On a perfect spring morning in the fishing village of Rockport on Cape Ann, Massachusetts, just a few lobster boats are moored in the calm harbor. In June the recreational boats will start showing up—but for now, these protected waters are the exclusive domain of commercial fishermen. The ice cream shops and gift shops on Bearskin Neck are still shuttered, and you can get a parking spot downtown pretty much anywhere you please. Today, a couple of fisherman and their wives are pushing strollers on Main Street. One proud father is boasting about how much his infant likes being on board his boat.

From the archives — In the 1970′s I was a volunteer deckhand, folksinger, and event organizer on sloop Clearwater. This photograph was made during one of many short sails on the Hudson River and New York Harbor. Here, three crew members tighten up the jib in a stiff breeze. The 106 foot long Clearwater can still be seen sailing its home waters from April to November of each year. This photograph is available as a custom fine art print and as a licensed stock image for commercial use. Click the image to see an enlarged view.

August 1 — The rolling pastures of Appleton Farms in Ipswich, MA are a frequent refuge for me when I need to feel at peace.  I roam the dusty roads between the old fields, camera and tripod in hand. Here in Essex County, MA, not far from my home in the suburbs north of Boston, even the herd of 40 grass-fed dairy cows seem to know that all will be well. This farm was established in 1636 and it is comforting to see this great place thriving still, in 2011

The rain was very heavy for most of the day yet I had to get out and make some photographs. With my camera shielded by an umbrella mounted on a tripod with a “Superclamp”, I composed this shot of a pond in Harold Parker State Forest in North Andover, MA.

© Paul Mozell

Cape Ann’s jagged coast and its fishing and sailing heritage, continue to inspire my camera and my soul. Recently, I’ve been exploring boat-building shops, looking for examples of traditional handiwork. Marine architect and boatbuilder Harold Burnham is currently building the pinky schooner Ardelle. When the beautiful red oak and locust boat is launched this summer Burnham will operate it as a charter out of the Gloucester Maritime Historical Center. Harold Burnham is the eleventh generation of his family to build boats in Essex, Massachusetts. Click here to learn more about the project.

The Ardelle will be launched in the Essex River early this summer.

Today for some reason I had an urge to go hiking in the Colorado Rockies again. You can join me…on this short slide show. Click the icon at lower right for a full screen view. These images are available as licensed stock photographs and as fine art prints.