Andrew Wyeth and a New Jersey Shack
The Judge’s Shack is a beach shack and one of our state’s lesser icons. New Jersey is known for many things. but our beach shacks tend to get little attention. They were small vacation homes built in rural parts of the Jersey shore back when there were rural parts of the Jersey Shore. Their only real significance is that they were here before crowds of vacationers occupied almost every square inch of the New Jersey shoreline in the summertime. Most of the shacks are gone, falling victim to time, hurricanes and development.
The Judge’s Shack, shown here was built in 1911. It gets its name from Judge Richard Hartshorne who bought it as a vacation home in the 1940s. It is now unoccupied and part of New Jersey’s Island Beach State Park.
Andrew Wyeth
While both photographing and processing these images, I kept going back to one of my major influences, artist Andrew Wyeth. The things I really love about Wyeth’s work are his color palette and his portrayal homes and buildings. These images are in no way meant to be Wyeth like in style, but more in spirit.
Judge’s Shack by Richard Lewis 2017
Brooding Quiet by Richard Lewis 2017
Stormy Day At Judge’s Shack by Richard Lewis 2017
The Current State Of New Jersey’s Beach Shacks
Dennisville Shack by Richard Lewis 2017
While the Judge’s Shack is fortunate enough to be in a State Park, most of our New Jersey beach shacks have been knocked down by a bull dozer or a storm. Here is one that is barely standing along the Delaware Bay in Southern New Jersey.
Enjoy
Outstanding as always. Your photography is truly a joy
Thanks Jon. I’m glad you are enjoying these images and appreciate you taking the time to comment here.
I saw the connection to Wyeth – and specifically to Christina’s World – immediately so you definitely achieved your goal. It’s a wonderfully composed photograph.
Thanks Laura. Christina’s World was the first Wyeth painting I saw as a kid and it is still one of my favorites.
Definitely has the Wyeth spirit… Very enjoyable images.
Thanks Larry. I appreciate your comment and am glad you enjoyed these photographs.
Beautiful piece Rich…. love Wyeth… your pics show your own spin, which I really like but still have a nod to the painter. I wish painters would open up more about photography as photographers have embraced the painting medium!!! I as you have always kept an open mind for ALL types of art… I think this has helped our craft grow. Keep it up brother!!!!!
Thank Mike for the compliment. It means a lot coming from you. I have to agree with you about painters. There is a landscape painter named Peter Fiore who photographs the places he wants to paint and actually processes his images and and works from the finished files. Of course he adds things the camera would never be able to see, but that’s painting for you.
Nice work, Rich. You do cover ground. I particularly like the Judge’s Shack with the dune fencing in the foreground.
Thanks Ralph. That fence makes the nicest leading line to compose with.
Well done Rich. Looks like a fantastic area to photograph, and you’ve done it justice.
Thanks Craig. It is a nice area and the only open area of the New Jersey shoreline any more.
A wonderful subject and images. I especially like the first vertical with the horizontal fence. I can’t help but think the addition of Christy in a beach chair is the only thing missing.
Thanks Denise. You picked one of my favorite image. Not just of this set but something I’m glad to put in my top 100. That Christy thing, unfortunately, happened right around the time this post went live. Great timing. His “shack” isn’t far from this one.