lots of other galleries with "Cape Cod" as a keyword or title too.
I know there are plenty of photo opportunities on the Cape, but I also know from experience that the crowds/traffic are unbearable in June, July and August. Hope some NENP members can help you. My neighbor has a cottage there and may possibly want to rent it. Email me if interested and I'll give you her name and number.
About the crowds, I would say that really depends where you go on Cape Cod. (but yes, of course it will be more empty in spring). There are concentrations of tourists in certain areas. Other parts are really great, and crowd-free -- and to anyone coming from Eastern PA, the parts we spent the most time in sure weren't as crowded as so many areas around here. For a city, even P-town seemed quite easy to get around in & find parking & all that. The tower there is worth a visit. The more Northern beaches were not crowded at all, and neither were the roads, and this was the height of the season. When we visited a real gem of a windmill with a guide who knew stuff that you could stay all day & listen to (& get all kinds of close-up photos of the details of the place), there was no one else there at all.
If you like sunrises & sunsets, or other morning nature scenes, you can easily find empty spots. Honestly I think the only time we were really in a crowd was on the seal boat. The trick is knowing your spots ahead of time & planning good times to be there. When you need a photography break, the museum of the pirate ship Whydda (in P-town) is absolutely fascinating. Our family thought it was the best museum we've ever been in, & even in a couple hours you can really get a lot out of it. There are plenty of great nature walks all over on Cape Cod, with very photogenic areas. On some of them, we never saw another person. There was one with sand dunes... wish I could recall the name of that area... had a unique look.. plenty for the camera.
If you go before Memorial Day weekend, you shouldn't have any problem with crowds or traffic.
As for locations: Lots of lighthouses, of course; my favorites to shoot are Nobska Point Light and Cape Cod Light. The shoreline and accompanying hillsides between Truro and Provincetown are nice (for natural scenes and the famous cottage scenes). The park at Fort Hill (near Eastham) is great for natural shore landscapes and seascapes. And Nickerson State Park is nice for some non-traditional Cape scenes -- it's woods and lakes in the middle of the Cape (well, it's not "traditional" in the modern sense, but the landscapes are what the region looked like before European settlement).
--Chris
p.s. -- If you do want to check out the lighthouses to shoot in the area, I have some notes about shooting a few of them on my website; see the Mass. section of Photographer's Guide to American Lighthouses.
Posted by Kent Johnson on March 25, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Thanks everyone for your replies. I'm still checking out some of the leads.
Anna's suggestion of checking out Smugmug was great. My favorite so far was Jill Odice's shots (http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/4812881_jUedK#286100787_aMomM ) She lived on Cape Cod and has photos with great light and the locations noted.
Chris, I really like your shot of Nobska Point Lighthouse in Woods Hole, I hope I have at least a few days with sky's that clear.
I've settled on early to mid May for my trip. The exact dates will depend on what days I can get off work. Thanks again everyone, Kent
Kent, oh, I hope you have a grand trip!! May sounds great for Cape Cod, from what I saw in other people's porfolios. I think you may have accidentally put in the link for the SmugMug site I mentioned, instead of Jill Odice's. I'm not sure which photo you liked best of Jill's, but here's the link I found for her "Cape Cod and the Islands" gallery: http://jodice.smugmug.com/gallery/172841_SRSHi . Could someone remind us how to make something a real link? Thanks!! You're right, Kent. she has some great stuff. I want to pack up & leave on my lighthouse tour right now!!
I thought I would chip in some info too. I live in MA and also have a home just off the beach in Dennisport on Cape Cod. As far as May is concerned you shouldn't find any crowds. The National Seashore is a nice place to visit. Also Chatham offers several nice photo opportunities with the lighthouses and the seashore.
Provincetown is a quiant older sea/tourist town at the far tip of the cape and that will also offer some nice photo ops. Nauset light is a good place too. If you cruise Rt 6A on the upper cape you will find many older cape houses that make for some nice shots.
Posted by Frank Winters on March 30, 2009 at 8:32 AM
Provincetown is one of the world's most successful art communities. The galleries where local artists, some with world renown, exhibit their work are had to beat.
The National Seashore is a national treasure -- miles of beaches with no development -- priceless!
I'd head for the outer Cape, Welfleet (another wonderful art town) Truro, Eastham and Provincetown. In the Spring you can stay in Provincetown on the water inexpensively.
Try the Provincetown Inn, at the very tip of the Cape, and walk the barrier made of huge boulders out to the lighthouse there. The Inn is rustic -- an old style motel but is comfortable and the location is perfect.
The Inn is also close to the bycylce path through the dunes -- I don't know of a better bike path. This is wilderness with a bike path through it that you can get to in 5 minutes -- another priceless part of the Cape.
Our family has been going to the Cape for vacations for 25 years and we feel we have just scratched the surface. Enjoy!
Discussion
9 repliesKent Johnson
Pocono Mtns
If you like sunrises & sunsets, or other morning nature scenes, you can easily find empty spots. Honestly I think the only time we were really in a crowd was on the seal boat. The trick is knowing your spots ahead of time & planning good times to be there. When you need a photography break, the museum of the pirate ship Whydda (in P-town) is absolutely fascinating. Our family thought it was the best museum we've ever been in, & even in a couple hours you can really get a lot out of it. There are plenty of great nature walks all over on Cape Cod, with very photogenic areas. On some of them, we never saw another person. There was one with sand dunes... wish I could recall the name of that area... had a unique look.. plenty for the camera.
As for locations: Lots of lighthouses, of course; my favorites to shoot are Nobska Point Light and Cape Cod Light. The shoreline and accompanying hillsides between Truro and Provincetown are nice (for natural scenes and the famous cottage scenes). The park at Fort Hill (near Eastham) is great for natural shore landscapes and seascapes. And Nickerson State Park is nice for some non-traditional Cape scenes -- it's woods and lakes in the middle of the Cape (well, it's not "traditional" in the modern sense, but the landscapes are what the region looked like before European settlement).
--Chris
p.s. -- If you do want to check out the lighthouses to shoot in the area, I have some notes about shooting a few of them on my website; see the Mass. section of Photographer's Guide to American Lighthouses.
Anna's suggestion of checking out Smugmug was great. My favorite so far was Jill Odice's shots (http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/4812881_jUedK#286100787_aMomM ) She lived on Cape Cod and has photos with great light and the locations noted.
Chris, I really like your shot of Nobska Point Lighthouse in Woods Hole, I hope I have at least a few days with sky's that clear.
I've settled on early to mid May for my trip. The exact dates will depend on what days I can get off work. Thanks again everyone, Kent
Provincetown is a quiant older sea/tourist town at the far tip of the cape and that will also offer some nice photo ops. Nauset light is a good place too. If you cruise Rt 6A on the upper cape you will find many older cape houses that make for some nice shots.
The National Seashore is a national treasure -- miles of beaches with no development -- priceless!
I'd head for the outer Cape, Welfleet (another wonderful art town) Truro, Eastham and Provincetown. In the Spring you can stay in Provincetown on the water inexpensively.
Try the Provincetown Inn, at the very tip of the Cape, and walk the barrier made of huge boulders out to the lighthouse there. The Inn is rustic -- an old style motel but is comfortable and the location is perfect.
The Inn is also close to the bycylce path through the dunes -- I don't know of a better bike path. This is wilderness with a bike path through it that you can get to in 5 minutes -- another priceless part of the Cape.
Our family has been going to the Cape for vacations for 25 years and we feel we have just scratched the surface. Enjoy!