Adrian Scholes

Did I Mention I Love It Here?

I live in Essex County, Massachusetts, and I love it here. As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, I’ve travelled extensively over the years, but nowhere has captivated me like this region. I’m going to steal from a page of the Essex National Heritage Commission (ENHC) web site, as they sum it up perfectly: “…the Essex National Heritage Area covers the 500 square miles of eastern Massachusetts that lies north of Boston. It's not one location, but thousands of historical sites. Not a mile-long beach, but miles and miles of intact landscapes and glistening coastal areas. Not one story and tradition, but lifetimes of rich experiences that chronicle the history of our region, and our nation.”

Makes you want to live here, or at least visit, right?  :o)

There is so much to see and do in these 500 square miles, so much to learn, and I’m on a mission to do just that. I’ve been posting photographs of recent visits to local landmarks, and this week was a particularly good one for learning.

On Sunday, I joined members of the Essex County Greenbelt Association (ECGA) for a guided tour of the Indian Hill Farm Reservation; one of their properties in West Newbury. As we followed trails through some of the 45 acres, we learned the history of the estate and its fascinating (and maybe a little eccentric) owner, Major Ben Perley Poore. In addition to his prominence as a 19^th century newspaper correspondent and editor, Major Poore was an avid horticulturist and spent years landscaping and planting the hillsides of his property, and creating formal gardens and the winding cart-paths we were walking on. I always enjoy the history of these places, and value the work ECGA is doing to preserve it for us. 

 

Wednesday evening found me at the annual meeting of the Merrimack River Watershed Council, learning more about the important work these folks are doing to monitor, preserve and protect this magnificent river that continues to play such an important role in the history and economy of Essex County. We were also treated to an outstanding presentation on the status and struggles of the Atlantic and Shortnose sturgeon, which migrate from the ocean to spawn at a location a mile from where I live. A truly prehistoric fish, Sturgeon have managed to survive for 2 million years, and until threatened to near extinction by over-fishing, dams and pollution. Another feather for our proud-humanity cap!

Finally, last night was spent in most agreeable company at the Jewell Towne Vineyards; New Hampshire's oldest winery. Although technically in NH, the property spans the border into Essex County, just outside Amesbury. The visit was arranged by the Essex National Heritage Commission, mentioned above; another organization dedicated to “building, growing and sustaining our sense of place”. The tour was engaging, the food excellent, and the wine pairings exceptional. We of course came home with a few new bottles for the cellar (ok, the basement).

Most importantly though, at all of these events I meet the people who are dedicating their lives to promoting, preserving and protecting this amazing region. At dinner last night, we shared our table with Elizabeth Rankin from ENHC. It was impossible to ignore the enthusiasm and conviction in her voice and eyes as she discussed the work of the organization and her role in it. I’ve observed this in every person I’ve met from every one of these organizations.

And this is what will keep me going back, learning more, and doing my small part to help them do what they do best. Did I mention I love it here?

Staying Local

I was in the field for sunrise again this morning, visiting the Ordway Reservation in West Newbury. This remarkable ECGA property is adjacent to I95, but the roar of traffic immediately fades as you step into 55 acres of open fields and upland forest. This is the New England of an earlier age, with classic stone walls marking the boundaries of once-cleared land.

As I walked the trails, I thought of the similarities between this place and other locations I’ve photographed; many of which involved an obscenely early start and a long journey to my destination. In comparison, this morning’s drive was less than 20 minutes. I arrived in time for that golden transition of twilight to sunrise, enjoyed a productive hour of photography, and was home to begin a normal day by 8:30am.

Over the years, I’ve read numerous variations of a learning assignment that recommends spending some time limiting your photography to a confined space – such as no farther than 50 feet from your door. The intent of these exercises is to enhance our ability to see. On the other hand, photography magazines and books constantly wow us with images of majestic mountains reflecting in glass-smooth glacial lakes. These grandiose photographs are often what drive us to purchase our first camera and spend hours attempting to recreate the something similar.

The images I’m seeking nowadays are very different. I’m not sure if what I’m experiencing is a kind of photographic maturity, but the idea of thinking in terms of a project - revisiting a place, exploring every corner, and returning in different conditions - has been a sort of photography rebirth for me. Rather than the one-hit wonder, I’m there to document a location's character, and communicate a sense of place to my viewers. My hope is they will be inspired to visit and explore these wonderful locations themselves.

And best of all, I’m learning I can do all this by staying local.

Curiosity and Conservation

One of the many pleasures of photography is the search for new and distinct photographs, which naturally leads to the discovery of new and distinct locations. Curiosity lies at the very heart of photography. It drives our 360 degree vision as we hike trails. It encourages us to return to the same location at different times of day and in a variety of weather conditions until we get the images we see in our minds eye. It inspires us to learn more about our subjects. What was that flower? Who lived above those ruined foundations? Where is the source of that river?

Visiting an interesting locale for the first time is a fabulous experience, especially when it’s on our proverbial doorstep.  I called on the good people at Essex County Greenbelt Association (ECGA) today, and learned of a few such places; all of which are less than 25 minutes from the house. I’ll be exploring every one of them in the coming weeks.

I began this evening, with a visit to the ‘Riverbend Conservation Area’ in West Newbury. Not marked on any map I own, I’ve driven past the area many times. An abandoned and much deteriorated town road has recently been cleared by volunteers, and now provides access to more than 4 miles of trails. Following one of these trails alongside the Merrimack River and through woodlands sprinkled with the crimson and gold of a New England Fall, I was reminded once again of the vital work carried out by conservation groups around the region. This trail system is a particularly good example, resulting from the combined efforts of multiple organizations. Even the local Boy Scouts played a part; marking the trails to help folks like me to find our way around.

I arrived a little too late to explore the complete property, but saw enough to know this is a location worthy of many more visits. Once again, my curiosity has been sparked and I will be back.