Photographer's Journal (Seascape)

Welcome to my online journal, otherwise known as a blog. Here I'll be sharing pertinent information, inspirational stories, trip reports, behind-the-photo stories, photography tips and techniques, and various random thoughts that you might find interesting. If you have any questions or comments regarding the opinions and information shared here, feel free to contact me. Thanks for your interest in my work!

Abstract Photography: Exploring the Essence of Nature and Landscapes
March 6, 2024

In the realm of visual arts, photography stands as a medium of infinite exploration, allowing both photographers and viewers to journey beyond the mere representation of reality. Among its myriad genres, abstract photography, especially where nature and landscapes are concerned, offers a particularly fascinating avenue for exploration...

Photographing Cuckolds Lighthouse
March 4, 2024  |  Southport, Maine

Maine's coast is dotted with lighthouses that sit out in the water on submerged ledges or small islets that create hazards for sea captains piloting their boats and ships safely into harbor. From Whaleback light in Kittery, to Lubec Channel Lighthouse in Lubec, these lighthouses are visible from the shore and a reminder of Maine's maritime heritage...

Preserving The Past
January 24, 2024

This winter has been a strange one here in Maine. We haven't had much snow, it's been warmer than it normally is, and to top it off, we've been getting hammered with vicious nor'easters that have battered the towns up and down the coast...

Into The Storm
December 21, 2023  |  Portland, Maine

Last year, just before Christmas, a historic nor'easter hit Maine, bringing high winds, towering waves, and torrential rains with it. The photography that Maine photographers produced of the storm was simply epic...

5 Reasons Why Art Makes a Great Gift
November 22, 2023

At any gift-giving time of year, whether it's Christmas, Hanukkah, a birthday, wedding, or anniversary, we are often stumped as to what to give someone for a gift. Somehow, it seems art is often overlooked, but art, and specifically landscape photography, makes a great gift! Whether it's a collectable museum-quality print, or a household item such as a throw pillow, coffee mug, or jigsaw puzzle, art often is a gift that goes above and beyond a normal gift...

A Change in Perspective
November 6, 2023

The surest way to take something familiar and make it new again is to look at it from a new point of view. This is true of anything in life, whether it be a TV show that we've seen that we suddenly watch with a different point of view, a social or political issue we never considered except from our own perspective, but now look at in light of someone else's concerns, or simply considering a new use for a room that you've always used another way...

Nature's Fury: Photographing in a Tropical Storm
September 18, 2023  |  Acadia National Park, Maine

As a photographer, I appreciate a good storm for the opportunities it can provide for interesting photos. But I'm also torn. Because there's nothing like a stormy day spent at home curled up on the couch all cozy and warm, as the wind and rain whip around outside...

The Creative Decision Behind Lens Choice
June 25, 2023

When I started taking photos way back when, I thought of lenses the way most people who are new to photography, or who aren't photographers at all, think of them. Specifically that telephoto lenses are used when things are far away, and wide angle lenses are for tight spaces or wide vistas...

Nature's Allure
June 18, 2023

I’ve always found myself drawn to the outdoors. When I went away to college at SUNY New Paltz, one of the draws was the small town with close access to the Catskills. I would often venture to Minnewaska State Park on days when I didn’t have afternoon classes, or when I just decided being outdoors was more important than my class...

Rick Berk's Guide to Acadia National Park
June 14, 2023  |  Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine

It should be no secret that Acadia National Park is one of my favorite places to photograph. Now that I live just over 2 hours away, it’s much easier for me to get to, and I still find there are plenty of places to photograph there that I’ve never photographed before...

Behind the Image: Sunrise at Montauk Point
June 7, 2023  |  Montauk Point, New York

Since I began selling my work, "Sunrise at Montauk Point" has become one of my most popular, selling a fair number of prints. It's easy to see why. The iconic Montauk Point Lighthouse stands in the distance atop the bluff, as the sun rises above a bank of clouds while a wave washes over the rocky shoreline west of the lighthouse...

The Enchantment of Sunsets
June 4, 2023

If sunrises are my favorite time to photograph, sunsets are a close second.

The Magic of Sunrises
April 18, 2023

It can be so difficult at times. I'll be fast asleep, snuggled up under the blankets, nice and warm, dreaming away, when suddenly, my alarm shatters the still and rips me from my slumber. I reach over and grab my phone...

Location Spotlight: The Nubble Lighthouse
April 16, 2023  |  Cape Neddick, Maine

My first time in Maine was over New Year's Eve 1998 and New Year's Day, 1999. My ex-wife and I had decided to get away for the holiday and found a cute bed and breakfast in York Harbor. When we arrived, we asked the innkeeper about nearby lighthouses, and she directed us to Cape Neddick Lighthouse, known by many as The Nubble Light...

The Mystery Dory of Ogunquit
March 27, 2023  |  Ogunquit, Maine

Did you know that different types of dories are specific to the region they were built in? The Ogunquit Dory is one such dory. Popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, the Ogunquit Dory was built to handle the strong tides and rocky coastline of Maine...

Smoke on the Water: Braving Frigid Temperatures to Capture an Amazing Phenomenon
February 5, 2023  |  Portland, Maine

Living in northern New England offers a wide variety of benefits for photographers such as myself. Beautiful landscape that includes mountains, rolling hills covered in flowers, thick forests, rivers, lakes, dramatic cliffs dropping hundreds of feet into the ocean, lighthouses, and picturesque fishing harbors to name several...

2022: My Year in Pictures
December 30, 2022

“Twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop.” - Ansel Adams

Well, to be sure, I've shared more than 12 photos in my year-end review here, but to be fair, using a digital camera allows me to produce many more photos than Ansel Adams using a view camera that took one sheet of film at a time...

My Favorite Maine Harbors
October 13, 2022  |  Maine, USA

Maine is a state with a lot to offer and explore. There are over 5700 lakes. 65 lighthouses. 14 mountains over 4000 feet tall. Many people visit to see lighthouses, to go hiking, or just eat seafood...