My Secret Obsession

I don’t know what it is but I love ships.

Now I’m not talking about the experience of cruising, which I definitely love, but I am talking about the ships themselves. My wife makes fun of me (and maybe sometimes gets a bit impatient waiting for me), but I have to take a picture of our ship (and any others in port) from every possible angle, with or without her or anyone else in the picture.  People are almost an afterthought. They are important, but they are not the ship in her full glory.

My obsession began back in 1991, at the beginning of my cruise career working for Royal Caribbean, with the introduction of the Monarch of the Seas cruise ship.  While “working” onboard for several weeks, I began my ship photo homage with a series of pictures with three of my favorite cities (Boston, New York and Miami) as a backdrop to the true star, the ship.

I took so many pictures, day, night, close, far.  You name the type, I took it.  If only my skill matched my desire (they still sit in a box in storage begging me for their debut).

Now, I am very thankful for the transition from film to digital cameras.  Instantly, I know if I have a winner or not.

One deeply disappointing day back in 1996, I picked up my film from the 1-hour film developer, only to find out all of my fantastic shots of the Splendour of the Seas cruise ship in port at some of Europe’s most beautiful cities were dark!

Picture, if you will, the newest, most modern ship of its time perched majestically with the architecturally appealing city of Hamburg, Germany in the background, shot from every angle of course.  It was a spectacular sight, this old, historic city, being graced by this modern marvel.  If only you could see it!

Then there was Amsterdam.  I had this one shot with old Renaissance-styled buildings in the background, a guy on a bike going at least 40mph and the star, the cruise ship.  I must say, the ship did her part, looking elegant with her lights adorning her as with fine jewelry, but the bicyclist and the architecture were a disappointment (the buildings were too dark, too little, too far away and the bicyclist resembled a black fuzzy line).  But the ship…she was amazing.

Obviously, my favorite photos of cruise ships from the “dark years” will not make it on this blog; although, some are in my well-constructed photo album (yes, a 40lb. behemoth of a photo album, not the modern digital type).

But thanks to digital cameras, and the ability for “do-over’s,” I do have some pictures I can share.  Some of my favorites are from the Crown Princess in and out of ports in the Eastern Caribbean.  I love the pictures of her in St. Thomas.  It may be because my wife and I got married in St. Thomas or maybe it’s just because it is so beautiful, which is one reason we chose to get married there.  Another favorite of the Crown is a picture I took from high atop the island of Grenada.  The cruise ship may be small in the photo, but boy, is she beautiful!

Then there’s the Queen Mary 2, a muse awaiting her artiste.  A perfect model, the QM2, as she is known by her friends, was a natural.  She was born for this.  In St. Kitts, I was conflicted.  Do I take pictures of her from the island with the spectacular ocean views or do I make this old English settlement, with its remarkable mountainscape, the background.  Of course, you know what I did…both, and a few others!  It wouldn’t be an obsession otherwise.

This passion has included many other ships as well over the years, and will include many more in the future.  In fact, my new smart phone has a really amazing camera making it even easier for me to feed my obsession with all sorts of amazing shots of cruise ships, from every imaginable angle.

I can’t wait!  I can almost hear my wife saying “Alright c’mon, that’s enough.  What are you going to do with ALL of these pictures anyway?”  I guess after 20 years, now I finally know.

Enjoy!  I know I did.

originally posted 6/03/10

Share and Enjoy