Dave Thompsen Photography

Tag: New Hampshire

  • Mount Washington Auto Road

    Mount Washington Auto Road

    A photograph of the winding Mount Washington Auto Road in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
    Mount Washington Auto Road

    A vantage point from the Mount Washington Auto Road, a winding road that climbs 4,700 feet to the highest point in the northeast, the summit of Mount Washington in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The vista includes other peaks in the Presidential Range.

    On this summer day, the weather in the valley where the auto road starts was comfortable, with temperatures in the 70’s (F). As I drove up the mountain, the winds started to howl, rocking my sizable Honda Pilot SUV back and forth. At Mount Washington’s summit of 6,288 feet, it’s reputation for extreme weather was reinforced by winds of over 60 MPH and frigid temperatures in the low 30’s. Just walking across the observation deck above the summit building was an adventure – I had to walk with my body angled into the fierce gale to avoid getting knocked over. If you take the road, be sure to visit the extreme weather exhibit in the lodge – it chronicles the day in April 1934 when the fastest wind ever recorded at a manned weather station occurred – 231 MPH!

    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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Sculling the Squamscott

    Sculling the Squamscott

    An autumn photograph of a sculler plying the still waters of the Squamscott River in Exeter, NH.
    Sculling the Squamscott

    Autumn paints the maples brilliant red, orange, and yellow in this scene along the Squamscott River in Exeter, New Hampshire. A rower propels his sculling boat around the curve of the river as mist rises over the water on this early morning in October.

    The path and waterfront wall are part of Swasey Parkway, a gift to the town of Exeter in 1929 by Ambrose Swasey. This scenic park replaced wharves and warehouses from the shipping trade that was active in the 1800’s.

    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.