Dave Thompsen Photography

Author: dpthompsen

  • Autumn Sunrise on Mount Chocorua

    Autumn Sunrise on Mount Chocorua

    A photograph of colorful autumn foliage blanketing Mount Chocorua in the New Hampshire White Mountains.
    A photograph of colorful autumn foliage blanketing Mount Chocorua in the New Hampshire White Mountains.

    Sunrise bathes Mount Chocorua in glowing orange. Dark evergreens are punctuated by colorful fall foliage of deciduous trees along the shore of Chocorua Lake at the base of the mountain. At 3,490 feet, this is the easternmost peak of the Sandwich Range of the White Mountains in New Hampshire. Although not as lofty as some, it’s bare, rocky summit stands out and can be seen for miles. It is an iconic fixture of the region and is the subject of many photographs and paintings.

    Images taken from the same vantage point in summer and fall…

    A photograph of colorful autumn foliage blanketing Mount Chocorua in the New Hampshire White Mountains.

    Part of my portfolio of photographs, this image uses an artistic software filter to impart a painterly appearance; prints are available from my Pixels shop.

  • Hampton Marsh

    Hampton Marsh

    A photograph of the sun setting on the salt marshes in Hampton, NH.
    Hampton Marsh

    The marshes in Hampton, New Hampshire in late summer at sunset. The tide is high in the estuary which includes over 5,000 acres of salt marsh, the largest in New Hampshire.

    This is critical habitat for nesting and migratory shorebirds, including the Saltmarsh Sparrow. New Hampshire Audubon is active in monitoring this area and educating the public about its importance. A report titled “Hampton-Seabrook Estuary Habitat Restoration Compendium” by UNH and NOAA describes restoration projects in this area designed to address issues caused by historical uses of the marshes that involved harvesting the marsh grasses and digging channels to redirect the tidal waters.

    Part of my portfolio of photographs, this image uses an artistic software filter to impart a painterly appearance; limited edition prints are available from my Etsy shop.

  • Whaleback Light at Sunrise

    Whaleback Light at Sunrise

    A silhouette photograph of Whaleback Lighthouse at sunrise in Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire.
    Whaleback Light at Sunrise

    Whaleback light stands in silhouette with exposed rocks in the shadows of the rising sun. Taken from Great Island Common in New Castle, New Hampshire, this lighthouse is located on a small island in Kittery Maine at the entrance to Portsmouth harbor. Established in 1820, it has been rebuilt several times and now sends its beam from a modern, high-powered LED light. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was recently acquired by the American Lighthouse Foundation.

    Part of my portfolio of photographs, this image uses an artistic software filter to impart a painterly appearance; limited edition prints are available from my Etsy shop.

  • Fuller Gardens Fountain

    Fuller Gardens Fountain

    A photograph of the elegant fountain at Fuller Gardens in North Hampton, New Hampshire.
    Fuller Gardens Fountain

    Water wells up from a basin to pour into a stone-lined pool at Fuller Gardens, a turn-of-the-century estate garden in North Hampton, New Hampshire. A statue of a woman kneels beside the bowl to partake of the cool, refreshing waters. This unique property includes formal rose gardens, Japanese gardens, and greenhouses to stroll through. A scenic ocean-front walkway beckons a block away with rocky coastline on one side and elegant estates on the other. 

    Part of my portfolio of photographs, this image uses an artistic software filter to impart a painterly appearance; limited edition prints are available from my Etsy shop.

  • Portsmouth Tugboats

    Portsmouth Tugboats

    A photograph of three tugboats berthed in Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire.
    Portsmouth Tugboats

    These iconic tugboats are docked in Portsmouth Harbor off Ceres Street and are part of the Moran fleet. Some of these pack over 3,000 horsepower which is needed to handle the large ships that come through this area, known for tricky navigation due to extremely fast tidal currents and tight bridge spans. Learn more about the fleet at Moran’s website. For all things tugboat, be sure to check out the Tugboat Alley shop just around the corner on Bow Street.

