Boat Dock Bumpers

I made this photograph on a quiet, overcast day when the water was calm enough to reflect tone more than light. The ferry was easing in slowly, its pace unhurried. The dock’s side, lined with worn tires acting as bumpers, formed a long diagonal that led straight to the vessel. The structure looked utilitarian and weathered, shaped entirely by function rather than aesthetics. That mattered to me. I wanted to capture the work of the place, not the impression of it.

The choice to shoot in black and white was deliberate. Colour would have added distractions—rust, algae, paint, signage. Stripping it back to monochrome lets texture and tone define the image. The wood grain of the dock, the scuffed surfaces of the tires, the faint variations in the water: these are the details that hold the frame together.

Technically, the shot isn’t pristine. The sky is nearly featureless, a pale overhead wash. The water is softly rendered, lacking the crispness that might come with faster shutter or higher contrast. I accepted that. The flat light fits the scene. It reflects the kind of day when the world has muted itself and everything feels slightly suspended.

Compositionally, the dock creates a strong leading line that directs the eye toward the ferry without forcing it. The negative space of the water on the left side balances the dense texture of the dock on the right. The slight tilt of the ship’s bow and the distant shoreline keep the image from closing in too tightly. There is room to breathe.