This summer I photographed a wedding atop a high knoll overlooking Penobscot Bay at a location called Point Lookout, in Northport.
Oddly, Point Lookout was the name of an area near the central Pennsylvania coal town where I grew up. That is where the similarity ends. There's no coal being dug at or near Point Lookout, Maine.
Wedding guests and families traveled from all over the planet, but many came from New York City, Baltimore, Maryland, and Wilmington, Delaware.
For some, it was their first trip to Maine, and the experience could not have been more exceptional: perfect weather, a breathtaking view and a great venue.
Weddings have changed a lot over the past 10 years.
It used to be that the wedding photographer was the principle image-maker for the day. Not so much any more. There were at least 50 people using smartphones and very sophisticated cameras, some better than mine. One family friend of the bride, after telling me of her recent photo safari to Africa, mentioned that she had posted a video to Facebook before the bride and groom exited the wedding lawn. “I'll be darned,” I said.
It's a little tricky. Everyone wants to have their own photos. Me too! But, jeepers, the view up the wedding aisle looked like a porcupine on steroids — arms with phones shooting up everywhere! What's a mother to do? Some might offer, “Photoshop it!” But my Photoshop skills are limited.
A good photograph was the best one could do back in film days. Not as many options, after the fact, as there are today. Now, take a ton of photos — there's bound to be good one in there somewhere — no film cost either!
I might get me one of them smartphones, though. And when I do, I will dig up my old miner's headgear, attach the phone to my forehead and let that fellah rip while transmitting through a live feed to Fickle, or Trigger or Ziplock.
But I'd shut off the phone's GPS until I have to argue with “THE VOICE” on my drive home.