Hitchcock in Boston Harbor

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I watched Hitchcock’s  1963 “The Birds” yet again last week.  That movie scared me more than “Jaws”.   I have never looked at a seagull or birds on a telephone wire  in quite the same way since.  Some people don’t think it’s Hitchcock at his best.  But, it’s 46 years later and I’m still creeped out.

This is Boston Harbor not Bodega Bay but that bird looks moody to me.

Look out, boys!

©Pat Coakley 2009

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16 Replies to “Hitchcock in Boston Harbor”

  1. Don, those “contrails” in the sky is exactly why I decided to do something with this photo. An unique sort of anomaly.

  2. Holy crap what a capture! You got the perfect composition. The bird sits right in the center of the contrails which is centered above the two perfectly balanced fishermen. Lucky or good or lots of shots taken? Amazing. You had 1/10 of a second to put this all together. I am jealous of your skills.

    1. Dave, Thank you for the compliment but multiple exposures and images explains this. I never use single image capture. Never ever. I’m too unreliable in that regard. Sometimes I am bracketing exposures as well but not in this. But, you know what I love best about your comment? Your exclamation of “Holy Crap”. My all time favorite expression for surprise!

  3. I share your fright from the imprint of that movie. The two boys with their backs to the action are as seemingly vulnerable for not knowing what passes above/behind as Tippy was in that pet store.

    You are the fastest draw in the NE.
    And aside from being fast, you know what to look for.
    What fabulous timing.

    1. Bonnie, I’m going to repeat this comment to my nephews who consider me the slowest driver on the planet and cautious to a fault. Maybe I’ll buy a holster and fake gun to wear at famiy party on 16th!

  4. that is an amazing photograph, surreal and real. and it is the perfect portrait of a place i know so well, the ambience of Boston Harbor, captured in a very unique way and tells the story so well of the essence of the place, broad, segmented, little spots for reflection, cubist concoctions of buildings lining the horizon, activity everywhere and yet a sense of silence in the picture, just beautiful

    1. This pleases me that you find the essence of the place you know so well, tipota! Not my conscious intention when taking the photo, but when you point out all the elements…I have to say (once again)…thanks, tipota, for telling me what I photographed!

  5. That’s an incredible one indeed! and the bird looks quite cranky, if you ask me. Looks like the quiet before the storm – I can hear the Hitchcock-ish music all over…

    1. Thanks, Nava! You are right about that music. I can just hear it without any visuals and my stomach tightens!

  6. I remember watching “The Birds” on tv as a kid … and it scared the living crap out of me. I had nightmares big time.
    I think my older sister even got in trouble for letting me watch it.

    She got in trouble again for letting me watch “Tommy” as well, but that was a few years later.

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