Cape Cod's Great Island Trail

[Mike Buckley]

The Great Island Trail was named when there really was an island before sand naturally built up and replaced the water. It's widely considered the best hiking trail on Cape Cod and one of the best seashore trails in America's system of national parks. The trail is only the second of its kind that my wife and I have hiked and we're really glad we did.

Photo #1
Wellfleet Harbor at low tide viewed from an overlook in a pine forest that crosses from one beach at the Herring River to the beach in this scene. The small strip of land in the top left area about 1 1/4 miles long leads to the left to Jeremy Point, which is not included in this scene. That strip appears only at low tide. The two men are looking back across the ankle-deep water they had walked through. Captured by my wife and post-processed by me.

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Photo #2
The trail passes alongside grass-covered sand dunes. A wonderful beach looking out to Cape Cod Bay is to the right on the other side of the dunes.

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Photo #3
If you get lucky, you'll come upon someone digging clams at low tide on the banks of the Herring River. This guy sells them rather than eats them.

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Photo #4
The banks of the Herring River and the pine forest mentioned in the description of Photo #1.

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Photo #5
A couple short offshoots of the main trail lead through the dunes to the beach at Cape Cod Bay. The dunes are roped off during the season that birds mate, lay eggs and nurture their young. Captured by my wife and post-processed by me.

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[Allan]

Beauties. I really like the first one. A first I did not notice the people but when I did it really changed the size.

 

[Mitchell]

That first one is excellent. A very interesting, undulating shoreline.

 

[Butlerkid]

Excellent images, especially #1! Your wife has a very good eye!

 

[Hylander]

Nice set. I agree with everyone else: I like #1 best, with its irregular swirls and the two human figures in contemplation.

From Corson's Inlet, by A. R. Ammons:

I went for a walk over the dunes again this morning
to the sea,
then turned right along
the surf
rounded a naked headland
and returned

along the inlet shore:

* * *

the walk liberating, I was released from forms,
from the perpendiculars,
straight lines, blocks, boxes, binds
of thought
into the hues, shadings, rises, flowing bends and blends
of sight:

* * *

I see narrow orders, limited tightness, but will
not run to that easy victory:
still around the looser, wider forces work:
I will try
to fasten into order enlarging grasps of disorder, widening
scope, but enjoying the freedom that
Scope eludes my grasp, that there is no finality of vision,
that I have perceived nothing completely,
that tomorrow a new walk is a new walk.

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43073/corsons-inlet

 

[Walter Rowe]

More goodies from the Cape .. really nice Mike.

 

[gnagel]

Very nice set…I especially like 2 because it is such a creative composition. Most photographers would walk by that scene without attempting a shot.

Glenn

 

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you to Allan, Mitch, Karen, Bill, Walter and Glenn!

As for the first photo, my wife and I captured several very similar to it that also included the two men. However, their location within the scene and the one man that has both hands on his head made my wife's photo displayed above stand out from the rest. It's really amazing how such a small detail relative to the rest of the content in the image can make such a big difference. I have passed along your compliments about that first photo to my wife.

 

[jbailey930]

Super set. Great composition and framing. Its hard to think about how best to frame the scenery while hiking around, so kudos to you and your wife!

 

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks also to John!

 

[Binnur]

Great day photos with beautiful colors and compositions Mike. I also like the B&W image with good processing and composition.

 

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks as always to Binnur!

 

[drr1531]

Nice set, Mike. Each one nicely composed and collectively they give a good sense of the place. Well done.

 

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks also to Dan!