Staying on “the Boards” is a fun, exciting and relaxing thing to do.
Ocean City, Maryland is a popular summer vacation destination, and staying on the boardwalk is an experience like no other. The boardwalk stretches for nearly three miles along the beach and offers a perfect blend of fun, relaxation, and adventure.
The Boardwalk “Arch” greets people as they enter town from Route 50.
Visitors can take a leisurely stroll along the wooden planks, soaking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the ocean. They can indulge in a variety of tasty treats, such as famous Thrasher’s French Fries, saltwater taffy, and funnel cakes. There are also numerous shops and souvenir stands, where visitors can find unique items to take back home as memories of their trip.
Boardwalk French Fries do not judge you.
For those seeking thrills, the boardwalk has plenty of exciting attractions. There are thrilling amusement park rides, like the iconic Roller Coaster and the towering Ferris Wheel, providing panoramic views of the city. Visitors can also try their luck at one of the many games of skill and chance, such as skee-ball, ring toss, and whack-a-mole.
For a more relaxing experience, visitors can rent a beach chair and umbrella and enjoy a day lounging on the soft sand and soaking up the sun. They can also rent bicycles and explore the surrounding areas, taking in the sights of this charming coastal town.
In the evening, the boardwalk transforms into a lively entertainment hub, with street performers, live music, and firework displays lighting up the sky. Visitors can grab a bite to eat at one of the many seaside restaurants and enjoy the ocean breeze while dining.
It all starts with a lighthouse photo that is likely done thousands of times a year.
Fenwick Island Lighthouse with no edits. (This image is not for sale.)
Start with a photograph from an angle, or view, that most tourists see and likely photograph thousands of times a year. Make sure the scene is brightly lit and has a clear sky with no haze. This late afternoon photo, captured near the beginning of the “Golden Hour,” came close to meeting those specifications.
The problem with photographs of the the Fenwick Island Lighthouse captured today are the myriad distractions around the buildings and the Light, itself. The main “eyesores” are the dozens of overhead wires and an unsightly telephone pole right in front of the tower. There are usually cars and/or people in the scene but for this example I was lucky enough to catch a day with no cars parked in front of the Light and only had to wait for a few people to wander on by. Note also how the buildings “lean” in toward the center of the picture.
Fenwick island Lighthouse with distractions (wires & pole) removed and buildings straightened.
Post processing of the image was done in Photoshop Elements where the wires and the telephone pole were carefully removed. The buildings and Lighthouse were also “straightened” to remove the keystone effect of shooting upward to capture the height of the buildings. Once that was done the next step was cropping to include the important parts of the scene and to make the format a “standard” one so that finished prints can be easily framed. In this case a standard 3:2 ratio was used for printing in normal 18×12, 36×24 or similar sizes. The last step in making a clean, normal print was to adjust the brightness and contrast.
Fenwick Island Lighthouse with addition of a sunset sky.
Of course, normal is fine, but creative editing can produce some fascinating effects – much as a traditional artist might “interpret a scene” for whatever vision he or she has in mind. One fun part was then to replace a “boring” sky with something more interesting but not overpowering. I used a sky photograph that I shot near sunset from our own West Fenwick back yard – with my drone at 150 feet of altitude. I chose this particular sky because the lighting pretty well matched the scene and there was some clear sky in the upper left leading to some more dramatic cloud formations to help frame the buildings and the Fenwick Light without distracting from the main subject.
Fenwick Island Lighthouse simulated charcoal drawing presentation.
Then I used an additional software application, Topaz Studio 2, to remove any camera/exposure induced “noise” from the image and then to create the various “presentations” for this scene. Note in the simulated charcoal sketch that the street has been replaced with a section of beach.
Several different presentations of this Fenwick Island Lighthouse landscape scene are available to browse and purchase at www.OceanCityGallery.com and also at Bill’s Fine Art America Gallery.
Click the links below to see each of the presentations as described/titled…
Breathtaking, boutique quality art photographs delivered to your door.
“Assawoman Reflections” – based on the sunset tree on 80th Street, bayside in Ocean City.
Isn’t it time to have some Ocean City and Beach area art in your home or condo – or maybe even your office?
The Ocean City Gallery has partnered with Pictorem.com, a distinguished art printing/fulfillment company to produce the fine art photography of Bill Swartwout Photography, a local photographer.
Pictorem has production and shipping facilities in both Canada and the United States and provides safe and FREE SHIPPING shipping directly to your home – with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Browse the Ocean City Art Gallery today: CLICK HERE.
Condo Row after a major nor’easter.
In conclusion, our partnership with Pictorem.com provides you with more choices in wall art for your home. Pictorem offers a wide range of styles to choose from to fit your taste and budget. With our help, you can find the perfect piece of art to brighten up your home.