    Part of my portfolio of photographs, this image uses High-Dynamic Range (HDR) technique and an artistic software filter to impart a painterly appearance. Available from my Etsy shop.

  • Sailing Off Rye

    Sailing Off Rye

    An artistic photograph of two sailboats off the coast of Rye, New Hampshire.
    Sailing off Rye

    Two sailboats race each other off the Rye, New Hampshire coast. Sails taut, hulls heeling in the steady winds found in these waters. Cold ocean spray splashing off the bow.

    Part of my portfolio of photographs, this image uses an artistic software filter to impart a painterly appearance. Available from my Etsy shop.

  • Tall Ship Kalmar Nyckel

    Tall Ship Kalmar Nyckel

    Photograph of the tall ship Kalmar Nyckel at the 2022 Portsmouth NH Tall Ships event.
    Tall Ship Kalmar Nyckel

    The Kalmar Nyckel is a full-rigged replica of the vessel that brought the first Swedish colonists to America in 1638. The pinnace design is characterized by a single-deck and a square stern and a full complement of sails including a square sprit-sail forward on the bowsprit.

    Here it is berthed at the 2022 Portsmouth New Hampshire Tall Ships event sponsored by Sail Portsmouth. Its home port is the Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard in Wilmington, Delaware where it provides educational opportunities in port and on voyages along the east coast.

  • Mayflower II

    Mayflower II

    A photograph of the Mayflower II replica tall ship berthed in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
    Mayflower II

    The Mayflower II is a full-scale reproduction of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to North America. Built in England in 1956 using traditional methods and tools, this ship is 106 ft long, 25 ft wide, and weighs 236 tons. It’s berthed on the waterfront of Plymouth, Massachusetts, not far from the landing site Plymouth Rock. The ship is a key attraction of Plimouth Plantation, a complex of museums that tell the story of  Plymouth colony and the native American culture of the area. The wharf leading to the ship includes informational displays that describe the ship and voyage it undertook in 1692 with 102 passengers and a crew of 30.

    I captured this photograph from Pilgrim Memorial State Park, a waterfront area that can be accessed from Water Street and includes walking paths, gardens, and scenic views of the harbor. I used an artistic filter to give the image a painterly feel. 

    The Landing of the Pilgrims USPS postage stamp

    This effort was inspired by the Landing of the Pilgrims postage stamp (Scott #1420) issued in 1970 to honor the 350th anniversary of that event.

    Part of my portfolio of photographs, this image uses an artistic software filter to impart a painterly appearance; prints are available from my Pixels shop.

  • Lone Dinghy

    Lone Dinghy

    An artistic photograph of a dinghy berthed on a dock at Mystic Seaport, Connecticut.
    Lone Dinghy

    A solitary rowboat is moored on the dock at Mystic Seaport, in Mystic Connecticut. The grayness of the foggy morning is punctuated by the vibrant, creamy yellow of the dinghy’s interior. The waters of the Mystic River lie still.

    Part of my portfolio of photographs, this image uses High-Dynamic Range (HDR) technique and an artistic software filter to impart a painterly appearance. Available from my Etsy shop.

  • Colorful Connections

    Colorful Connections

    Photograph of the fall foliage at Rocky Gorge on the Swift River; located on the Kancamagus Highway in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
    Colorful Connections

    A vibrant color palette paints the foliage this autumn day in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. A foot bridge spans the Rocky Gorge Scenic Area, offering a close-up view of the roiling waters of the Swift River below and connecting visitors to the Falls Pond trail loop. The walk on the loop trail is a peaceful complement to the bustle of activity of the gorge.

    This area is a favorite of mine, best visited in off-season or early in the morning, since it is a very popular stop on the Kancamagus Highway, a 34-mile American Scenic Byway through the heart of the White Mountains National Forest.

    Part of my photography portfolio, this image uses High-Dynamic Range (HDR) technique and artistic software filters to impart a painterly appearance.