Friday, June 25, 2010

Newport-Bermuda Start: Copyright...Clark

The Newport-Bermuda Race is always one of the highest-profile events on the East Coast sailing circuit, and the start on Narragansett bay just off of Newport is full of excitement. This year was no different, with a 180+ boats and dozens of spectator boats, the starting area was packed and the warm, sunny light-wind weather made it a great day for onlookers.

We opted to rent a VSR for the job this year, with the hope that a bit more speed would help us catch more boats. Without a tiller setup like our dinghies, driving and shooting cannot be done as adroitly, so we divided responsibilities for best success: Allen drove and I- harnessed in at the bow- took the photos. The setup worked extremely well- with all of Allen's experience driving the dinghy, I had the best driver possible- I don't think there could be anybody better at putting the boat in the right place for the shot. But it begs the question, who deserves the copyright for these photos? Technically, it would be me, but it doesn't seem quite right. It was a team effort, with Allen's job being as important as mine, as he was creating the shots. For us, as partners and husband-wife, it doesn't really matter how we get the shots, or who takes them...copyright Clark, or PhotoBoat.com works for us.

posted by Daniela

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Newport Bermuda Race Photography 2010

Newport Bermuda Race Start in 2008; I had just completed taking some of my most favorite shots of my photography career. I stood in my custom photography dinghy, - harnessed in - watching the last of the boats disappear over the horizon on their way to Bermuda. I was very tempted to keep following the boats and to continue to get fabulous shots of hundreds of anxious but excited sailors.

Then it dawned on me, I was so caught up in the moment of gathering these images that I didn’t realize my own situation.I had hurled my 11.5ft dinghy over larges breaking swells in a good following breeze, to a distance of nine miles offshore. It hit me, though i did have a SPOT gps emergancey transponder, a handheld gps, life vest on and enough fuel to make it half way to bermuda. Still, if anything happened to my engine, or if I took a wave incorrectly, then I would probably join these sailors in Bermuda, just in far worse shape.


After carefully weaving my way around steep breaking waves that were easily over my head, I did make my way home just fine (after narrowly missing a collision with what must have been a 8ft shark on the surface). But this year with self-preservation in mind, we have chartered a VSR to photograph the 2010 Newport Bermuda Race Start.
Daniela and I have sailed to Bermuda on a Delivery but have never raced. We look forward to participating in future races.

Here is a link to our 2010 Newport Bermuda Race Photography

Sailors: Please, be safe and enjoy the ride! Good luck!

Allen Clark - PhotoBoat.com